Still vibrant.
Vajra Wright | Portland, OR United States | 07/01/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Twenty-five years after its original release, The Chameleons' "Script of the Bridge" album is still a testament to the timeless nature of the music the lads from Madchester penned so long ago. Bands today are still name (and riff!) dropping The Chameleons. Honestly, if you played this to the uninitiated, chances are they'd think it was released recently.
To listen to this album is to take a trip down the rabbit hole. A strange and incredible journey that leads you to lands bleak and hopeless and heights dizzying and hopeful. In this package, you're offered balm for the Big Sad and hope that "this roaring silence won't devour us all".
An album most certainly for artists, by artists.
Welcome home."
Timeless classic
hot4hypatia | 29.48 N , 98.51 W | 08/27/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you are a fan of 80's rock/punk then this is a must have album. Almost every song is single-quality. Beginning with the rollicking 'Don't Fall' and concluding with the understated 'View from a Hill', each song has its own character and appeal. The lyrics, instrumentation and arrangements blend together seamlessly.
These guys played with U2 and other major bands back in the early 80's. Unfortunately, just when the band was coming to tour the US in 1987, they abruptly disbanded following the sudden death of band manager Tony Fletcher who died in a car accident in New York. There have been subsequent attempts to resurrect the band notably the 2002 release 'Why Call It Anything?'."
...not ALL grim up north...
onsenkuma | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 01/29/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Popular media would have you believe that the 80's were all about third-rate synth pop, overproduced flat-top soul, big hair and Madonna. But while the fledgling MTV was busy handing music back to the rich and pretty a subversive indie scene was quietly blossoming all over the UK, Europe and North America. Back in '83 and '84 The Chameleons were uniquely poised to win the hearts and minds of listeners who wanted the sound of guitars and REAL drums (as opposed to overly syncopated click tracks or trash can lids drenched in reverb) but weren't yet ready for hardcore and needed something more satisfying than pre-punk 70's poodle rock and hair metal. So why weren't they HUGE??? Because they weren't rich, pretty and videogenic? This is a GREAT album, as are 'What Does Anything Mean...' and 'Return of the Roughnecks...' ('Is it Any Wonder' is a personal all-time favorite). Don't let the media make up your mind for you: there was A LOT of great music released in the post-punk years ca '78-'84, and this is but one example. It's great to have some more live tracks I suppose, but this edition has little else to recommend it over the original Statik or (better sounding) Dead-Dead Good versions from some years back, if you can find them..."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1