Indie gems (Ballyhoo: The Best Of Echo & The Bunnymen - Echo & The Bunnymen)

Name: mo79

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Product:	Ballyhoo: The Best Of Echo & The Bunnymen - Echo & The Bunnymen
Date:	28/02/01 (193 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Each of the 18 tracks are superb. A perfect collection from a great band's magic period

Disadvantages: Personally and honestly, I don't think there are any

Ask anybody who they think the most important British guitar band of the 80's was, and chances are likely that most people will say The Smiths. Tell them who Echo & The Bunnymen are and they may say they have heard the name at most. It's tragic, as these Bunnymen deserve more legendary status than they have been entrusted.
Before making a comeback in 1997 with their acclaimed 'Evergreen' album (and then being dropped by London Records for poor sales with the follow-up), 10 years before, the band delivered their last album. It seemed that they wouldn't return. The death of their drummer in a motorcycle accident almost cemented this.
The 10 years in-between saw frontman Ian McCulloch and guitarist Will Sargeant find some cult success with attempts at grunge, but ultimately the magical wonder of Echo & The Bunnymen (it's even in the name) pulled them back together with bassist Les Pattinson (one last time) and a studio drummer to pick up what the past had curtailed. Oh, and if you're interested, the Echo in the name was the name of their drum machine before they found a human replacement.
'Ballyhoo...' is a best of compilation by Korova records of the hits and untrumpeted classics from the Bunnymen's back catalogue from 1980 to 1987, and released the same year as '97's 'Evergreen'. No doubt it was a cash in by their former label to give new fans a digestible compilation of their past. It worked.
18 tracks fill this compilation, and probably not a single one of them is naff. They're also recorded in a chronological fashion showing that the Bunnymen are one of those bands that get better on each release. A cover of The Doors 'People Are Strange' is here too. Very upbeat and lyrically true. Jim Morrison is not spinning in his grave.
The album opens with the wiry grandieur of 'Rescue'. Grandieur is probably a key word in summing up the Bunnymen, as they moved away from being sho
uty and grisly like their contemporaries. But doing it beautifully, not like US cheese-mongers Hootie & The Blowfish.
Following this is 'Do It Clean', a swagger that Oasis re-dug up, not made when they hit the scene. If the Bunnymen debuted in the early 90's, the Gallaghers could possibly still be playing nowhere. 'Villiers Terrace' follows this up with more swaggering grandieur.
'All That Jazz' is bouncy quirky pop that shows a hint of Joy Division with polished edges. And then there's a kind of chilling, spooky and ghostly mysticism in 'Over The Wall'.
Next up is 'A Promise', which sees Ian McCulloch pouring his whole heart into his sobbing singing with more wiry grandieur courtesy of Will Sargeant.
'The Disease' is probably the only thing on the album that's close to a filler, it's short too. It's still excellent though. It's title sums it well. It gives of the atmospherics of something cold and grey, that shouldn't be. It's dark.
'The Back Of Love' sees the band a bit more upbeat and zany but still refined, it's almost like Devo musically, with some cutting lyrics.
'The Cutter' is one of the best known old Bunnymen tracks ever, and it's one of my personal faves. It probably is for many other fans too. Excellent fairy-tale like lyrics and with lovely music work, and one of the most emotional stirring choruses any guitar band in the world has ever done. It's simply beautiful.
'Never Stop' follows this with more grandieur swagger topped with wooden xylophone knocks and ziggy synth scratches and piano tinkles.
'The Killing Moon' sounds like the soothing and delicate soundtrack to an agitated love scene in a 50's black and white movie. Very spooky, like a mysterious man standing near a cliff with his scarf blowing in the wind. 'Silver' follows this up by being more upbeat.
'Seven Seas' is a
nother beautiful upbeat one, even the lyrics seem utopical. The Bunnymen are as good happy as they are when displaying shades of grey.
'Bring On The Dancing Horses' is another Bunnymen classic. With zigging synths again. You'd be hard pressed in thinking that they weren't almost an electronic pop band here. There's quite a digital kind of perfection on this recording, but it's still very very human and emotional. They make songs for people, guaranteed.
'The Game' is another favourite of mine. It's one of those beautiful and windy songs that's good to put on when you feel broken down. It's got some very beautiful piano, great lyrics and ace guitar work. Will Sargeant is a great guitarist, and McCulloch knows how to sing with emotion. Not to forget the rhythmic precision of the late Peter DeFreitas and bassist Pattinson.
'Lips Like Sugar', even though it's a song from '87, sounds like good Oasis, but better. I love the moody swing of this song. It's one of the songs that defines the personality of the band. Guitars with an attitude, a steady rhythm and McCulloch pouring his words out like a confession that can't be questioned, he's very rhetorical in his deliveries. I always think of my girlfriend when I hear this song.
Last song 'Bedbugs & Ballyhoo' has a kind of bouncing comicness to it, even though it's still quite moody and swaggering and grandieur. The lyrics are quite amusing and make you smile, as they are a bit funny. You wouldn't hear Morrissey sing "that's the way the bee bumbles", would you? Maybe...
Damn, I think I've described every song on the album. I didn't intend that, but it's okay, I've given enough to serve as a taster. I'm sure though that they show a thread to show that this is a lovely song collection, perfectly collected and makes a perfect record for the new and even veteran Bunnymen fans.
A perfect
collection for one of Britain's greatest guitar bands ever, anywhere, at their best period and perfectly re-issued at an adequate time. A must buy for fans of good guitar music, and good music full-stop.
The CD comes complete with somewhat vague, and probably personal liner notes by one-time friend, producer and KLF man Bill Drummond and matching trademark photography by Anton Corbijn. I wholeheartedly recommend this album. It's wonderful, top marks!

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