Gary Numan - post-'Dance'

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Are there any obsessive Numan fans here? I know there has been a Numan C/D thread, but the only thing that was mentioned was his first 4 albums. Are there any fans of 'I, Assassin' or 'Warriors?' Did anybody actually follow his decline into overproduced dance-pop funk? And is anybody into his 90s and beyond goth excursion? I have all of Numan's albums except 'Machine and Soul' (1992) and 'Exile' (1997). Even his worst albums have a few good songs to save them from being worthless.

So yes, I want to talk about Numan without mentioning 'Replicas' or 'The Pleasure Principle' or 'Telekon.'

I think 'I, Assassin' is a perfect ambient-funk album (with the exception of 'The 1930s Rust'). The fretless bass playing is inspiring! It was just reissued a few months ago on Beggars with a bunch of worthy bonus tracks. And 'Warriors' holds up surprisingly well as long as you can get past its '80s sound (even has Bill Nelson on guitar to give it an almost 'Another Green World' feel).

'Berserker' (1984) is half good. Numan is having difficult deciding between his old style and new, cleaner approach. 'The Fury' has a terribly dated sound, with Numan vocals being more attractive than the actual music ('Call Out the Dogs' and 'Miracles' are good songs all around, however). 'Strange Charm' (1986) is definitely lacking substance. The only decent songs were already released as singles. At least the album has a more atmospheric production than the three albums that come next.

'Metal Rhythm' (1988) is actually a strong pop-funk album on its own merit. Surely, though, this album must have disappointed old fans. Still, it was good enough to bring in a new crowd of fans. 'Outland' (1991) is far more disposable. A commercial mess. I haven't heard 'Machine and Soul' (1992), but I hear it is even more of a disaster!

'Sacrifice' (1994) has a few tracks that surprisingly sound like the '70s Numan most love. The rest involves synth washes based around drum loops. The new and improved Goth Numan is a step up, but leaves much to be desired. I haven't heard 'Exile' (1997), but it's supposed to be harder and more relentless. 'Pure' (2000) is full-fledged industrial goth, the hard-edged guitars intact. I would dismiss the album if it weren't for Numan's still-attractive vocals.

'Jagged Halo' (tentative title) is due out this year. Based on the title, I'm afraid it will be more Nine Inch Nails-influenced rock. Oh well, I'm sure I'll buy it anyway.

― Patrick South, Monday, 3 February 2003 17:54 (twenty-three years ago)

I have EXILE, and I quite like it, but it's a bit samey.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 3 February 2003 19:14 (twenty-three years ago)

I haven't heard 'Machine and Soul' (1992), but I hear it is even more of a disaster!

Two words: Prince covers. Very very VERY bad Prince covers.

The remainder of the eighties stuff post-Dance, which I sometimes think is my favorite album by him, is indeed scattershot and often just plain nonsensical. Sacrifice and after is where he pulled it together again, though Pure, while motivated by some interesting (and in some cases tragic) personal concerns, is just too one note to hold up...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 3 February 2003 19:38 (twenty-three years ago)

Ned, I highly recommend 'I, Assassin' if you haven't heard it, based on you saying that 'Dance' might be your favorite. Pino Palladino plays fretless in a style similar to Mick Karn's, though it's more funky. Definitely get the reissue of it. I'm surprised this album never gets any mention.

― Patrick South, Monday, 3 February 2003 21:47 (twenty-three years ago)

Supposedly someone's sending me a copy, so I shall await it patiently.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 3 February 2003 21:49 (twenty-three years ago)

Awesome. Post what you think of it when it arrives.

― Patrick South, Monday, 3 February 2003 21:55 (twenty-three years ago)

Numan's still-attractive vocals.

― Sean (Sean), Monday, 3 February 2003 22:22 (twenty-three years ago)

Wait, Ned, you haven't heard an album? My whole world has just shattered.

― Sean Carruthers (SeanC), Monday, 3 February 2003 22:49 (twenty-three years ago)

not only that, Ned hasn't heard an album by someone influenced by David Bowie!

don't go out tonight, 'cause it's bound to take yer life (and all that jazz)

― Tad (llamasfur), Monday, 3 February 2003 22:59 (twenty-three years ago)

Punks.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 3 February 2003 23:03 (twenty-three years ago)

I think his autobiography is fab. Quite happy not to hear any music he made after 1979 ever again, however. Very nice man...

― Charlie (Charlie), Monday, 3 February 2003 23:15 (twenty-three years ago)

I enjoyed his autobio as well, though I wish he spent a little more time talking about music rather than flying. The part where he described his hair surgery made me cringe.

And Charlie, have you even heard 'Telekon' (1980)?

― Patrick South, Tuesday, 4 February 2003 01:01 (twenty-three years ago)

Sean, what I meant by that his vocals really haven't changed all that much despite his aging.

― Patrick South, Tuesday, 4 February 2003 01:03 (twenty-three years ago)

is this Magazine?

― A.H. (A.H.), Tuesday, 4 February 2003 01:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Another "I Assassin" fan. Mick Karn's fretless bass playing rules, but a lot of the other productions touches still work for me (all those swooping ring-mod-ish sounds, and the HANDCLAPS OF DEATH). And ... SILVER LIPSTICK!

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Tuesday, 4 February 2003 06:07 (twenty-three years ago)

And Charlie, have you even heard 'Telekon' (1980)?

I had the dubious privilege of working with the man back in 1997/8, and my boss was naturally a HUGE fan...so yes, I've heard everything he's ever released and a few choice bits & bobs that he hasn't.

Telekon, as I recall (it's been a while), I found extremely bitty. "I Die: You Die", "Down In The Park", "We Are Glass" and at a push "I Dream Of Wires" aside, it left me...I hesitate to say cold since that's kinda the point...so I'll say it left me tepid. Nowt as queer as folk etc.

― Charlie (Charlie), Tuesday, 4 February 2003 06:21 (twenty-three years ago)

[i]is this Magazine?[/i]

Indeed it is. Yeah, I made a post similar to this on Stylus, but it didn't get a response at all, so I thought I'd try my luck here.

This is A. Hall I assume?

― Patrick South, Tuesday, 4 February 2003 07:10 (twenty-three years ago)

(Hm, I seem to be unable to italize what others said...)

Paul, it's actually not Karn on 'I, Assassin.' It is Pino Palladino, who was practically unknown at that point. I suppose the style is similar, yes. Or wait...are you confusing 'Dance' with 'I, Assassin'? Because Numan has the silver lipstick on the 'Dance' cover...

Charlie, what did you work on with Numan? I'm intrigued. And I would recommend another 'Telekon' listen if you don't remember it all that well. I don't know, it's one of my favorites.

― Patrick South, Tuesday, 4 February 2003 07:17 (twenty-three years ago)

Patrick, use < and > instead of [ and ].

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Tuesday, 4 February 2003 07:18 (twenty-three years ago)

Thanks Patrick.

Lipstick = confusing it with 'Dance'.
Wrong bass player = my ignorance (although I've just read that the 'I Assassin' re-release includes as a bonus an earlier version of "We Take Mystery to Bed" featuring Karn, which I'm now curious to hear)

― Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Tuesday, 4 February 2003 07:42 (twenty-three years ago)

I used to have copies of The Fury and Strange Charm, and I was prtety into them. Suddenly I think I'll go looking for this stuff again ...

― phil jones (interstar), Tuesday, 4 February 2003 18:42 (twenty-three years ago)

belated response: this is Adolf Hipster
The "I, Assasin" boostering seemed familiar, figured it might be you.

― A.H. (A.H.), Tuesday, 4 February 2003 22:47 (twenty-three years ago)

belated response: this is Adolf Hipster
The "I, Assasin" boostering seemed familiar, figured it might be you.

Oh hey Adolf. Have you checked the album out yet?

Wrong bass player = my ignorance (although I've just read that the 'I Assassin' re-release includes as a bonus an earlier version of "We Take Mystery to Bed" featuring Karn, which I'm now curious to hear)

Paul, that early version of "We Take Mystery to Bed" does have Karn, but his playing doesn't really even come in until near the end of the song. So I wouldn't buy it for Karn's playing alone. But Palladino's playing is similar enough to Karn's that you'll love it anyway.

I used to have copies of The Fury and Strange Charm, and I was prtety into them. Suddenly I think I'll go looking for this stuff again ...

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Wednesday, 5 February 2003 00:20 (twenty-three years ago)

eight months pass...

i do like his collaboration with the Plump DJs ('Pray For You') - the 'sleep well tonight' line is nice, i see this track as quite retro in a way and the wurling organ sound reminds me of fairgrounds and 50s sci-fi.

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 20 October 2003 11:49 (twenty-two years ago)

"Berserker" was Numan's greatest single. Never appears on any of his greatest hits compilations for whatever nitwitty contractual reasons. "Do you wanna come, do you wanna come, do you wanna come, wiiiithhh meeeee NOW?" Fantastic, decade ahead of its time, NIN-anticipating, etc. And what about the album he did with Bill Sharpe out of Shakatak? "Change Your Mind" - a great electropop song.

― Marcello Carlin, Monday, 20 October 2003 12:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah but anticipating NIN/being thus ahead of its time is a CRAPPY thing. It's still "Are Friends Electric", and I can't see how that's something that needs fucking with

― Andrew Thames (Andrew Thames), Monday, 20 October 2003 12:15 (twenty-two years ago)

i'd forgotten 'Change Your Mind'. i remember liking it.

― stevem (blueski), Monday, 20 October 2003 12:18 (twenty-two years ago)

"Berzerker" as a great song, hm. Catchy, yes, but something about it doesn't quite connect for me.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 20 October 2003 12:26 (twenty-two years ago)

Another 'I Assassin' fan right here! One of his best records, certainly my favourite.

OK, who's heard the album by Damatis, his backing band circa Pleasure Principle? There was a single with GN's vocal, 'Love Needs No Disguise', lifted from that record. Worth hunting down the album if you like Bebop Deluxe/Bill Nelson or John Foxx. A good album, really!

― colin s barrow (colin s barrow), Monday, 20 October 2003 21:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Sacrifice is a completely great album. And the live one that was most stuff from Metal Rhythm, which was called I think The Skin Mechanic, worked for me, though most people will be put off by the backup singers. I like the songs on Metal Rhythm but the production needs help.

― J0hn Darn1elle (J0hn Darn1elle), Tuesday, 21 October 2003 00:18 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

This song and video are more goth than me:

― Coffee Table LP's Never Breathe! (Bimble), Saturday, 21 February 2009 07:50 (seventeen years ago)

six years pass...

Underrated Numan album that nobody ever talks about: Metal Rhythm.

― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Thursday, 23 April 2015 22:33 (eleven years ago)

two years pass...

Well, here's the latest.

I'm excited to say that my new album ‘Savage (Songs From A Broken World)’ is out on Sept. 15th. Pre-order it here: https://t.co/n5PYNs81QL pic.twitter.com/1ymQqY6zlb
— Gary Numan (@numanofficial) July 6, 2017

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DECYgH1XYAAAv_4.jpg

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 6 July 2017 17:26 (eight years ago)

Finally, a release date for this thing! I think the new OMD album is coming out in Sept, too.

― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Thursday, 6 July 2017 17:32 (eight years ago)

That album artwork, tho!

― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Thursday, 6 July 2017 17:33 (eight years ago)

which unlockable Mortal Kombat character is that

― frogbs, Thursday, 6 July 2017 17:45 (eight years ago)

lol adorbs

― or at night (Jon not Jon), Thursday, 6 July 2017 17:50 (eight years ago)

first single is out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWfp0MppS8c

this along with the album title confirms this is pretty much a sequel to Splinter, fine by me. chorus is almost identical to "Love Hurt Bleed", probably intentionally so. cool tune though.

― frogbs, Friday, 7 July 2017 14:46 (eight years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.