Echo & The Bunnymen: Echo & The Bunnymen (Remastered & Expanded Edition) CD Track Listing

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Echo & The Bunnymen Echo & The Bunnymen (Remastered & Expanded Edition) (2003)
2003 Rhino/Sire Records\n\nOriginally Released July 6, 1987\nCD Edition Released \nRhino Remastered & Expanded CD Edition Released January 27, 2004\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: This fine release (not to be confused with the self-titled 1983 EP) is the Bunnymen's best since their debut, Crocodiles. The album catches the group at a fortuitous career juncture; the clutch of songs here are among the hookiest and most memorable the band would ever write, while the arrangements are noticeably clean and punchy, mostly eliminating strings and similar clutter to focus almost exclusively on guitars, keyboards, drums, and occasional percussion touches. The warmly expressive "All My Life," which might perhaps have received an overheated arrangement on prior albums, benefits especially from this approach. The band rocks out convincingly on other selections, such as "Satellite" and "All in Your Mind." Pete DeFreitas' solid drumming at times veers toward the danceable on tracks like "Lost and Found," "Lips Like Sugar," and the overtly Doors-influenced "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo." Surprisingly, vocalist Ian McCulloch appears to have rediscovered the maxim "less is more"; his singing is comparatively restrained and tasteful here, resulting in a more natural, unforced emotiveness that is extremely effective. Production values are excellent, with many subtle touches that do not detract from the album's overall directness. In short, doing it clean really pays off here; this energetic, top-notch album is highly recommended. [The 2004 expanded edition of Echo & the Bunnymen includes a wealth of bonus tracks. Two tracks from the album are presented in different versions: a mellow, acoustic demo of "The Game," and a slightly more energetic early version of "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo." The are two versions of the band's song from the Pretty in Pink soundtrack "Bring on the Dancing Horses"; an extended version, and a raw, early version called "Jimmy Brown." The version from the soundtrack isn't here, however. Also included are a moody version of the Doors' "Soul Kitchen," the unreleased song "Hole in the Holy," and "Bring on the Dancing Horses" B-side, the storming "Over Your Shoulder."] -- David Cleary\n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nNot Bad for a Band on the Verge of Breaking Up, April 27, 2004 \nReviewer: tbrough from Springfield, PA United States \nThe four dour personages of the cover of the "Gray Album" could only hint at what was going on behind the scenes during the making of this album. The band was fighting, breaking up, regrouping, and yet managed to make their best selling album out of the chaos. It's equally fascinating that some of songs here are E&TB's most coherent. They are also the most timely sounding, probably more to producer Laurie Latham trying to make the band sound more 80's timely and the band being too contentious to care.\n\nIan McCulloch was also veering into a new phase of singing. He's in deep croon here, as "Bomber's Bay" and "All My Life" deftly indicates. He was stretching towards arty pop (Ray Manzerek guesting on "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo" is a dead giveaway) and the rest of the band was resisting. The tension gave birth to terrific songs like "Lips Like Sugar" and "The Game," but also guaranteed the band would jettison him after this record was done. Too bad, because the rift that led the Bunnymen to go on without the Mac left us with the bitter "Reverberation" and Mac's "Candleland" needed them more than he cared to admit. \n\nBut for now we can revel in this remastered and punchier sounding disc of the Bunnymen's swansong. (I don't count the reunion albums.) The bonus tracks are pretty cool, in particular, the live version of "Soul Kitchen." \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nBuffalo and Bison, Bison, Buffalo, March 26, 2004 \nReviewer: Glenn R. Boston from Silver Spring, MD United States \nI've always thought this CD by Echo and the Bunnymen was under-rated. To me, it's one of the band's best. This new, remastered edition is fun, but there are a few things you should know before you buy it. First off, the bonus cuts aren't so special. "Hole in the Holy" is just "Over You" with different lyrics. "Jimmie Brown" is an early version of "Bring on the Dancing Horses." The other bonus cuts are either just alternative versions of Bunnymen classics or are available in other formats, like the "Crystal Days" boxed set. Still, this new edition is worth owning if you're a Bunnymen fan. The liner notes are great, providing some interesting context to what the band was going through at the time. (It's amazing they got any album out, let alone one this good.) But, take note: This edition does not contain a lyric sheet, so don't discard your old copy of the "gray album" or sell it. To me, the real charm of this record is that it takes me back -- back to (crystal?) days before kids, a mortgage, gray hair, etc. Those carefree mid '80s! Sure, we had to put up with Reagan, but the Bunnymen provided a balm for our post-punk souls. Pop it in the CD changer, and it takes you right back. Before you know it, you're sailing out on a blue, blue ocean. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nEchoes of the past, February 9, 2004 \nReviewer: A music fan from Fairfield, CA United States \nI realize that this isn't the band's favorite album, but artist's (and critics) can frequently be wrong. Behind Heave Up Here (my favorite)and Porcupine (my second favorite), their self titled album more than holds its own in #3 position for me. The remastered sound is terrific although the production is a tad flat on at least a couple of tracks. \n\nWith 5 previously unreleased bonus tracks and two that appeared on the boxed set, this is, to date, the ultimate edition for this vastly underrated album. As the band began to fall apart, they produced some of their most memorable songs including the incredible "Lips Like Sugar", "All My Life" and "The Game". Really this album is essential for anyone who is a fan of the band.\n\nUnfortunately, the remastered albums don't feature all the tracks on the boxed set, so most fans should probably make a copy of those tracks and then sell the boxed set. Missing from this CD are the following tracks: "Lips Like Sugar" (single version), "People are Strange", "Rollercoaster" and the original version of "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo".\n\nThe booklet is quite nice as well. \n\nAmazon.com Customer Review\nNew Direction? To say the least!, December 2, 2003 \nReviewer: A music fan from Cincinnati, OH \nWell, somehow they managed to make this album even better the second time around! Great sound quality and fantastic bonus tracks. Only one complaint: no lyrics this time. I guess that's a small price considering the great songs on this CD. "Lips Like Sugar", "Over You", "New Direction" have all stood the test of time and sound just as good in 2003 as they did in 1987! 'Nuff said. Buy this one and enjoy!! \n\nHalf.com Album Credits\nRay Manzarek, Contributing Artist\nLaurie Latham, Producer\n\nAlbum Notes\nEcho & The Bunnymen: Ian McCulloch (vocals, guitar); Will Sergeant (guitar); Les Pattinson (bass); Pete De Freitas (drums).\n\nAdditional personnel: Jake Brockman, Ray Manzarek, Henry Priestman (keyboards).\n\nRecorded at Conny's Studio, Cologne, Germany; ICP Studio, Brussels, Belgium; The Workhouse, London and Amazon Studios, Liverpool, England. Originally released on Sire (25597). Includes liner notes by Max Bell.\n\nThis 1987 album captures the Bunnymen as they transformed themselves from English cult sensations into international pop stars. Riding the modern-rock wave that catapulted bands like U2, Simple Minds, Depeche Mode, and the Cure into the American Top 10, the Bunnymen created a polished album that was unlike anything they had ever recorded. Even though ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN boasts the same epic sound that had characterized the band's four previous albums, highly produced songs like "The Game" and "Lips Like Sugar" eschew singer Ian McCulloch's typically obtuse lyrics in favor of easy-to-relate-to lyrics that earned the songs heavy rotation on alternative rock radio and MTV. Songs like the propulsive "All in My Mind" and "Satellite" attempt to recapture the freewheeling spark of the band's earlier work, and former Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek injects some sexy grooves into "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo." ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN is an inventive pop album that is packed with well-written, creatively arranged songs that were among some best modern-rock tunes of the '80s. YEAR: 2003
This rock cd contains 18 tracks and runs 76min 41sec.
Freedb: e011f712
Buy: from Amazon.com

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