The 1981 Listening Post - Coup D'Etat - Coup D'Etat

 Reviewed by Jim Coursey

Released: 1981 Coup D'Etat Coup D'Etat Genre: Pop / 80s Rock Rating: 2.5 out of 5 Highlights: No Music On My Radio “The government gets overthrown A sudden force, a major blow Over out, the new comes in Coup d'état Give me a bomb A Molotov It's a coup d'état! -Circle Jerks, “Coup d’Etat” Nothing says “violent overthrow” less effectively than New Zealand’s Coup d’Etat, a band safe and perky enough to waft through an 80’s shopping mall. They even picked up Single of the Year for lone “hit” “Doctor I Like Your Medicine” at the 1981 New Zealand Music Award. As reggae music made by bland white New Zealanders goes, this one isn’t particularly memorable. Otherwise, the album resembles standard pop radio fare of the era, and could easily fit alongside Olivia Newton John, Steve Winwood, Juice Newton, and Blondie. The vocal duties are shared by Jan Preston and Harry Lyon, who seem to alternate lead roles with each song. Their voices are fine but neither really makes a mark. The chorus of opener “No Music On My Radio” would have been ten times better if done by Pat Benetar; Preston can’t muster that kind of fire. The music itself is similarly decent, but lacking. Most of the songs feature moderately catchy choruses connected by forgettably schmaltzy verses. It’s fine music to calm the public nerve after the military takes over, but there’s nothing revolutionary here.