Gang Of Four - Shrinkwrapped (c) 1995 Castle Records
Artist....: Gang Of Four
Album.....: Shrinkwrapped
Type......: Album
Source....: CDDA
Tracks....: 11
Genre.....: Indie
Rel.Date..: 21-07-2006
Label.....: Castle Records
Catalogue#: 100-2
Encoder...: LAME 3.90.3 Mod VBR
Quality...: VBR kbps / 44.1Hz / Joint-Stereo
URL.......: http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3rkqoauauijn
Tracklist:
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01 Tattoo 04:09
02 Sleepwalker 03:29
03 I Parade Myself 04:10
04 Unburden 03:14
05 Better Him Than Me 03:49
06 Something 99 02:49
07 Showtime, Valentine 04:42
08 Unburden Unbound 01:45
09 The Dark Ride 03:35
10 I Absolve You 04:05
11 Shrinkwrapped 03:33
Total:59,3 MBB / 39:20 min
Release Notes:
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Review by Jack Rabid
The completely unforeseen, sensational live show was one thing, but
surely the reconstituted Gang of Four couldn't deliver a new LP as
shockingly good. Surely Mall was the sort of dull, disillusioning
disappointment we could expect from the '90s version. Wrong again.
Singer Jon King and guitarist Andy Gill not only make up for that tepid
album, but exorcise the lifeless ghost they left off with over a decade
ago, Hard, and reclaim their spot as one of the most original, subtly
bracing, innovative, and unique bands around. No past tense about it,
and no nostalgia either. Rather than ridiculously attempt to revisit
their classic Entertainment!, the pair, augmented by bassists Dean
Garcia and Phil Butcher and drummers Monti and Dave Axford, retain only
the use of harsh dance beats as the building block for Gill's terse
blasts of clipped, jagged, circular-saw guitar. King's vocals are
sweeter, kinder, and more soothing than the side-of-the-mouth style he
once favored, and the melodies are more conventionally prominent, but
he still conveys as much intent as any vintage moment on Solid Gold,
and he's often all but buried in the mix, struggling to get out
(signaling their uncompromising artistic intent, as if Albini was
behind the board instead of Gill). The single "Tattoo" is the obvious
starting place, but it's more obtuse, patient, and unnerving stuff such
as "I Parade Myself" (oh yes, the lyrics are as good as the title
suggests; they do that well again too) and to a lesser extent
"Showtime, Valentine" that forge their own new signature style. When
bands come back from a decade of breakup, a passable LP is practically
a victory. That Shrinkwrapped is a firecracker, and would be a
firecracker no matter who made it, is cause for a goddamn party. That
Andy Gill is a dangerous guitar player again is a particularly "stop
the presses, prodigal returns" payoff. Pop a cork and put this one on
for all your pals, and watch them come up and say, "Who is this?" They
are officially back.