Swan Song Phenomenon
All I have to say is Listen To Track #1, "Insanity". That song alone STILL gives me the chills when I hear it. It's so evil sounding....And The Video.....Lots of great songs on here. Still proves to the listener that Danny Elfman is in fact a musical genius. He's written so many scores for movies as well. Something else to check out is Danny Elfman's Solo Effort entitled "Music For A Darkened Theatre:Volume One" which is a collection of all of Danny Elfman's movie score material. Check out yet another Boingo remake "I Am The Walrus" which is included on this SWAN SONG album by Oingo Boingo.
an excellent listening experience
This is the best album I've bought in a long time. I bought this album because I had heard "Insanity", and it blew me away. I am still amazed every time I hear that song. The first time I listened to this disc, I was struck by the fact that most of the music sounds very much like a late Beatles album, complete with "I am the Walrus". Of course, I mean that as a very high complement. This version of "Walrus" is so well done, mostly faithful to the original recording, but still unique. To me, "Lost Like This" sounds like some of Lennon's solo work, and the multi-faceted "Change" even has the bass line and some rhythm guitar parts from "Taxman" in one section. As anyone who has listened to Danny Elfman's other work (with or without Oingo Boingo) would expect, most of the subject matter is much darker than anything the Beatles (or many other artists, for that matter) wrote about. With that in mind, I agree with the other reviewer who recommended buying the cassette version of this album just to get the song "Helpless", a swirling, twisted, and macabre waltz. I am also partial to the two touching and intensely personal songs, "Mary" and "Can't See (Useless)". My only negative word about this album is that "Pedestrian Wolves" runs a bit long for my taste. In conclusion, "Insanity" still stands out, but the rest of the album is phenomenal.
The final evolution of Boingo
A seemingly experimental album for the band. Clearly not designed for radio play, but contains some of the band's best work. "Lost Like This", "War Again", "Insanity" and "Spider" are among Elfman's best work.Highly recommended to anyone looking for a change of pace.
Sublime Insanity...
The Mystic Knights of The Oingo Boingo have come a long was since presiding in the Devil's Chamber in that truly cult classic, THE FORBIDDEN ZONE, directed by Richard Elfman {sibling elf}, a highly entertaining venture into the vortex of utter madness. Since their innovative neo-punk beginnings, Danny Elfman has led the Knights onto many musical victories, including his own solo projects, & finally, movie scores. Such titles as BATMAN RETURNS, BEETLEJUICE, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE XMAS, NIGHTBREED & EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, are among his celebrated compositions.
The name has been put through the guillotine, severed in half to display a highly crystallized evolution. A focus on heavier rhythm guitars have been added, giving the album a sharper edge. The cover displays an interesting little clown, deformed in his composit. The back shows some aesthetic terrorism as well.
Now, this erubescent, modern-day Wolfgang brings forth a series of songs which speak from his satanic heart, of anti-assimilation in the jesting guise of conformity. Particularly noticable in the cantible "Insatanity". where the voices of little ones valiantly defy xian indoctrination by recognizing its unnaturalness. Also exposed is the hypocrisy of evangelists in their two-faced, money-grubbing, sexually-twisted forms.
Another favorite is "Mary", which is the common story of a blossoming midwestern girl breaking the apron strings to see the great-wide-world. The rub here, is that she enjoys what she feels, & for the first time, comes unto her own realizations & conclusionsnow thyat her overbearing xian family is out of the picture. It is quite an emotionally-evoking piece, especially when the syubbornness of her unfortunately xoid kin is displayed., in their unacceptance of her, when she finally finds something she really enjoys. Indulging in the pleasures of the flesh, & living a decadently hedonistic lifestyle which brings her satisfaction, & a sense of accomplishment. She was a bigger fish than they - she had ambition. I don't think it was too much of a blasphemous coincidence that the name hosen was "Mary", as in "virgin". By the way, the violins are sublime.
There's also a remake of the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus", a fun song that has been played at many a frat party, no doubt. SPIDER is an enjoyable diddy about he who glares from the wall. WAR AGAIN is an inspirational tune about war & the adrenalyn & tragedy of battle. It inspires pride. It is powerful in its emotional evocation, as the words are definitely felt, greatly compliments the music.
Overall, this release is an experience, which is rare in the pop-"music" industry, with their trivial, monotonous, monosyllabic, non-music blare. Like Elman's other works, all which make an impression upon the listener, this is sure to please the discriminating, amalgamate, audial conniseur.
Farewell with a bang
When I purchased this album, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. From "Insanity" until "Change" this album is filled to the brim with a plethora of miscelaneous sounds, textures and tunes. The Boingos certainly did a good job with this one.
Danny Elfman has written soundtracks (Batman et al.) for the last decade, so it's no surprise he's ditched the hyperkinetic pop of the Oingo Boingo era for more mature, long-form epics in reviving his old band. Most people will run screaming from Elfman's intensity and dense wordplay, but the emotional depths plumbed by tracks like "Can't See" (Useless) and the 16-minute fever dream "Changes" ensure cult acclaim. --Jeff Bateman
