Bizarro (album)
Encyclopedia
Bizarro is the second studio album by The Wedding Present
. It was released in October 1989 by their record label
, RCA
.
folk music
sidestep and showed that the band had grown both musically and lyrically. The same production team was used as on debut album George Best
, but Bizarro sounds a lot tougher, which had probably also to do with an increased recording budget. Lyrically, Gedge still chronicles the same tales of lust
, love
, jealousy
and revenge
, but is a lot more mature about it, while musically the band sounds much tighter and experimental, often ending songs in Velvet Underground
-like extended rhythm guitar
workouts.
Technically speaking, only one single
was taken from the album, "Kennedy", which provided the band with their first Top 40 hit, reaching #33. In early 1990, The Wedding Present re-recorded "Brassneck" with Steve Albini
, which reached #24 in the UK charts. The single and its B-sides were later included on U.S.
release of the album, and are also included on the Singles 1989-1991 compilation
. A remastered CD version, released by BMG Camden in 2001, also features the B-sides of the "Kennedy" single, including a cover version of the Tom Jones
hit "It's Not Unusual".
The Wedding Present
The Wedding Present are a British indie rock group based in Leeds, England, formed in 1985 from the ashes of the Lost Pandas. The band's music has evolved from fast-paced indie rock in the vein of their most obvious influences The Fall, Buzzcocks and Gang of Four to more varied forms...
. It was released in October 1989 by their record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
.
About the album
The Wedding Present's second studio album and first "proper" album for RCA came hot on the heels of the Українські Виступи в Івана ПілаUkrainian John Peel Sessions
Ukrainian John Peel Sessions is a compilation album by The Wedding Present, originally gathering their first three Ukrainian language John Peel radio sessions...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
sidestep and showed that the band had grown both musically and lyrically. The same production team was used as on debut album George Best
George Best (album)
George Best is the debut album by The Wedding Present. It was released in October 1987 by their own record company, Reception Records.After self-releasing five singles on Reception Records label, the band turned to recording their first album, continuing their collaboration with producer Chris...
, but Bizarro sounds a lot tougher, which had probably also to do with an increased recording budget. Lyrically, Gedge still chronicles the same tales of lust
Lust
Lust is an emotional force that is directly associated with the thinking or fantasizing about one's desire, usually in a sexual way.-Etymology:The word lust is phonetically similar to the ancient Roman lustrum, which literally meant "purification"...
, love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
, jealousy
Jealousy
Jealousy is a second emotion and typically refers to the negative thoughts and feelings of insecurity, fear, and anxiety over an anticipated loss of something that the person values, particularly in reference to a human connection. Jealousy often consists of a combination of presenting emotions...
and revenge
Revenge
Revenge is a harmful action against a person or group in response to a grievance, be it real or perceived. It is also called payback, retribution, retaliation or vengeance; it may be characterized, justly or unjustly, as a form of justice.-Function in society:Some societies believe that the...
, but is a lot more mature about it, while musically the band sounds much tighter and experimental, often ending songs in Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...
-like extended rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar
Rhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
workouts.
Technically speaking, only one single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
was taken from the album, "Kennedy", which provided the band with their first Top 40 hit, reaching #33. In early 1990, The Wedding Present re-recorded "Brassneck" with Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
, which reached #24 in the UK charts. The single and its B-sides were later included on U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
release of the album, and are also included on the Singles 1989-1991 compilation
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
. A remastered CD version, released by BMG Camden in 2001, also features the B-sides of the "Kennedy" single, including a cover version of the Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
hit "It's Not Unusual".
Side A
- Brassneck – 4:51
- Crushed – 2:32
- No – 4:11
- Thanks – 2:22
- Kennedy – 4:20
- What Have I Said Now? – 5:18
US CD release
- Brassneck [original version] – 4:52
- Crushed – 2:32
- No – 4:11
- Thanks – 2:22
- Kennedy – 4:20
- What Have I Said Now? – 5:18
- Granadaland – 4:50
- Bewitched – 6:42
- Take Me! – 9:15
- Brassneck [Steve Albini version] – 4:22
- Don't Talk Just Kiss – 3:20
- Gone – 2:42
- Box Elder (written by PavementPavement (band)Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...
) – 2:14 - Be Honest – 2:37
UK Remastered CD
- Brassneck [original version] – 4:52
- Crushed – 2:32
- No – 4:11
- Thanks – 2:22
- Kennedy – 4:20
- What Have I Said Now? – 5:18
- Granadaland – 4:50
- Bewitched – 6:42
- Take Me! – 9:15
- Be Honest – 2:37
- Unfaithful – 3:21
- One Day All This Will Be Yours – 2:02
- It's Not UnusualIt's Not Unusual"It's Not Unusual" is a song written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills, first recorded by a then-unknown Tom Jones after having first been offered to Sandie Shaw. Jones recorded what was intended to be a demo for Shaw, but when she heard it she was so impressed with Jones' delivery that she declined the...
(Les ReedLes ReedLes Reed O.B.E. is an English songwriter, musician and light orchestra leader.-Career:...
and Gordon MillsGordon MillsGordon William Mills , was a successful London-based music industry manager and songwriter who was born in Madras, India and grew up in Trealaw in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales...
) – 2:09 - Brassneck (Steve AlbiniSteve AlbiniSteven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
version) – 4:22 - Don't Talk Just Kiss – 3:20
- Gone – 2:42
- Box Elder (written by Stephen MalkmusStephen MalkmusStephen Joseph Malkmus is an indie rock musician and icon, and a member of the band Pavement. He currently performs with Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks.-Early years:...
of Pavement) – 2:14
The band
- David GedgeDavid GedgeDavid Gedge is an English musician and songwriter. He is the main songwriter and vocalist in the bands The Wedding Present and Cinerama...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Peter SolowkaPeter SolowkaPeter Solowka born in Leeds of Ukrainian and Irish descent was guitarist with the Wedding Present from its inception until 1991 after the recording of the Seamonsters album...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Keith Gregory – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Simon Smith – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Technical staff
- Chris AllisonChris AllisonChris Allison is a British record producer and founder/head of Sonic360 Records.He is primarily known for his work with The Wedding Present; however, he has also produced for Coldplay, The Beta Band and Plastilina Mosh....
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Steve LyonSteve LyonSteve Lyon is a professional ice hockey player who played three games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Pittsburgh Penguins.- References :...
– engineer