Search - Split Enz :: Dizrythmia (Dig)

Super cool

marzullo | Tampa, FL United States | 03/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased a sealed vinyl copy of Dizrythmia a few months ago. If I didn't know that this album was recorded in 1977, I would never have guessed it was 25 years old. It is surprisingly modern sounding (except for some dated keyboard sounds). This was the first Enz album without co-leader Phil Judd and the first to feature Neil Finn on guitar. Thus, the songs are a little less artsy and vaudevillian (is that a word?) than their first 2 lps. This is not to suggest that the music isn't still artsy, because it is; however, it incorporates more of a modern edge and pop song structures. To my ears, it sounds great. The lead-off track, 'Bold as Brass,' is just awesome. Great fast beat and bassline. On side 2, 'Charlie' is another standout track with a slower tempo and somber lyrics. Overall, this album succeeds as a whole because of the unity and quality of the songs. Those familiar with post-True Colors era Enz--who view the band's music as primarily pop or new wave--may be surprised at the level of musicianship displayed here. These guys can flat-out play!"

This is why I got into new wave

skankersore | Texas | 11/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was five when this album came out. Genesis was going pop without their peculiar former front man, the BeeGees had gone disco. Queen, Bowie and Floyd were about the best (commercially) the UK had to offer at this point. America had promising progressives like Stix. Paul McCarteny (wings) had some interesting stuff so pop acts like Ambrosia and others were emulating him rather than define their own style. Everybody around me looked like something out of a post apocalyptic hippie commune, with the droopy clothes, bush heads and long hair, not to mention the mandatory wireframe pilot sunglasses. The disco scene was like a nightmare from Guatamala. Nobody had any style, and that was hip. Bands like "the clash" and "The Specials" and "Devo" were just getting started.



Yes, mid-late 70's was pretty sucky. I was traumatised by the radio's constant playing of "Fly Robin Fly" and "You come again (dolly parton)", "How deep is your love" and "Were all alone". Well, looking back this music wasn't bad considering the crap played on pop radio post MTV era. But, as a small kid I hated disco because it was what the smart-ass flare legged teenagers were listening to. When new wave began to emerge, it was something that threw a middle finger to this depressing "Meatloaf" worshipping era.



So what was so great about Split enz? For one, their music. This 1977 album is unashamedly gershwin-esqe, sounding vaguely like "Supertramp", and a prelude to more famous acts to come such as "Madness", "XTC" and other second wave ska that is now thrown into box of new wave. They had a strong classical influence that seeps through, yet they weren't another Moody Blues clone. This was an example of how you can actually place well-written lyrics in "feel-good" music, and not be compromised either way.



Then their was the look. These guys never really hit the mainstream like their emulators - acts like "A Flock of Seaguls" and others, but they fostered the 80's "Look" that became one with new wave/rock, starting with cubist abstract pop-art that's all over their albums and photo-shoots. They incorporated the vaudvillian character of their music by dress/make-up as neo-harlequins. This was a testament to the fact that pop-music doesn't have to take itself seriously, yet it can still be just as arty. These guys were the new wave when the word didn't exist."

Second of the first two great records by the Enz

D. Garcia | Los Angeles | 03/18/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There are two distinct Enz periods, the original period and the post Phil Judd period dominated by the Finn brothers. They were a good pop band post Judd. But during the original period with Judd there was nothing else like them. Vaudeville, tack piano, avant-garde, rock, early jazz mixed together with an Addams family like humorous touch. Really a miss match of styles that worked beautifully. Shockingly original, and really really beautiful gorgeous stuff. I mean really really heart breakingly beautiful but at the same time weirdly off the wall. Mostly due to the weirder sensibilities of Judd tempered by the pop oriented Tim Finn. A clash of personalities if there ever was one. When they were able to work it out it worked like nothing else. Lucky for us collectors of the unusual, obscure and great.



Dizrythmia & Mental Notes are the two from the original period. There is nothing like either of them. Unfortunately one of my favorite songs "The Woman Who Loved You" is absent from both CDs.



I've owned over 10,000 records and these are of a few that have grown in stature over time, in my mind. Still have my originals in plastic. Had to have the CDs too though."