The Psychedelic Furs
The Psychedelic Furs formed in London in the late '70s and broke up in the early '90s producing seven studio albums and numerous collections in the duration.
I first heard the P Furs sometime in 1983 between the releases of Forever Now and Mirror Moves. At the time, their music stood out in my mind due to trippy, articulate grooves punctuated with seering guitars and whirling effects or synthesizers. In front of this ethereal mix were the detached poetic musings of a scratchy-throated baritone lead singer. The band went something like this:
Tim Butler's bass-lines were straight forward, designed to latch on to the rhythm center of your brain and not let go until they had said what they came to say. John Ashton's and Roger Morris' guitar work checked in from an alternate plane, sometimes in stark contrast with what the other instruments were talking about and other times agreeing wholeheartedly. Depending on which Furs album you are listening to, you may also hear psycho saxophone (thanks to Duncan Kilburn) or maddening keyboards. Vince Ely's percussion held the chaos together perfectly. And then there were the vocals... Richard Butler (Tim's brother) can only be described as a peculiar crossing of David Bowie with an older, wiser Johnny Rotten and a sober Jim Morrison... and yet, there is still something unidentifiably spooky about this Butler chap.
Keep in mind, stateside in the early '80s, a band like the Furs could be heard only on radio stations experimenting with 'new wave' programming. There was so much other crap being lumped into this format (Thompson Twins, Thomas Dolby, Kim Wilde, Soft Cell, Tony Basil, not to mention a bunch of poop from Chermany.. Nina Hagen, "99 Luft Balloons".. "Der Kommisar"..etc.) that the Furs stood out easily. Their sound was unique and engaging then and still is today. Here is a band with few imitators I can think of (however, Dave Navarro does seem to be borrowing a riff or two from Ashton on the newest Jane's Addiction release... listen to "So What!").
UPDATE: The Furs reformed in the late '90s/early '00s and have been touring. I have no idea what the band line-up is, for I have yet to attend one of these shows at this point in time.
Reader Comments
Dava1116@aol.com
Psych Furs are absolutely brilliant. I saw them at Vanderbilt in Nashville some years ago. They were the best live band I have ever seen. And I have seen The Pretenders, Elvis C., Iggy Pop, and REM , and Natalie Merchant at the same location. The lyrics are great poetry, I am trying to buy all the Furs and X albums I can while they are still in production. It is so sad to see the young people get into stupid hip-hop. That music fits the lifestyle of urban losers. The man problem with hip-hop is, we can't all be entertainment millionaires. But our youth think they're gonna be rap stars!stevesmith@heartwood.fsworld.co.uk (helen TERRETT)
I heard them on the John Peel show (ukR1) when Talk Talk Talk came out and fell inlove with 'Dumb waiter/s'. Me and my mate saw them at the Hammersmith something or other and were thrilled that R Butler wore the same weird army surplus baggy trousers that we had just bought in Amsterdam - or at least I thought of them as 'Gas Pants' - fuck knows why because surely they came in a selection of trendy colours so how could they possibly be army surplus? - anyway, you don't care when you're young and unworldly and anyway, he looked fantastic in them. By the time I saw them live it must have been when Forever Now came out because it was 'President Gas' that stands out in my mind, but hang on, it could have been that I saw them 2x cos i also remember 'Ghost in you' and R Butler singing the backing-vocal bit that's under the chorus at the end - the bit I always wanted to hear- and it was lovely. But nothing beats the pulse of 'Pulse' and 'India'. Mesmerising performer, great individual voice and cool shades. am on a bit of a nostalgia trip as I've just bought the Should God Forget compilation. I lent my tapes of the 4 albums I had to a bloke 12 years ago and he never returned them - won't do that again, but I guess it was because they were that good.ssross@adelphia.net (SRR)
By far and awayÊthe greatest band. Music still as moodful now as when I first heard them in 1982. Love my way and India perhaps the most melodic riffs I have ever heard. Best heardÊlive. great memories.smartcomputing@yahoo.com (Nick)
Great website on a, if not the greatest 80's and onward band. I'm 38 and went through the 80's with intensity. When I heard the Furs for the first time, I knew I was home. That psychedelic touch mixed with melodious harmonies and toped by intelligent lyrics, it was my band. It influenced almost everything in my life, from my own music playing to my general mood. I was living in the past. The 80's didn't always have great tunes but the Furs brought me back and I made up with the present. Looking back, I still have the same feeling when I listen to them. It still sparks the same wild and profound feelings. I still haven't seen them in concert and can't wait till they come round to California again. If you're reading this, please, please come back :) They stamped marked my 20s and I'm stoked they are still around to accompany me in my 30's as I get closer to embracing my 40's. Definitely the best 80's new wave band. Glad they are still around. Thanks for your site, Nick
rrainey@austin.rr.com (Richard Rainey)
They are my favorite '80's band by far, which is surprising because I didn't really start to concentrate on them until '88. (Let's face it: the '80's had someÊGREAT bands, some of whom are still around: U2, New Order, The Cure, PIL, The Smiths, et al. Gosh! I just realized that none of these bands are American!) I love just about all of their songs. Their arrangements are insanely great, Richard's lyrics are fantastic, and he's one of the best singers in the history of rock 'n roll. Nobody comes close to describing relationship angst as well as this band, except maybe the Stones. Love Spit Love were fantastic, too. I plan to see the Furs in Austin this coming Thursday, April 15, 2004. I can hardly wait!DavBrouillet@aol.com
Furs are very good.Ê But they are no Iggy Pop. John's guitar sings sweetly in most Fur tunes.Gbrt548@aol.com
I've been a Furs fan since I heard "Pretty In Pink" back in the early 80's and I've just "turnedÊ on" my wife of four years to them.Ê We just saw them in two shows @ the same venue six months apart!Ê Both times we were in the front row, center and both times Richard Butler shook my hand!Ê I always had a good time whenever I see them and it's amazing how well the music holds up after all these years!Ê Rock on Furs, hopefully we'll see a 30th Anniversary tour!jsbrown3@charter.net
Actually shared a drink with the band after a show in florida 1983-ish. We tracked them down at the Holiday Inn because that's the only place in town where they could've been staying. Richard Butler (the only performer to ever approach Bowie's aura) was as smoky and charming as you could have wished for. But that was the early eighties, no?
One writer described The Furs as a "conscious attempt to experiment with the attitude and freedom of the psychedelic period coupled with the nihilistic attitutude of the punk era". This is nowhere more apparent than on their debut release. This self-titled album, at first listen, is uncomfortable yet very commanding. You know these guys are on to something but you're not sure exactly what. It's as if you've shown up to a party, and you're ready to let loose and get shitty, but everyone there is having a blast in a language you don't speak. As much as you feel this music beckoning, The Psychedelic Furs at first leaves you out in the cold. It's a new groove, baby, a whirlpool in fact. After a few listens you will be drawn in.
"India" fades in softly and then goes whacko, the well crafted sounds eminating from your speakers set you up nicely for the barrage that follows. "We Love You" may be the punkest tune the P Furs ever did. It's brimming with sarcastic attitude, it howls melodically, and it served as the band's first big single in the UK. "Sister Europe" plods along eerily and has a stoney edge as its subtext. Other stand out tracks are "Pulse," "Fall," "Wedding Song" (which has a nice rap in the middle of it) and "Flowers".
This album has grown on me over the years and recently I decided this is indeed The P Furs' finest hour. Several of their later releases come close, but this is the moment. The Psychedelic Furs could easily be one of the ten best records to come out of Britain during the punk/post punk years from 1977 to 1982. I'm not shittin' you... I'd put it up there next to Never Mind the Bollocks and London Calling. If you disagree you probably ain't heard it.
Reader Comments
aske@interport.net (Mark Prindle)
Wasn't impressed. I just don't think the songs are very good. The melodies don't stick in my head, and that annoying flanged saxophone or whatever it is annoys the hell out of me. In my opinion, this is a perfectly average post-punk album. I'd rather listen to The Cure. Same sort of idea (not completely, but in the same ballpark), but much, much catchier. I DO love the "Fall" song, though, probably because I love The Fall so much. Other than that, the singer's raspy voice is kinda cool and there are some good lyrics, but the music is nothing spectacular at all. I give it a 5.huachuma@netscape.net (Michael J. Nehl)
I have to agree, their best album, but just barely better than Talk, Talk, Talk. Whenever I'm in a furry mood, this is the one I put on. And, Mark... I agree with perhaps 80% of your comments, (the 20% I disagree with are your unbelievable dissings of Sonic Youth); How could you not like this album? Oh, that's right you've never chemically altered your consciousness. At least that's what you claim in some reviews. In others you seem to contradict yourself...but, maybe that's the way you want it. Ahhh, to be an enigma.jefree@webtv.net
It's hard to believe I was a mere toddler of 25 when I first heard the PFurs first release. It was the beginning of a love affair that has not stopped. I continue to appreciate their music more and more in present day. They were clearly ahead of their time. Yes there were other bands churning out music that could only be considered the same genre....however that is where comparisons ended. The other band I was crazy for at the time was Siouxsie and the Banshees. I love them ever as much now as then...especially recordings up to Tinderbox. They too had a sound that no one could imitate. I recall my good friend bringing me the Furs first recording to listen to. No one was a bigger Siouxise fan than he, and he was blown away by the Furs. As you, India and all the rest have grown on me immensely and it remains in my estimation one of the quintessential rock records to date. Due in in fact to it's simplicity. Richards fab rasp. And the bands overall trademark drone that IS the Psychedelic Furs. The evolution of the band revealed qualities and sounds equally stirring and moving. Recordings that would not be fair to compare. I saw them open last night (8/4/00) for the B-52's and the Go-Go's....and the Furs rocked and stole my heart over their peers. I was really there in the first place for the Furs. It seems they've reunited. They delivered a new song called, "Alive." Absolutely amazing. I look forward to more. That is to say a new cd? A tour where they once again will headline. They deserve to!swampwamper@hotmail.com (Perry D'Andrea)
jefree, I hate to be the bearer of this news, but ya gotta hear it from somebody. They did headline a show just a few hours down the road from you the night before last. I too saw the arena show where the Psychedelic Furs opened for the Go Go's and the B52's. Not the most enviable conditions to play under. The one I saw was just northeast of here in Concord (SFBayArea). The sun was still out. The venue wasn't even half full until the end of their set. To me, this just wasn't right. Even with these disadvantages, there was a light emanating from Richard Butler that I didn't see 9(?) years before in Athens at the Georgia Theatre. And it wasn't just the reflection of the setting sun that was blaring into the band's eyes during their time slot. This was the light of a gifted human being who appeared so alive, so perfectly at home yet stimulated, doing just what he was doing that instant. To the point where now there's this added angelic power (speaking of Real angels, not some well-behaved winged toddler with a halo sticking over his head), and this power has spawned what feels like a willingness to help pull you a notch closer to heaven- a notch closer to something extroardinary while in this earthly existence. Like the message has been there in both the transcendent lyrics, the wonderfully crafted and layered music, and the performance- for years and years. But now there seems to be a glow, maybe like the glow of a mystic, added to the seductiveness. This was real.And in what seemed like a flash, they were g o n e.
I raced onto the Internet after the concert and discovered that the Psychdelic Furs were headlining at the House Of Blues in Las Vegas on Saturday Aug 5th. Before I had a chance to think, I went to the venue site and got my ass a ticket. Now I HAD to go. A total of about 23 hours of driving. Who cares- I got myself a dirt cheap clean room in a seedy little motel right off the Strip. I went, I heard, I saw, I felt, I lifted. I just now returned home in San Fran. Now I gotta embrace this sleep that's been tapping on my shoulder for two days while I've been floating on the echoes of this performance. I'll write back soon and unload my take on this incredible show.
tonylee1@btinternet.com ("Tony")
After seeing them in Leeds I had to buy this album. Certainly one of the best debuts ever, up there with The Scream and First And Last And Always. I'll always love The Furs , the fusion of Velvets/Bowie/Roxy/Banshees and Pistols which epitomised the early 80's post-punk here in England. This album was The Furs finest moment, although good stuff kept coming on the later releases, I always felt that by spending more time in the more lucrative U.S their style changed to accomodate this market.Good for The Furs, good for the U.S fans, us U.K originals not so good. Good luck to The Furs, I wish them well, thank you for India, Sister Europe, Fall et al.anything@ewan.evesham.net ("Ewan Forsyth")
This album is indeed a powerful polemic against vapid contemporaries in the music business and obsession for material things in general. Whilst very "English" it still retains the ability to repackage disco with sneer. I'm fortunate enough to have seen the band live several times & I would say that this album is the most representative of the band's live sound even today.joseph.cox@ncmail.net ("Joseph Cox")
Sultry, sensual, androgenous, hypnotic...This is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the furs. I remember going down to my local musty smelling hole in the wall music store and seeing the album displayed in a poorly lit room. Some black haired fat greasy wanna be punk named Bubba eyed me, snorted, then sold the album to me. Bubba looked like a navy reject with his anchor tattoo on his upper arm and wearing his wife beater t-shirt. The furs weren't very punk looking and Bubba was probably selling the albumÊbecause the record distributor mistakingly shipped it to him. The furs appear as beatnicks with a polished crunchy candy outer shell. The fur's name roused images of cleanly shaven drag queens dancing naked in the woods wearing nothing but mink furs around their necks. I was a bit skeptical of all this. How could a band by this silly name produce decent music? The blandness of the cover enticed me even to want to take the album home. I remember tucking the album under my arm and scurrying unseen back to my dorm room. I did not want to share this with anyone. I did not want anyone to spoil my listening of this album by given me their critiques of the music. I wanted to be able to revel in the glory of being the "first on my block" to possibly discover something new. I meticulously slit the plastic wrap surrounding the album jacket in order to leave it in tact for protection of the cover. The smell of a freshly opened album has always induced an intoxication that I can not explain. Only those that have had the pleasure to open a vinyl record can appreciate what I felt. The beauty of the shiny vinyl disk inside was sending me over the top. I turned the lights off in my room then placed the vinyl on the turntable. I layed stretched out on the floor and positioned the earphones gently over my ears. The first thing I remember in total darkness was the song India fading in like a hart starting it's first beat of life. Beginning as an electrical spark then slowly beginning to beat. The heartbeat began to pick up as the guitars wailed in a panicked frenzy to the words India. Was this what life was about? Panick? Paranoia? I found my heart was in sync and racing with the music. A swirl of colors seemed to become projected positioned on my frontal lobe. I was amazed because it took no illicit substances to produce this effect. Somehow the furs had tapped into my brain's alpha waves and threw them into the anxiety and apprehension of beta wave activity. The ride was appeared scary at times, but I was delivered safely back into the mundane consciousness of everyday life. The groundwork was laid and the love affair began. It still goes on to this day. -Joemary@mackaverecords.com (Mary Osness)
Without a doubt the best furs album ever. One of the best albums of that year that still maintains listenability. Hard to find a weak track in the album.Tobymnewton@aol.com
I saw the Furs several times c.1980 ... first time at Wycombe Town Hall ... great fun, totally manic, driven by bass like no other band, apart from the Stranglers ... the first album is solid gold ... India, Sister Europe, We Love You, Blacks/Radio, Pulse, Fall ... all definitive & necessary ... Butler was a ridiculous pantomime Rotten & he & we loved it ... Talk Talk Talk is probably as good, but a different vibe ... they'd been tutored by then ... after that less essential, though still some listenable moments ... The first two albums are must haves ...
So, just as I was moving away from my traditional Beatles upbringing (this, in turn, about five years after I had stopped dressing like Ace Frehley on Halloween), this Scottish family moves in up the street from my house and I started pestering two of their heavy accented older kids. They were in their late teens already and had this huge pile of Euro (mainly British) lps from bands I had never heard of. Over the next year, I systematically listened to as many of these records as they'd loan me. Though most of the music repulsed me utterly (X-ray Specs...? What the hell?!), two bands from my new friends' library have stuck with me all the years since: The Clash and The Psychedelic Furs.
At the time, I was familiar with the Furs tunes that were being played on new wave radio stations, but hadn't bought an album of theirs. So I learned about them in crash course style. I listened to their first three albums back to back for several weeks as if they were part of some orgiastic triple record release. When the smoke cleared I could hardly recall which song came from which album. All I was sure of was I had been listening to a lot of trippy (but cool) music from a band that sounded like no one I'd heard before.
I only bring this up to demonstrate I had a tough time selecting the Furs album to reward the 10 rating to. It could have very easily been Talk Talk Talk or Forever Now (the latter of which is considered the Psychedelic Furs moment by many of their fans).
This album starts off with "Pretty In Pink," a mellow pop tune you may be familiar with thanks to a brat pack movie with the same name. This is the orginal version of the song (recorded several years before the film was made) as well as the radio-friendliest track the Furs had made up to that time. "It Goes On" takes you by surprise as it jumps out of your speakers and spins you around the room repeatedly... so be careful if you're driving. The main riff in "Dumb Waiters" comes in the form of demented sax play and swirls about with long single note guitar solos. Butler's vocals are desperate and demanding (is he really singing to his mother?) and the track ends with receding guitar waves layered one over the other.
The first half of Talk Talk Talk alternates between mellow tunes and disarmingly aggressive ones. The last half remains true to the spirit of the Furs' debut creating a captivating and sinister edge. "So Run Down" is noisy and cool; its pace the opposite of what is suggested in its title. "I Wanna Sleep With You" is cold and to the point. "Into You Like a Train," "Mr. Jones," and "All of This and Nothing" are simply three of the coolest songs you'll hear on this planet.
Reader Comments
richbunnell@home.com (Rich Bunnell)
Well, when people say that this is the Furs in their "rough, edgy days," they're really just being relative because this is pretty poppy. It just isn't loaded with keyboards and shiny synths and Todd Rundgren production gimmicks yet. What it DOES happen to be loaded with is a bunch of amazingly wonderful songs. Sure, you've got your original version of "Pretty In Pink" sans horns, but even better is that you've also got your "Mr. Jones," your "Into You Like A Train," your "All Of This And Nothing" - yeesh, I don't even need to review the album, just listing the songs is enough to justify at least a nine for this baby. It sounded kind of boring at first, with guitar-based postpunk song after guitar-based postpunk song, but I listened to it about twenty more times and suddenly realized that every guitar-based postpunk song on the album was awesome. At least it can be said that some bands were pumping out quality material in the early '80s.beatty03@home.com (Jason Beatty)
She is mine is ranks up there with "Torch" and "Get a Room" as songs wherein Richard Butler's lyrics are the most evocative, at least that is what I think. You can ask Richard Butler. I think it is a great song for a retrospective." Imitation of Christ" and "All of this and Nothing" are the other tracks that stand out to me.DavidAdamSawyer@aol.com (David Sawyer)
All I can say is that I love the Psychedelic Furs even to this day, some 20 years later. I only regret never being able to attend one of their concerts or actually ever seeing Richard Butler himself.anything@ewan.evesham.net (Ewan Forsyth)
This is Dylan meets the Beatles!!!. They don't come much better than this. Dylanesque lyrics wrapped wearily round some serious tunes to leave you battered & bruised by Richard Butler's jaundiced take on the 9 to 5. An exquisite lyrical balance between fatigue & violent anger, it's laconic sinister charm eats away at the melodies that are thrown at you, something akin to drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels & putting the world to rights at 4am on a lonely barstool. If anybody says "Oh they did Pretty in Pink didn't they?" tie them to a chair & play them this album in it's entirety!!!
The first thing you'll notice about the P Furs' third album is its crispness. Producer Todd Rundgren cleans up the muddy brit-punk production quality of the first two releases presenting the Furs with a cleaner sound. Next you'll notice the saxophone is gone (on all but one or two tracks) as is the band's second guitarist, Roger Morris. Thrown into the mix to fill the gap: More prominent usage of keyboards (played by Rundgren) and of backing vocals.
'Love my way / It's a new road / I follow / Where my mind goes..' You've heard the song, I'm sure. It sticks in your head thanks to eery backing vocals and keyboards that seem to emenate from under water in another dimension. The song kinda floats in, hangs around, and floats away again... like a gnat or a hummingbird... or a wandering dog in your yard... just visiting, sniffing around. "Sleep Comes Down" is similar in this respect and throws in many Sgt. Pepper-ish symphony noises on which to trip. This could be the most psychedelic of all the Psychedelic Furs releases.
"Goodbye" is a more menacing tune that celebrates contradiction: 'Hello to you, hello to me / Ah, yeah, I really care / I'll see you all around sometime / I hope that I'm not there.' "President Gas," R Butler's first attempt at overt political subject matter, is hard and cynical. With its dead on sarcasm, it leaves the listener feeling appalled with modern politics and the mantra-effect the music creates in concert with the vocals can be quite hypnotizing (appalled... hypnotized... sounds like most American voters, actually). "President Gas" was written in the Reagan/Thatcher '80s but, since not much has truly changed since then, it's still an effective social commentary today.
Other excellent tracks: "Run and Run," "No Easy Street," and "Danger"... that last track includes a frantic horn section harkening back to earlier Furs. There are no throw away tracks on this record. It holds up nicely to '90s critical scrutiny... better, in fact, than most of the other early '80s new wave/pop it was surrounded by in the record stores and on the radio back in the day.
Reader Comments
richbunnell@home.com (Rich Bunnell)
An excellent album, and one of those albums that makes you notice that amidst all of the mediocre collections released at around that time by other bands to dress up a couple of hit singles, there WERE actually bands that had enough talent to pull off an entire album of this stuff. The coolest thing about this album is that even though "Love My Way" is by far the most popular of the bunch, after listening to this a couple of times you'll almost forget that it's on here because the rest of the material is just as good or even stronger. My favorite song is the murky, hilarious "President Gas"(Man, these Brits hated Reagan - why didn't any American bands write any anti-Thatcher songs?), which really tore when I saw the band open for the B-52's and the Go-Go's about a month ago, and my second-favorite is the soaring title track. But it's all really good; I can't think of a bad song among the whole bunch. Maybe "Only You And I" is a bit tunelessly murky, but even it has that irresistable ominous synth after the chorus. An easy 9.Bird4433@pacbell.net (Tony Livermore)
Listen, I was at a Furs show at San Diego State during the year of our (or somebody's) lord 1984. Richard Butler and I made eye contact and I'll never forget it. As far as I'm concerned, "Forever Now" is one of the greatest albums ever made. I have to add I'm a gargantuan Todd Rundgren fan. The Furs, last I heard, are making a comeback of sorts. Though as far I'm concerned they never left, only went on to doing their thing. Write back if you have news. Best Regards, Tony "Pretty in Purple" Livermore.
The first three tracks on Mirror Moves ("The Ghost in You," "Here Come Cowboys" and "Heaven") are the singles from this release. As mediocre as these tunes are (they range from average to tolerable), it's nice to see the band would have us get them over with first and then move on to the rest of the record which is better.
Original drummer, Vince Ely, is gone at this point and the drum spot is now filled by committee (producer Keith Forsey on the disc, Tommy Price of Billy Idol 'fame' on two tracks and on tour). Keyboards are now a full-time job. Though no keyboardist is named on the liner notes, there are large portions of numerous tracks that seem to be only keyboards, drums and vocals. Mars Williams is brought aboard for mostly top 40-style sax work on select tracks, but does manage to kick some ass on "Heartbeat".
This is by no means a Furs disc to buy if you pick up just one or two albums from these guys. However, if you're patient, there are a few chunks of gold to be found in this psychedelic stream: "Heartbeat," "Alice's House," "Only a Game," and "Highwire Days" are intense numbers with interesting stuff happening in them. Unfortunately the rest of the tracks are goofy pop tunes mapping a course for the band that would take them five years and two albums to return from.
Historically, this is the album with which the Furs 'gained a face' so to speak (at least in the States). If I remember correctly, there were at least two videos produced from this release and they received MTV airplay.
Reader Comments
richbunnell@home.com (Rich Bunnell)
"The Ghost In You" mediocre?? I'd say we're living on different planets, but I agree with you too much on Boingo's Nothing To Fear for that to be possible. Most people think that that's the Furs' best song, and while the only other songs that most of these "most people" have heard are "Love My Way" and the soundtrack version of "Pretty In Pink," that still says something. Okay, it doesn't. It's still a great song, though. As for the remainder of the album, it's good - not as good as the last pair, but good. You deride the album for being too slick and not in touch with the true spirit of the Furs, but then praise "Heartbeat," the most '80s synth-pop-disco mainstream song on the album. I'll stop arguing with you though and stamp an eight on this album - regardless of the slickness, it's still a very consistent album, much like Heartbeat City by the Cars, to steal a comparison from Brian Burks. It's good!Dava1116@aol.com
Actually, "The Ghost In You " is a very beautiful song. I guess it's easy to trap the Furs into a hard-edged sound from their early days. Here's the deal-everything changes. Period. Flow with it!MEfront@aol.com
In my opinion MIRROR MOVES is the BEST Furs album out there.Starting with The Ghost in you- this is one of the most beatiful songs ever written.Other songs like HEAVEN and HERE COMES COWBOY make this album a must have in anyone's record collection. Don't forget about HEART BREAK BEAT this song is also an awsome cut.Go on tour please need to here some good music here in south FLA.
Pure sody pop. Apparently The Furs felt album number five was a good place to exorcise their commercial demons. And why not? At this point they were pop stars. America had finally acknowledged the Furs' fifteen minutes of fame had started... why not live it up?
With all the inspiration of a vending machine, the songs on this release are flash, glam and hairspray (serious hair spray, check out the album cover). This music is as dance pop as one can get while playing in a band that actually uses instruments. Way too much pop poop for me. I thought fur sure (get it?) this release would do them in. Instead they went on a very successful tour.
Three of the nine tracks are mildly interesting ("All of the Law," "Shock," and ummm... hmm... okay there are only two!). As for the rest... I find myself leaping toward the "next track" button on my player which is good only as an aerobic activity. I hate to pan a Furs project, but three is the best rating I can drum up for this album. There's way too much conventional crap happening here: Echo on the vocals, cheesy horn solos, guitar hooks by design, lovey dovey lyrics, and slow fades (I really hate slow fades). Someone out there must have liked this release, though... songs from it show up on all of the Psychedelic Furs 'best of' compilations.
Reader Comments
anything@ewan.evesham.net (Ewan Forsyth)
This album is the sound of one man drowning. Drowning in a sea of self hate, self obsession & a struggle with a flagging ego, whilst trying to maintain some dignity. As a Furs fan it's painful, as a music fan it's loathsome. The only good thing to come of this album was the following single "All That Money Wants" that redeemed Richard Butler from the grey tiring place he existed in these days. Commercially, a success, musically it was to make the man ill, with a "Heartbreak Beat" all his own. (A stress related illness following touring the album, with which all "Midnight To Midnight" songs were replaced with material from the first three albums!Substratum@aol.com (grady manion)
While I agree that Midnight To Midnight was the Furs most painful hour,I think you are missing the story behind the album.It was the 80s,of course,and record companies could be very demanding and manipulative back then.Back then (and maybe still today) a band was only as good as their ability to conform to a record company's bottom line.Here's the thing: Mirror Moves had launched the Furs into the public eye,and record company tradition demanded a follow-up.The band was now split between the UK and New York,so this album would be put together long-distance.In addition,Richard Butler works best in his own time--writing lyrics as inspiration dictates.But through intense pressure from the record company, he and the band submitted.They added the horn section.They put on the leather & fringe uniform costumes designed for them.Richard threw together some cheesy, melodramatic, entirely passionless and uninspired lyrics full of 80s cliches (heartbeats, city lights, night, love, danger, radio, etc.) that Pat Bennetar had already beaten into the ground,and which made no sense at any rate,and the Furs put out what was to be,ironically,their most successful album to date.But it was the album that nearly killed the band.In fact to me it had the look and sound of a band giving up.Richard later described suddenly seeing himself under flashing lights,wearing stupid,gaudy black leather duds and realized it was over.He threw away the costume and finished the tour in a black suit,and that was nearly the end.When Book Of Days came out it was in his own time (several years later),and under the condition there would be no singles.Its not the debut Psychedelic Furs album,but it is still a great return to what the Furs were about.I think Book Of Days and World Outside showed a band who had decided to mature on their own terms and had found a truely grown up sound and vision.As for Midnight To Midnight, it's one redeeming factor,in my opinion,was All Of The Law, which to me is the only real Fursesque song on the album.rrainey@austin.rr.com (Richard Rainey)
Sorry kids, I have to disagree. I love this record. The sense of pain and loss in the lyrics and Richard's voice move me immensely. I love this record. I mean, even the Furs don't seem to like it much. Reminds me a little bit of R.E.M. not liking Monster too much, but I love that one, too.
The first of several widely available Psychedelic Furs collections pulls 13 tracks from albums one through five and throws in a new song as a bonus. The new cut, "All That Money Wants" is a great track signifying the band was returning to its earlier, more interesting musical notions. However, the overall track selection on this album seems suspect... where are "India" or "We Love You" from the Furs' debut? Or how 'bout "Goodbye" from Forever Now?! How is Talk Talk Talk's "She Is Mine" better than "It Goes On"? I don't get it! Someone sure better 'splain.
I have no idea who picked out this particular selection of tunes, but I'm fairly certain we wouldn't enjoy each other's company at a Psychedelic Furs reminiscing party.
A welcome return from pop hell. What a difference a few years and the return of your original drummer can make! Vince Ely is back on the skins, helping the band pull off its conscious "return to our roots" mission. Too bad Duncan Kilburn and his sax weren't available!
Stand out tracks include: "Shine" which starts the album on a solid, toe-tapping note. Its keyboard intro reminds one of Forever Now's trippy power pop while Ashton's guitar work is as solid as anything on Talk Talk Talk. "Entertain Me" is in your face from start to finish with R. Butler singing about (I'm guessing... no lyric sheet) seperating fact from fantasy in your mind; The title track is a sobering tale of lost souls in a poisonous town; There's a great deal of energy woven into "Should God Forget" including a Kilburnesque mini sax solo.
On "Parade" Richard Butler does sound a bit bored, but this is really my only complaint. And thanks to the cool groove the rest of the band is brewing as Richard snoozes, a one song vocal lilt is forgivable. This album is FULL of killer grooves. On their sixth album these boys sure do sound spunky and they've created some very engaging tunes.
Reader Comments
priebecon@msn.com (Bill Priebe)
Loved your take on the Furs Book of Days. I have a large LP,Cassette and CD collection. Including everything from the Furs and this is my favorite of all. Book of Days never got the reaction it deserved. Ahead of its time, I consider it to be the first ''GRUNGE'' album. Every listen brings new rewards and John Ashton steals the show. No one should call themselves a Furs fan without this. You can't listen only once to make an opinion.beatty03@home.com (Jason Beatty)
I concur with both mattro and Bill. This album is my favorite. It is the quintessential grunge album, chunky swirling guitar, a thick brooding layered masterpiece. The continuity on tracks 7-10 is awesome.If you are the type of person that only wants to own one Furs album, this is it. Typically the best albums can be found on CD, used for 6 bucks or less. I got World Outside, limited edition, for 2 bucks. They actually played "Shade" on KROQ in LA in the summer of '90. That song gets me all revved up. I can't stand most of their early to mid 80's stuff. When bands lose their drummer, like the Church did for a while, it makes me sick.anything@ewan.evesham.net (Ewan Forsyth)
This album is a phoenix rising, shrugging off the commerciality of Midnight To Midnight and replacing it with a healthy dose of artistic integrity, paying back all those loyal fans with a trace of embarassment forÊthe isolated mistake of that album. Book of Days truly is a statement. A statement of the bands ability as sonic artists, and Richard Butler's ability as a songwriter & lyricist. Also, a reminder that the band formed to write songs that mattered to them, and not to pander to the record company's every whim. A truly bleak, dark & moving tribute to the nine to five existence, and a finger to the pressures of an ignorant record company who just wanted another "Pretty In Pink" This album, in my humble opinion, IS genius.
Sounds a lot like Mirror Moves meets Book of Days. I admit I haven't listened to this one nearly as much as the others, but my overall impression of the disc goes something like this: This is the slowest, most ambient music these guys ever made. P Furs albums, to some degree, always threatened to hypnotize the listener but here Richard Butler sounds like he's the one in a trance.
Vince Ely has left the band again and (although Ashton is still here) so have the otherworldly guitar leads. In their stead are catchy keyboard melodies, subtle orchestral samples and "la la la" backing vocals that seem out of place. "There's a World" is moderately interesting with semi-uplifting lyrics: 'Why wait / There's a world outside / Why wait / For the reasons why'. But it's hard to be moved by a singer who sounds like he's about to snore. "Better Days" is a spirited tune that reminds me of why I like the Psychedelic Furs so much.
Trivially speaking, this is the only Furs album without pictures of band members on the cover. It's also their last album of new material. R. Butler went on to form Love Spit Love along with brother Tim Butler (who left after that band's debut to form a new band, Feed). Not sure what Ashton is up to but would be interested in finding out.
Reader Comments
ALICEHOUSE@aol.com (Carla Harvey)
I am what you would call a Furs Freak......and actually, World is one of my favorites of the Furs. Just one fan's opinion.alantaylor@mindspring.com (Alan Taylor)
I've been a Furs fan for many years, I love the early stuff as well as the love spit love years. I politely disagree with your poor rating of World Outside. World Outside is one of my very favorite Furs albums. It's moody and introspective with a great overall feel to it. It is such a quality album from start to finish that I find it simply brilliant.Dava1116@aol.com
I am a big Furs fan, and I think World Outside is an absolutely brilliant song. I am listening to it over and over, it's not fast and catchy, but it's very profound if you give it a chance.ijozic@hotmail.com (Ivan Jozic)
I don't know The Furs.. Never listened to them before.. I was at a friends and as I heard the first song playing I knew this was something.. I was surprised I liked the next ones too at the first listen so I borrowed the tape and decided I must have it on CD and found it on eBay the same night.. Don't know what are their other albums like (thus, your dislike of it may be coming from that direction), but this is absolutely f. amazing album.. Valentine, In my head, Until She Comes, Don't Be A Girl, Sometimes and especially Better Days are so full of ambient that I keep playing this album for days.. Unbelievebly good..
The sub-title says it all. Over time, most bands produce a bunch of tunes that they just don't use, the Psychedelic Furs being no exception. If you like extended dance remixes (and you know who you are) this collection has seven of them. It also has two live tracks and a bunch of other hard to find stuff. Do you enjoy that secure feeling of having all of a band's esoteric material collected in one convenient package? Then this disc is definitely for you. Everyone else is advised to go with one of the other two Furs collections (All of This and Nothing or Should God Forget: A Retrospective).
Of the 14 tracks, here are the highlights as I see 'em: "Aeroplane" and "I Don't Want to Be Your Shadow" are both cool Forever Now era B-sides ('nuff said). "Badman" and "Birdland" are each non-LP tracks from the Furs' back to our roots phase ('88-89) and can be quite enjoyable in that context. Their 1987 cover of "Mack the Knife" is pretty cool, though the live John Peel version on Should God Forget is a lot better.
The most recent Furs collection sounds like it may be the last one. It certainly is the best one I've heard so far (I still haven't heard the CD collecting the Furs'John Peel sessions). This is a two disc set that presents its tracks in chronological order! Cool! Also cool: The CD booklet! It has a great band history and all the info a Furs fan could want about each of the tunes on this retrospective.
Disc one rates a 9 of 10 on its own. It's a 17 song collection of early stuff including four previously unreleased tracks and oodles of great material from the first three Furs albums. "Mack the Knife" is as slow and trippy as everyone elses' versions of this song are annoyingly peppy. It's taken from the band's 1980 Peel Session as is "Soap Commercial." Also included is "Blacks/Radio," a fun tune from the UK version of The Psychedelic Furs. In it R Butler sings the line 'If it wasn't for the Blacks in the South / My father's refrigerator factory would close down'. The line, I've read, is an Andy Warhol quote, but censors felt that America's difficulty understanding irony was too much to overcome and the track was left off the US version. "Merry Go Round" is an alternate version of Forever Now's "Yes I Do" ...and is better than the original.
Alone, Disc two rates a 7. It also has 17 songs and kicks off with a cool early version of Mirror Moves's "Alice's House," produced by Todd Rundgren during the Forever Now sessions. In addition to this, it includes three previously unreleased live tunes. This disc becomes tedious at times (mostly during the material from Midnight to Midnight) but picks up again about half way through. It finishes strongly with an unlisted early version of "Dumb Waiters" bringing the listener back full circle to the band's beginnings.
Hey wait a minute... I thought All of This and Nothing was the Fur's greatest hits package! Or how about the two-discer Should God Forget? Oh well. It looks like the Furs are going to be one of those bands that repackages their material every five years or so as the royalties start to dwindle. I am happy though that they were at least kind enough to add two previously unavailable tracks to this one: The single version of 'Mr. Jones' and a live rendition of 'Only You and I'.
I admit, I haven't listened to this disc yet, but I do know the songs. Most of the tracks come from the softer hairspray years (Midnight to Midnight, Mirror Moves and then revisited four years later on World Outside). Of the 16 tracks on here, only six pertain to the Furs most interesting period: their first three albums! And the excellent grunge-era Book of Days surprisingly has no representation here at all.
Based on what I know about Greatest Hits, I'd rate it a 6. If you have it, send us your perspective.
Reader Comments
beatty03@home.com (Jason Beatty)
greatest hits are marketed towards people who find studio albums tedious and don't get into a thorough perusal of a band's songs. The Furs greatest hits, truth be told, is a double single of Pretty in Pink and Heartbreak Beat. No self-respecting Pysch Furs fan would willingly purchase or own this album.Dava1116@aol.com
You gotta realize, we live in a complex universe, and for most of the world, a Greatest Hits album might be the only Furs they ever hear. Better a little than nothing.MJPZeus@aol.com
This CD is fantastic, but is there going to be another tour? I saw a magnificent performance last year at the trump marina in atlantic city. Very personable, and the vibes were electric. The band came out into the casino after the show and signed my shirt and drum stick i caught during the show. My thirst for this live band is all inspiring and needfull. Please let me know the status of this band that is a legend to me. Zeusbuckeyenca@verizon.net
Well any self-respecting FURS fan would own all they have to offer....Come good times or bad, we stick with it! Love all their music. Its a legacy that will never be repeated! And MJPZeus...I agree..Fantastic! And Beatty03...Sorry your a hater of all that is good in life! Wishing the FURS would tour out here!
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After a decade apart and having had a go at other musical projects, The Psychedelic Furs (well the main three anyway: Ashton, Butler and Butler) decide they've always had the most fun as musicians when they rocked together. So once again we have new Furs music to look forward to! Beautiful Chaos is the first release the newly reformed Furs have released and corresponds with a DVD release, Psychedelic Furs Live at the House of Blues. Both the DVD and the live album are taken from the Furs' reunion tour of 2000 and 2001. The new line up adds Love Spit Love's Richard Fortus on second guitar/synthesizer and The The alum Earl Harvin on drums. The band sounds great and the audience is obviously happy the Furs came back around.
The track choice is an intriguing mix of the great daring Psych Furs that was way ahead of its time and the poppy unit shifting group that it became when it went insane in 1985-86. The crowd responds enthusiastically to all of the cuts but does tend to perk up even more when the opening licks of 'Heartbreak Beat', 'Heaven' and the 'The Ghost In You' are played. Don't get me wrong these are three lovely tunes. These numbers just make me yawn when compared to the fantastic other 85% of what the Furs accomplished musically. The album, fittingly, opens with 'India' which initiates in me a Pavlovian response of old school excited anticipation (did I mention I've seen these guys three times and that opening with 'India' is some sort of ritualistic right of passage for the audience?). Another old school beauty, 'Mr. Jones' comes next before the previously mentioned segue into the familiar crowd pleasers. A haunting brand new song, 'Alive (for once in my lifetime)' is included.
Reader Comments
savage@blueyonder.co.uk (Jim Savage)
An update for those who are hungry The furs have a live album and DVD out called Beautiful Chaos, (got the DVD from Amazon for about £14, live concert and interviews) and it's feckin excellent. Saw them twice many years ago during what must have been the Talk Talk Talk and Midnight to MidnightÊtours and they twice claimed my title for 'The Best Concert Ever'. I still mourn the passing of my Midnight tour t-shirt. Rick Butler is hypnotic, (that's the closest word I could find for the breath holding, eye drawing performance that he so easily achieves). The first time I saw them I had just got out of hospital on crutches after a motorbike smash, my leg was still in a blood stained plaster and I had to beg my girlfriend to accompany me to the gig cos I had no transport. She was not keen (being a fan of disco music and Abba, etc and hating anything with a 'punk' label), but about 3 songs into the set when I tried to ask her what she thought of them she told me not to talk,,,,,, she was completely captivated! I firmly believe that anyone who doesn't like The Furs simply hasn't listened.
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Other Sites dedicated to The Psychedelic Furs:
Be sure to check out The
Room.
And don't miss the Beautiful
Chaos. Dedicated to The Furs and Richard Butler's other band, Love
Spit Love.