March 2001's Best New CDs - Part 2
It’s about time there was a US release of Billy Idol’s Greatest Hits. Idol was a punk rock icon and MTV staple in the 80’s, with numerous hits like “White Wedding”, “Rebel Yell”, “Eyes Without A Face”, and many more. They’re all collected here for the first time, plus a live version of “Rebel Yell” and one new track, a cover version of the Simple Minds “Don’t You Forget About Me”. Idol’s music helped fuse punk rock with hard rock. His attitude, sneer, looks, charisma and MTV exposure were big reasons for his success, but a listen to Greatest Hits proves Idol’s music has stood the test of time.
Web Link: http://www.billyidol.com
Kleenex/Liliput – Complete Recordings
There’s no need to pay hundreds of dollars on Ebay for the complete works of Kleenex/Liliput. They’ve been re-released as a 2 CD collection. For those not familiar with the group, Kleenex is a Swiss post-punk band who were forced to change their name to Liliput because of copyright issues. They released 2 critically acclaimed albums and several singles in the late 70’s and early 80’s. They are considered one of the most important female bands of the era. The core of the band was always guitarist Marlene Marder and bassist Klaudia Schiff. The band had three different vocalists during their existence, each with a very distinctive sound and style. Complete Recordings is a seminal recording, and a must have for all fans of punk, post-punk and new wave music.
Web Link: http://www.killrockstars.com/bands/lilip...
Kudu – Kudu
New York City based Kudu has broken new musical ground with their fusion of jazz, hip-hop, soul and electronica. Lead singer Sylvia Gordon’s sultry vocals are a combination of Erykah Badu, Sade and Lauren Hill. Kudu’s music would be equally popular in a jazz bar or a dance club. They mix hip-hop bass and rhythm with piano and horns to create a very unique sound. Kudu is hip, accessible, and on the cutting edge of a whole new genre of music.
Web Link: http://www.velourmusic.com/home.htm
Love Tractor – The Sky At Night
It’s been a long time since we’ve heard from Love Tractor. They were one of the Georgia pioneers of the “Athens Sound” in the early 80’s, along with REM and B-52s. Their last release was in 1989, but the group never broke up. They’ve just been making music in private, and this is the culmination of the past decade of work. The Sky At Night proves the wait was worth it. Love Tractor still utilizes the trademark Athens jangly guitar sound, and craft their songs into a sound that might be called “alternative art rock”. Many of their songs are instrumentals, which makes them different from most rock bands. Love Tractor has influenced the sound of many bands over the years. Check out The Sky At Night and see why.
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