#95
Reviewed by Paul Zickler
The Psychedelic Furs
The Psychedelic Furs
Genre: Post-punk, Post-glam, Post-Velvets Poster Boys
Allen’s Rating:
3 out of 5
George’s Rating:
3.5 out of 5
Highlighted Songs: Fall, We Love You, Blacks/Radio, Flowers
Review:
Since these reviews seem to be the place to confess dark secrets (based on others I’ve seen), I have a confession to make. Whenever I listen to music with really weird, atonal singing, I have an immediate, visceral reaction against it, but (here’s the important bit) I usually try to like it anyway because I want to fit in with my hip rock critic brethren. Sometimes it works (Lou Reed, PiL, Pere Ubu) and sometimes it doesn’t (Wire, Swans, The Fall). Sometimes I’m caught exactly in the middle and never actually make up my mind (sorry Morrisey). Often, but not always, the difference has more to do with the lead singer’s vocal range than anything else. I have a really tough time liking baritone lead singers (Johnny Cash notwithstanding). I realize this is a horribly biased point of view, which will probably damage my street cred, but so be it.
So, Richard Butler, I guess I’m saying it’s not your fault, man. I get why your band extended the post-punk genre with the combination of near-hippie vibes and Johnny Rotten attitude in songs like “We Love You.” And yeah, I’d probably be tempted to dance like a crazy person to “Blacks/Radio” if I could tune out your voice. But I can’t. I’m so sorry. There’s even a song on this album called “Fall” that conjures unpleasant associations with the late Mark E. Smith. I’ve tried to get around it, but the voice bias is too strong. A few years from now, you’re going to get better at masking how pretentious and tuneless your voice is on songs like “Pretty in Pink” and “Love My Way,” and I’m going to grudgingly accept your band. But for record number one, Psychedelic Furs remain on my guilty non-pleasures list.
This is not to say this isn’t an enjoyable listen for those who dig that kind of thing. The propulsive drumming, wall of fuzz guitars, and wailing saxophone definitely hook me, and crazy rave-ups like “Flowers” remind me of some of the post-punk stuff I actually love, but then there’s that voice, taking me right out of the moment. I just can’t do it, Richard. Nothing personal.
https://open.spotify.com/album/0S3lCXIFBWmSuw2sVbLukM?si=hFRBiObNRgyjpKFB5i45WA
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