Echo & The Bunnymen: Crocodiles CD Track Listing

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Echo & The Bunnymen Crocodiles (1980)
2003 Rhino/Sire Records\n\nOriginally Released July 18, 1980\nCD Edition Released ??\nRhino Remastered & Expanded CD Edition Released January 27, 2004\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Inspired by psychedelia, sure. Bit of Jim Morrison in the vocals? Okay, it's there. But for all the references and connections that can be drawn (and they can), one listen to Echo's brilliant, often harrowing debut album and it's clear went a unique, special band presents itself. Beginning with the dramatic, building climb of "Going Up," Crocodiles at once showcases four individual players sure of their own gifts and their ability to bring it all together to make things more than the sum of their parts. Will Sergeant in particular is a revelation -- arguably only Johnny Marr and Vini Reilly were better English guitarists from the '80s, eschewing typical guitar-wank overload showboating in favor of delicacy, shades, and inventive, unexpected melodies. More than many before or since, he plays the electric guitar as just that, electric not acoustic, dedicated to finding out what can be done with it while never using it as an excuse to bend frets. His highlights are legion, whether it's the hooky opening chime of "Rescue" or the exchanges of sound and silence in "Happy Death Men." Meanwhile, the Pattinson/De Freitas rhythm section stakes its own claim for greatness, the former's bass driving yet almost seductive, the latter's percussion constantly shifting rhythms and styles while never leaving the central beat the song to die. "Pride" is one standout moment of many, Pattinson's high notes and De Freitas' interjections on what sound like chimes or blocks inspired touches. Then there's McCulloch himself, and while the imagery can be cryptic, the delivery soars, even while his semi-wail conjures up, as on the nervy, edgy picture of addiction "Villiers Terrace," "People rolling round on the carpet/Mixing up the medicine." Brisk, wasting not a note and burning with barely controlled energy, Crocodiles remains a deserved classic. -- Ned Raggett\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nThe start of it all, April 4, 2004 \nReviewer: H. Lamar Thomas from Athens, Georgia \nEcho and the Bunnymen introduced and/or were right on time in Crocodiles with the dark wave and post punk movement in music that included the Chameleons, Psychedelic Furs, the Church, Ride, Stone Roses, Sheyllean Orphan, later Cure, Patti Smith, Joy Division, Durutti Column, Charlatans UK, Slowdive, Coldplay, Bloody Valentine, and just about anything that came out of Manchester, Factory records, or .Crocodiles is a blueprint for the sounds of the late 1970's. From the first note you can hear the next Wave strapping on their Rickenbackers and Gresch guitars and building an empire of great music. Going Up includes us all as Ian McCulloch repeats the up up up in a way that feels like the age of 20 becoming 16 again. Happy Death Men is the challenge to explore chant and drone into closing explosions of sound. Rescue is everything a lonely rocker needs and Ian never loses touch that the song is all about the self and nothing more. Will Sergeant, along with Les Pattison and Peter de Freitas made shoe gazing a code of honor way before Ride hit the streets with Nowhere. You can hear the notes painting circles on the floor throughout Villiers Terrace. This album, Crocodiles, is one of the top essentials ever for understanding how the British Wave of the late 1970's became the trademark sound of dark England for the next 20 years. In a way first albums mean everything for the way a band makes it's way in the world, and Crocodiles is one of those great albums where music, thought and expression are equally important. For me this album was the gateway to a world of music that touches and inspires to this day. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nEcho & The Bunnymen's Excellent Debut Album Is Even Better!, February 8, 2004 \nReviewer: barrycrist from Hallandale, Florida United States \nReleased in 1980, Echo & The Bunnymen's debut album "Crocodiles" was one of the years best new wave rock releases. I never considered Echo & The Bunnymen to be "punk" like British groups "Chelsea", "Sham 69" or "The Buzzcocks", although lead singer Ian McCulloch certainly had the "punk" look. I compare them to groups like XTC, U2 or even The Stranglers who had more of a unique style. Echo's songs consisted of mostly a three chord progression style but sounded fuller due to lead guitarist Will Sargaent and bassist Les Pattinson. Songs such as "Rescue", "Going Up", "Monkeys", "Stars Are Stars", "Villiars Terrace", "Pictures On My Wall" and "All That Jazz" are the standout tracks. This expanded version of "Crocodiles" includes six bonus tracks, "Do It Clean", "Read It In Books", "Simple Stuff", Villiars Terrace (Early Version)", "Pride (Early Version)" and "Simple Stuff (Early Version)". You also get the "Shine So Hard" EP which includes "live" versions of "Crocodiles", "Zimbo", "All That Jazz" and "Over The Wall" which have to be heard to be believed. This cd has also been remastered and sounds excellent with crisp highs, increased bass, midrange and output level. There's also an eleven page booklet enclosed with interesting information and pictures of Echo & The Bunnymen. This is one essential cd that should be in anyone's collection that enjoys classic new wave music. Highly Recommended!\n\nHalf.com Album Credits\nHugh Jones, Engineer\nBill Drummond, Producer\nDavid Balfe, Producer\nIan Broudie, Producer\nThe Chameleons, Producer\n\nAlbum Notes\nEcho & The Bunnymen: Ian McCulloch (vocals, guitar); Will Sergeant (guitar); Les Pattinson (bass); Pete De Freitas (drums).Additional personnel: David Balfe (keyboards).Recorded at Rockfield Studios, Monmouth, England. Originally released on Sire (6096). Includes liner notes by Max Bell.Emerging from Liverpool, England in 1980, Echo and the Bunnymen were hailed as the vanguard of a new psychedelic-rock movement. While vocalist Ian McCulloch's cryptic lyrics and Will Sergeant's colorful guitar arrangements do evoke the dark, brooding intensity of '60s groups like the Doors, Echo and the Bunnymen owed more to English post-punk than '60s rock. Featuring songs that range from the supercharged three-chord garage rock of "Do It Clean" and the crashing album opener, "Going Up," to the hazy neo-psychedelia of "Villiers Terrace" and "Pictures on My Wall," CROCODILES is a remarkably good debut, one that established Echo and the Bunnymen as one of most creative and charismatic English rock bands of the '80s. The American edition of CROCODILES also boasts the single "Rescue," a dramatic, melodic track that layers McCulloch's gritty rhythm guitar over Sergeant's chiming lead and producer David Balfe's subtle keyboard work to create one of the definitive U.K. singles of the post punk era. While Echo and the Bunnymen would later become modern-rock icons, CROCODILES captures them in all their raw, ragged glory, trying to emulate the work of their heroes David Bowie and the Velvet Underground but instead creating music of startling originality. YEAR: 1980
This misc cd contains 20 tracks and runs 66min 58sec.
Freedb: 230fb014
Buy: from Amazon.com

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