Bronski Beat - The Age of Consent
#267
October 15 1984
Bronski Beat
The Age of Consent
3.25 out of 5
Highlights:
Why?
Smalltown Boy
And we've arrived at part one of the 80s sexual identity manifestos. The year was 1984. Aids was a scourge but it was still "gay cancer", no? That's how I remember it. Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Bronski Beat were not gonna hide it. They were coming OUT.
I've always been fascinated by the hypocrisy of rock. Four of the most celebrated and important (read:groundbreaking) artists of the genre were gay: Freddie Mercury. Bob Mould. Rob Halford. Michael Stipe.
If Priest fans knew that the leather garb they were worshipping in parking lots were from the BDSM underground they might've never tossed Priest to the top of the metal charts.
Just the thought that Freddie might be gay toppled Queen in the states.
No one really knew who Husker Du was and I imagine the alternative world might not have cared, (same goes for Stipe). In fact, I think we should include Jello Biafra in this list.
But, at some point, with so many dying from silence, we reached a tipping point. And music led the charge.
So, can I be objective about Bronski Beat?
I think so.
There's a lot of politics here but some times ("No More War", for example) the music seems to be a second thought. Just an excuse to wail. And the wailing is fine but it doesn't make for great music.
The hits are still good, they evoke Yaz and Eurythmics but other than that...it's sort of dull. "Heatwave" sounds like it fell off the Bachelor Pad compilation and the Morodor covers are...the less said the better.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-age-of-consent/1320069103
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