The Go-Go's - Beauty and the Beat
#304
By Rik Deskin
July 1981
The Go-Gos
Beauty and the Beat
Genre: New Wave/Punk/Pop
Allen’s Rating: 5 out of 5
Rik’s Rating: 5 out of 5
Highlights:
Our Lips Are Sealed
We Got The Beat
Can’t Stop The World
Allen’s Highlights add:
How Much More
Tonight
Lust to Love
This Town
Skidmarks On My Heart
“We Got The Beat” is the first video I saw from The Go-Go’s. “Our Lips Are Sealed” is when I fell in love with this band. They were, and still are a fun, poignant, Punk/New Wave/Pop band. At this time in 1981, my number one record was The Police, “Ghost In The Machine.” “Beauty and the Beat” was my second favorite record. But no less important to the grand scheme as it were.
The Go-Go’s at first glance are an edgy, group of women musicians, playing their own instruments, and writing their own songs. That in itself is historical (and should cement them in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame). However, it is below the surface of their performances, of the genius of their songwriting (Guitarist/Songwriter Jane Wiedlin co wrote or wrote most of the songs with Guitarist/Songwriter Charlotte Caffey, and one written by Kathy Valentine and one co-written with Belinda Carlisle) that captures their multilevel nuances.
“Our Lips Are Sealed,” leads as track #1, and sets a tone, but not the only one on this diverse album. “How Much More,” is track #2 and has the rapid fire drumming by Gina Schock and a strong bassline by Kathy Valentine driving the song. “Tonite,” is track #3. You can notice both the strong lead vocals of Belinda Carlisle and the great backing vocals by Jane Wiedlin and the rest of the band. Track #4 starts off with a Guitar riff that sounds influenced by The Police’ Andy Summers, yet both Charlotte and Jane drive this song forward.
Side Two’s track #6 is “We Got The Beat,” arguably the Go-Go’s most popular and defining song, slowed down from its original single release in 1980. This is the song that crossed the Atlantic from the UK, where this helped create the phenomenon that is The Go-Gos. A mixture of LA Surf music, Punk Music and New Wave. “Fading Fast,” is track #7, a dark and engrossing song written by Charlotte Caffey. Able lead vocals by Belinda Carlisle help drive this song, while Jane Wiedlin’s supporting backing vocals with “Yesterday is Gone,” is tragic. “Automatic,” track #8, has a mesmerizing atmospheric sound, and a powerful guitar solo in the middle. “You Can’t Walk In Your Sleep (If You Can’t Sleep), the 9th track, is a lesson in melodic harmony. The track, “Skidmarks On My Heart,” goes back to the Go-Gos’ LA Punk roots, and is co-written by Belinda Carlisle and Charlotte Caffey. The final track, penned by Kathy Valentine, “Can't Stop The World,” has an early “Vacation” sound, and this makes sense because Kathy goes on to write that title track on The Go-Gos’ next album.
I would highly recommend watching the Go-Gos Documentary that was released earlier this year at Sundance and subsequently on Showtime..
https://open.spotify.com/album/1L4HE00En7eNK74voVZums?si=SbJLaxryR9GrI77dpOVtDg
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