Are there any B52's song's that kick more ass that Rock Lobster?

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You guy's know the question. Any answers?

― Helltime Producto (Pavlik), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 06:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Maybe "Quiche Lorraine."

...maybe.

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 06:38 (twenty-two years ago)

in my world "roam" is better in every way

― dan (dan), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 06:46 (twenty-two years ago)

danse this mess around

― gygax!, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 06:58 (twenty-two years ago)

"Throw that Beat in the Garbage Can", although the real answer is indeed "Roam".

― B.Rad (Brad), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 07:16 (twenty-two years ago)

No.

See Henry Rollins, who once said something to the effect of, "There is no greater moment in the history of rock'n'roll than Fred Schneider bleating 'Boys in bikinis! Girls on surfboards! Let's ROCK!' at mind-shearing volume." One of Rollins' few spot-on insights.

― JS Williams (js williams), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 07:21 (twenty-two years ago)

"dirty back roads" off "wild planet"!
yeah & "52 girls" too.

― (doorag), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 07:33 (twenty-two years ago)

danse this mess around
-- gygax! (gygax0r@y...), November 27th, 2002.

are you my sister?
m.

― msp, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 08:03 (twenty-two years ago)

"Private Idaho" is good too but "Rock Lobster" is the ruler fer sure. And the Rollins commentary usually isn't bad. I like how it's inevitably about doo-wop or Donna Summer or Starland Vocal Band or somethin' else that you'd never expect him to be talking about so passionately.

― original bgm, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 08:28 (twenty-two years ago)

are you my sister?
m.

are you chan or a computer?

― gygax!, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 09:02 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.matadorrecords.com/images/cat_power/chanonline.jpg

― gygax!, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 09:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Planet Claire is nearly as good. The way the synth follows her voice, or vice versa.

― jon (jon), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 11:12 (twenty-two years ago)

"Roam" is the high-point of American culture in the 20th century.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 11:58 (twenty-two years ago)

okay. here's the genuine correct answer:
'song for a future generation'.
a semi pisstake
in lyrical content but not musical style of 'float on'
by the floaters, in which the band, member by member
introduce themselves and tell us *what they like*.
i.e.
'hello i'm cindy i'm a pisces, and i like
chiahuahuas and ci-nese NOO-DULLS !'

it's absolootly, unutterably fantastic.
oh and it kicks way more ass than 'rock lobster'

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 12:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Mesopotamia

― Andy K (Andy K), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 13:19 (twenty-two years ago)

"52 Girls" is secretly the best B-52's song ever recorded.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 13:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Rock Lobster is one of the low points of the first two albums.

― Dave Fischer, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 14:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Even before "Rock Lobster" became a classic-rock staple, there were B's songs I always liked better: "Dirty Back Road," "Dance This Mess Around," "Give Me Back My Man," "6060-842," etc. The first few B-52s albums (up to Whammy!) are chock full of unheard gems.

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

"Hero Worship"! I agree with mike a, most of the songs on the first two albums kick more ass than "Rock Lobster". And there is no greater moment in the history of rock 'n' roll than Cindy Wilson screaming "Why don't you dance with me!?!? I'm not no limburger!" at mind-shearing volume on "Dance This Mess Around. All their best moments are Cindy moments.

― Arthur (Arthur), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 17:36 (twenty-two years ago)

Any of the songs in which Fred is SILENT (or mostly silent). What's that dreamy one on Mesopotamia, Deep Sleep maybe?

Fred Schneider, classic or dud? DUD.

― P. Remak, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 17:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Strobe Light!!

― Curt (cgould), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 17:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Fred Schneider & The Shake Society: dud

Fred's anguished clarification that "some say she's from Mars or one of the seven stars that shine after 3:30 in the morning/WELL, SHE ISN'T!!" on "Planet Claire:" classic

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

By the way, does anyone have any theories why the early B's stuff remains so unheard, "Rock Lobster" and "Private Idaho" excepted? To some extent I blame _Good Stuff_, which was their biggest album with their most overplayed hits ("Love Shack," "Roam," etc.)...

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 17:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Unheard? You're kidding right? That yellow album has been played at just about every party I've been to.

― P. Remak, Wednesday, 27 November 2002 17:56 (twenty-two years ago)

You're right - I guess I was thinking in terms of singles/individual songs...

― mike a (mike a), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:01 (twenty-two years ago)

_COSMIC THING_!!!!!!!!!!! Not _Good Stuff_.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 18:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Definitely "Strobe Light".

― Michael Baker (polyphonic), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 19:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Follow Your Bliss, duh.

― William R Henderson (Cabin Essence), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 20:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Absolutely "Strobe Light"!

― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Wednesday, 27 November 2002 21:21 (twenty-two years ago)

'52 Girls' gets my vote too.

― Snowy Mann (rdmanston), Thursday, 28 November 2002 13:53 (twenty-two years ago)

then I'm gonna kiss your PINEAPPLE!

― Al (sitcom), Thursday, 28 November 2002 14:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Fred Schneider is great because every fucking thing he says on any song ever sounds like something that me and a couple of my bestest friends would write while drunk, and think it was brilliant.

But I never remember which song is which so I'm adding nothing here.

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 28 November 2002 15:24 (twenty-two years ago)

Agreed with most of the above, though I'll add my secret fave song is "Song For A Future Generation". _Whammy!_ is really good.

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 28 November 2002 19:49 (twenty-two years ago)

You guys ever get really drunk, start a new thread, pass out, forgot you started a new thread, check out ILM 2 days later, see a thread and think, "That sounds like something I'd post if I was blitzed", the read it and find out that you did, in fact, post it when you where really drunk?

Just happened to me.

― Helltime Producto (Pavlik), Thursday, 28 November 2002 22:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Threads To Get You Blitzed To Post Threads To

― donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 28 November 2002 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

FOOLS! The best B-52s song of all time is "GLOVE SLAP"! Shut your big yap!

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Friday, 29 November 2002 18:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Too many good choices and all have been named. But can I just add praise for "Strobe Light"? Thanks much.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 29 November 2002 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

"Strobe Light" beats everything else they've done by a light year, and I like the band! Also, I think most of their best moments are Fred's.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Saturday, 30 November 2002 17:10 (twenty-two years ago)

six years pass...

This came up on shuffle today and it still seriously kicks ass. However, I must check out the other tracks mentioned in this thread as I've never dug into B-52s beyond the "hits".

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Saturday, 21 November 2009 22:20 (fifteen years ago)

"Rock Lobster" has the riff, bur again I say "Strobe Light" wins for amazing intensity. Plus "Yeah, what?" is one one my fave vocal lines anywhere.

― Elvis Telecom, Sunday, 22 November 2009 00:00 (fifteen years ago)

Strobe Light or Give Me Back My Man!

get the first two albums, Gerald. I don't have anything after that (yet), so can't help with beyond.

― Ivan, Sunday, 22 November 2009 00:24 (fifteen years ago)

Has there been a deluxe/expanded reissue of the first two?

― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Sunday, 22 November 2009 00:57 (fifteen years ago)

Dirty Back Road

― clotpoll, Sunday, 22 November 2009 09:15 (fifteen years ago)

Mesopotamia

― Andy K (Andy K), Wednesday, November 27, 2002 5:19 AM (6 years ago) Bookmark

lotsa good stuff on the 1st two lps, but this is the secret

― contenderizer, Sunday, 22 November 2009 10:01 (fifteen years ago)

Mesopotamia's lyrics so weirdly applicable to Bush and the Iraq War.

― bendy, Sunday, 22 November 2009 14:13 (fifteen years ago)

mesopotamia is my fav

― rent, Sunday, 22 November 2009 14:32 (fifteen years ago)

another vote for 'Strobe Light'

― mdskltr (blueski), Sunday, 22 November 2009 14:39 (fifteen years ago)

52 girls.

― Lord Byron Bay of Pigs (SeekAltRoute), Sunday, 22 November 2009 20:40 (fifteen years ago)

i used to think danse this mess around but i have warmed to the arpeggiatorisms of mesopotamia.

― ♪♫(●̲̲̅̅̅̅=̲̲̅̅̅̅●̲̅̅)♪♫ (Steve Shasta), Sunday, 22 November 2009 21:25 (fifteen years ago)

I was just going to say, either 52 Girls or Dance This Mess Around (KATHLEEN HANNA EAT YOUR HEART OUT)

― Well hello, and welcome to my display name! Do you like this post? (Stevie D), Sunday, 22 November 2009 22:00 (fifteen years ago)

"Mesopotamia", "52 Girls", and one that hasn't been mentionned here, "Channel Z".

― LeRooLeRoo, Sunday, 22 November 2009 23:02 (fifteen years ago)

Right now the songs kicking my ass are the rare, longer, original mixes of "Loveland" and, especially, "Cake." Why has it taken me this long to download and hear these? They're like some long-lost Ze Records mutant disco tracks!

― Such A Hilbily (Dan Peterson), Monday, 23 November 2009 19:31 (fifteen years ago)

BUBBA'S GOT A BIG BOUFANT ON

― the butt is like a wailin' guitar solo (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 23 November 2009 19:34 (fifteen years ago)

Foot on the pedal, feet in the air
sand in my hair
...reckless driving on dirty back road

― Fox Force Five Punchline (sexyDancer), Monday, 23 November 2009 19:40 (fifteen years ago)

Where do you find, Dan? I have been looking for the alternate Mesopotamia mixes for approximately forever.

Yes, most of the songs mentioned in this thread are aces. Mesopotamia is my most consistently favorite from beginning to end. Another that hasn't been mentioned yet is "Legal Tender" from Whammy!. Loooooove that song.

― I HEART CREEPY MENS (Deric W. Haircare), Monday, 23 November 2009 19:41 (fifteen years ago)

first three songs on whammy! KILL

― Fox Force Five Punchline (sexyDancer), Monday, 23 November 2009 19:42 (fifteen years ago)

http://www.amazon.com/Party-Mix-Mesopotamia-B-52s/dp/B000002LN6

― the butt is like a wailin' guitar solo (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 23 November 2009 19:42 (fifteen years ago)

^^^oops apparently that CD is edited to shit

― the butt is like a wailin' guitar solo (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 23 November 2009 19:43 (fifteen years ago)

Deric:

http://rapidshare.com/files/285278789/B-52_s_-_Mesopotamia__David_Byrne_Mixes__Updated.zip | 64113 KB

― Such A Hilbily (Dan Peterson), Monday, 23 November 2009 19:44 (fifteen years ago)

The answer is "Trism"

― twice boiled cabbage is death, Monday, 23 November 2009 19:54 (fifteen years ago)

WHY WON'T YOU DANCE WITH ME?

― Fox Force Five Punchline (sexyDancer), Monday, 23 November 2009 19:56 (fifteen years ago)

I'LL GIVE YOU FISH

― Hell is other people. In an ILE film forum. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 23 November 2009 19:56 (fifteen years ago)

TURN YOUR WATCH BACK about a hundred thousand years

― Fox Force Five Punchline (sexyDancer), Monday, 23 November 2009 19:58 (fifteen years ago)

Dan, you are officially my hero. Thanks so much!

― I HEART CREEPY MENS (Deric W. Haircare), Monday, 23 November 2009 20:00 (fifteen years ago)

There's lots of great songs on Cosmic Thing for me it's their second best album. I love songs like Roam and Deadbeat Club but it's all about Topaz. It's a beautiful song and the only song I would put above Rock Lobster.

Wig would probably very high on my list too. How was that song not a huge hit?

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 23 November 2009 20:03 (fifteen years ago)

Someone, please, can we have some love for "Wig"?

― mottdeterre, Monday, 23 November 2009 20:04 (fifteen years ago)

My boyfriend sings "Wig" all the time!

― twice boiled cabbage is death, Monday, 23 November 2009 20:06 (fifteen years ago)

They've never made a bad album. Bouncing Off The Satellites has "Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland" and Cindy's "Ain't It a Shame," the saddest song she's ever sung.

― Hell is other people. In an ILE film forum. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 23 November 2009 20:07 (fifteen years ago)

otm

― Fox Force Five Punchline (sexyDancer), Monday, 23 November 2009 20:09 (fifteen years ago)

Sinead O'Connor does a version

― Fox Force Five Punchline (sexyDancer), Monday, 23 November 2009 20:09 (fifteen years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcXUggQhhfU

― Fox Force Five Punchline (sexyDancer), Monday, 23 November 2009 20:10 (fifteen years ago)

They've never made a bad album. Bouncing Off The Satellites has "Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland" and Cindy's "Ain't It a Shame," the saddest song she's ever sung.

I just flicked through that album as I couldn't remember the name of the song I really liked and it was "Ain't It A Shame" It's incredibly sad and I love that door bell noise in it. I would add Detour Thru Your Mind to the list of good songs from that album too, it's really polished and the songs are really strong.

I'm sad to say I think Funplex is their worst album, not that it's terrible I just wanted it to be great and it was fairly forgettable.

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 23 November 2009 20:16 (fifteen years ago)

You can draw a line from "Give Me Back My Man"'s "I'll give you FISH/I'll give you CANDY" to "Shame"'s "But you looked at that color TV more than me."

― Hell is other people. In an ILE film forum. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 23 November 2009 20:22 (fifteen years ago)

in my b-52's top ten and i didn't see it mentioned here: "Is That You Mo-Dean?"

― controlled noise pollution (outdoor_miner), Monday, 23 November 2009 20:24 (fifteen years ago)

Yeah that's easily the best song on Good stuff, would be in my top ten for sure. I love the vocals at the end.

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 23 November 2009 20:27 (fifteen years ago)

>>Funplex is their worst album...

I still don't own it, and haven't even heard a bit of it. My expectations are fairly low. It's on my list of "new wave bands I used to adore, and I should really pick up their recent reunion CD if I find it on Amazon for a buck or two" along with Curse Of Blondie.

― Such A Hilbily (Dan Peterson), Monday, 23 November 2009 20:35 (fifteen years ago)

thought it was surprisingly good. not a lot of memorable tunes, but more energetic, sharp and committed than i might have expected (if i'd had any expectations going in).

plus THANK YOU DAN!

― a dimension that can only be accessed through self-immolation (contenderizer), Monday, 23 November 2009 20:43 (fifteen years ago)

You're quite welcome. I know those mixes were discussed on several threads here a while back, but it took me until last week to remember to look 'em up.

― Such A Hilbily (Dan Peterson), Monday, 23 November 2009 20:45 (fifteen years ago)

:) :) thx much. it took many attempts, but i finally got it to start. now it is going in starts and fits, and i just check occasionally, all "please dont fail please dont fail please dont fail"

― bitter about emo (Hunt3r), Monday, 23 November 2009 21:23 (fifteen years ago)

Funplex is pretty good, I'd say. Better than Bouncing Off the Satellites probably (despite the aforementioned couple of keepers on that one).

― spiny doughboy (baaderonixx), Monday, 23 November 2009 21:30 (fifteen years ago)

started trying to make a Lifelike-esque edit of Girl From Ipanema Goes to Greenland recently. there's a Shep Pettibone mix but it's way too choppy, frequent annoying drum breakdowns, not enough of the dreamy synth pad or dubbed up Kate n Cindy.

― mdskltr (blueski), Monday, 23 November 2009 21:41 (fifteen years ago)

six months pass...

http://www.sporcle.com/games/Jonilase/Rock_lobster_animals

10/15!

― skip, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 19:40 (fifteen years ago)

twelve years pass...

What an incredible band. Everything about them is minimal and immediate. Possessed by a mania, you can't take your eyes off them. Ricky the most original guitarist in a decade, everyone's role perfectly defined... Like a Taj Mahal made of twigs. https://t.co/kqsbg6ZHvE
— steve albini (@electricalWSOP) March 22, 2023

― Portsmouth Bubblejet, Wednesday, 22 March 2023 15:40 (two years ago)

LET'S ROOOOOCK!

― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 22 March 2023 16:23 (two years ago)

I hadn't watched this clip in ages, I had forgotten they had to shorten the song a bit. The "Boys in bikinis..." segment is missing and there aren't as many sea creatures.

― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 22 March 2023 16:30 (two years ago)

https://fb.watch/jqWphmpUBm/

― Three Rings for the Elven Bishop (Dan Peterson), Wednesday, 22 March 2023 16:43 (two years ago)

what is it with these bands saving their craziest and most energetic performances for SNL? Devo did the same thing

― frogbs, Thursday, 23 March 2023 15:44 (two years ago)

Bigger audience.

― the very juice and sperm of kindness. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 23 March 2023 15:44 (two years ago)

That performance of Rock Lobster on SNL was like a pretty staid version of what they usually did when they played it live in the 80s?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaUjDLhqf78

― the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Thursday, 23 March 2023 17:18 (two years ago)

Probably Albini prefers the 1980 version because the sound is drier and thinner. It seems the 1983 version in that later video uses the keyboards more to fill out the sound and has more reverb. Albini's production jobs often sound a bit on the dry and thin side for me, but he seems to like that sound ("Taj Mahal of twigs").

― o. nate, Thursday, 23 March 2023 20:22 (two years ago)

As overplayed as it was at the time, "Love Shack" kicks all kinds of ass.

― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Thursday, 23 March 2023 20:36 (two years ago)

can somebody plz YSI me the long European version of Mesopotamia via ilxmail? TYIA

― obsidian crocogolem (sleeve), Thursday, 23 March 2023 20:46 (two years ago)

and w/r/t the og question, lots of people have already mention Strobe Light and Private Idaho and etc etc etc, what a great band

― obsidian crocogolem (sleeve), Thursday, 23 March 2023 20:47 (two years ago)

"Dance This Mess Around" also goes hard.

― o. nate, Thursday, 23 March 2023 20:50 (two years ago)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S21wPxS2c98

― o. nate, Thursday, 23 March 2023 20:52 (two years ago)

totally, and "Give Me Back My Man", and "Planet Claire"...

― obsidian crocogolem (sleeve), Thursday, 23 March 2023 20:56 (two years ago)

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