Bonzos at their best?
Mike Le Voi | 08/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Bonzos were always leaders. Of all the albums, is this the best? Probably. The band was at the height of its powers - and Viv and Neil were writing some beautiful songs.
One day, I heard this record and thought it was the funniest album I had ever heard. A few months later, I heard it and thought it was one of the saddest.
Make no mistake - Viv and the boys were excellent - enjoy them.
"
Mothers with children please note: This CD is inedible!
Walter Five | 13th Floor Elevator, Enron Hubbard Bldg. Houston T | 01/15/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Recorded by the band in 1969, this was a frantic year for the Bonzos, and the album shows the lads going in several directions, but still with many strong numbers and the Bonzos trademark brand of whimsy (such as "Mr. Slater's Parrot", "Sport", and the Rhinocentric "We Were Wrong.")
I was delighted to learn from the liner notes that the "hexachloraphine" referred to in "Keynsham" is the red stripe in a well-known brand of toothpaste. There are no coincidences, but sometimes the pattern *is* more obvious.
The extra tracks on this CD, while not outtakes or radio performances of tunes originally on the record are of interest to Bonzophiles, various Viv from 1976, Neil Innes original "How Sweet To Be An Idiot" (which I believe he played as part of the Pythons on "Live At The Hollywood Bowl" if memory serves, but maybe it was one of the "Secret Policeman's Ball" thingys) and a couple of Roger Ruskin Spear's solo efforts. Most of these tracks are completely unavailable elsewhere, so you'll have to get them here.
This CD is digitally remastered and a different mix from "Cornology". Some backing vocals seem much more "up front" than they were before.
That's not a problem for me, but it might disturb some purists, so do not operate heavy machinery during your initial listening of this recording."