The B-52s - Funplex CD Review

This disc has been out since March but I dropped the ball in writing a CD review (until now). The passing of time hasn't necessarily been a bad thing as I have gotten a better appreciation for some of the new material having watched the band perform tracks from this disc live on The Tonight Show, The Today Show, the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Regis and Kelly. (Almost all of these videos are on YouTube for anyone who missed them the first time)

With this release, The B-52s do justice to their thirty-year legacy (which is more than a number of the band's contemporaries can lay claim to). The new songs fit well with the band's back catalog and it is somewhat amazing that the band can sound this revitalized after a 16-year hiatus from recording. In terms of how Funplex compares to the band's "recent" releases, it doesn't quite have the 'WOW' factor of Cosmic Thing but it is a stronger release than either Good Stuff or Bouncing Off the Satellites.

Funplex has a strong dance-floor sound and may be best compared to an updated version of Whammy!. In talking about writing the music for Funplex, Keith Strickland said "I had been listening to a lot of electronic dance music and early rock and roll. I was inspired to use these two aesthetics together with our own sound to write some shameless dance-floor party music." Keith and the band then added on to this by hiring veteran dance-music producer Steve Osboune (who produced The Doves, Suede and New Order's comeback CD).

Funplex debuted at #11 on the Billboard charts and the first two singles from this release are "Funplex" and "Juliet of the Spirits". Here are the videos for both songs:

Funplex:


Juliet of the Spirits (Live on Regis and Kelly)

Hopefully, it won't be another 16 years until the band's next disc of new material.

Links:
The B-52s Website

The B-52s Play Live on The Today Show on Memorial Day

The B-52s on the Today Show is a great way to kick off the Memorial Day festivities.

The band will be playing sometime between 7AM and 11AM on Monday. According to The B-52s MySpace page (link below), you can send an email to contest@cornerstonepromotion.com for a chance for you and a guest to win a VIP spot in front of the stage.

The band is also playing two shows in the area as part of the True Colors Tour:
June 01 Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
June 03 New York, NY - Radio City Music Hall

Links:
The B-52's MySpace Profile
The B-52's Website

The B-52s Performed Funplex on The Tonight Show

The B-52s are starting to hit the talk shows in support of their great new release "Funplex". Check out the band performing Funplex on the Tonight Show (from April 1st).

The B-52s are on the Ellen Degeneres show tomorrow (Friday) performing "Funplex" and "Love Shack". I'll be at work tomorrow so if anyone posts a video from this appearance, please send me a link.

Links:
The B-52s Website
The B-52s MySpace Profile