Altered Images - Happy Birthday
May 14 1982
By Mark Wagner
Altered Images
Pinky Blue
Genre: Helium Pop-New Wave
Allen’s Rating: 3.5 out of 0
Thom’s Rating: 2.75 out of 5
Highlights:
I Could be Happy
See Those Eyes
Jump Jump
Forgotten
Pinky Blue (Maybe)
This Glaswegian ensemble has all the hallmarks of anyflimsy-synth 80’s brand of Pop-New wave, with lead vocalistClare Grogan vacillating between Bjork, Blonde or Kirsty McCall.
This is the middle child of 3 studio albums in total. Unfortunately, this sophomore effort falls short for me, compared to1981’s debut Happy Birthday (by @markwagner). In my opinion this recording is lacking teeth and is mostly a gumming on near forgettable synth-song craft. I think Altered Images are earnest in their attempts, and there are some sincere moments of auditory pixie bliss. The few moments I did enjoy are, “See Those Eyes” and “I Could be Happy”. “I Could be Happy” begins with a 3-minute musical intro, which is both catchy, considered, and pleasant. This track could’ve found itself in any number of John Hughes films, from quieter moments of introspective scenes featuring Molly Ringwald.
Additional takeaways; Song Sung Blue and Funny Funny Me, sound like a direct swipe on several Wii games I have played, or perhaps they influenced the Nintendo Musical Directors.
This album, or should I say this musical style gets monotonous quickly, and I find myself pining for the more tolerable and iconic sounds of Kate Bush, Blonde, Go Go’s and then a few years later The Sugar Cubes.
Ultimately, the Altered Images helium like intake of Clare Grogan’s voice leaves me lightheaded needing a translator to fully comprehend what she is saying,
and in Yoko fashion, I simply don’t understand her.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5ar59izbr11HjbbvzktpqV?si=dqydqCutR1O8aB61O1TeEw&dl_branch=1
