Search - Art of Noise :: Best of Art of Noise

BLUE vs. PINK Versions revealed !

D.O. | 10/21/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I finally decided to upgrade my A.O.N. cassetes to CD,

and I had forgotten there were two versions of the 'Best Of A.O.N.'- blue AND pink- which I still resent today as when I was first was forced to choose-

(and there is confusion when the color specification is missing - so hopefully this helps you to choose the color that's right for you.

When I first discovered A.O.N., I was enthralled.

I opted then for the BLUE version on cassette because it had more songs and boasted the extended and 'AON' mixes(which are essentially just extended post-release), but fear it's demise as cassette decks become harder to replace.

Over the years, I came to accept this BLUE version as the definitive collection of A.O.N., but, alas, some of the extended,

mixes were kind of long-winded (like this version of 'Dragnet 88' with a Dan Ackroyd sampled vocal overdose,

and the superfluous, repetetive orchestrals).

'Moments In Love' , with it's pulsing, hypnotic texture had to grow on me through relistening, is on this version.



The extended 'Paranoimia' featuring Max Headroom here (6:30)-as noted in one of the other reviews,

is not the radio version, but this should have been the only extended re-mix

(I love all three Paranoimia versions though, as this sampled, beatbox style was the distinctive, fun, A.O.N. sound )



The glaring differance of BLUE is the inclusion of 'Beatbox (Diversion One)', Close(To The Edit),

and the extended mix of 'Paranoimia' and 'Peter Gunn Theme' (which begs editing), but this

sampled-techno-beat style IS the art of Art Of Noise.

'Moments In Love' is also on this BLUE version. It's pulsing, hypnotic style IS the art of A.O.N.

BLUE contains the best (long) version of Princes' 'Kiss', featuring Tom Jones - -

this is the main reason I'd reccomend BLUE as the desert island selection..



The PINK edition, more considerate in regard for succinctness, has fewer of the

signature beat driven tracks and sampling technique tracks that distinguished A.O.N.

The biggest departure comes in the first half :

'Yebo' , 'Instruments Of Darkness', and 'Robinson Crusoe' replace

'Beatbox','Moments In Love', and Close(To The Edit) from the BLUE version

Shorter versions of 'Paranoimia', and 'Peter Gunn' are refreshing, and I do prefer the female spoken

intro to 'Paranoimia'

-but 'Kiss featuring Tom Jones' on the blue version is the quintessential version.

I reccomend the Blue version AND the Pink version combined - without Dan Ackroyd at all ! I hate remixes as a marketing ploy! What a tool!

So I went with PiNK on CD...so now, I still have to afford a Blue one too

on a future purchase since my cassette is still good...

[* It should be a LAW to include release dates on CD'S!!! ]

~David Galloway"

Noise is the Art!

Todd A. Johnson | Lakeland, Florida | 03/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ok, I'm going to preface this with a quick mention of the fact that when I clicked on the search result link, it was the version of this CD with the pink cover. However, once on the page with the details, it was the blue cover CD image that was displayed. They are 2 distinctly different albums. But both are great and deserving of 5 stars. My review is of the pink cover issue.

The reason for the different coloured covers was to distinguish them. The pink release features single mixes of some of the tracks on the blue release, and also tracks not on the blue issue. I'm sure part of the reason was to encourage fans to buy both. The other is that the pink cover came out after another album was released and they wanted to include tracks from that, in case fans hadn't bought that album.

'The Best Of The Art Of Noise' 1992 (in pink), opens with the same track as the 1988 (in blue), the delightful "Opus 4" and its multi-layered vocals. The next song is the single mix of "Yebo!" off their 1989 album 'Below The Waste' and features South African group Mahlathini and The Mahotella Queens. Though I don't speak Zulu, the song is still great listening fun!

Also included is the hard-to-find radio version of "Paranoimia" featuring Max Headroom. I have always wanted this version, but I could only find the original album track and the extended version from the 1988 'Best Of' disc.

Another must-have track from this version of the hits package, is the Prodigy remix of "Instruments Of Darkness". This hyper configuration of the 'In Visible Silence' tune will get you up and out of your seat! A great find for club music enthusiasts. It works just as well for regular folks.

So for both dedicated AON fans and those seeking them out for the first time, this is an excellent CD to be had by all.



"

About as different as it gets (Blue cover version)

J. Carroll | Island Heights,NJ | 10/03/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I first became aware of THE ART OF NOISE when I saw the "Close (To The Edit)" video where a young girl leads a trio across a wasteland to destroy a piano. At first it was the visuals, but then I became interested in the blends of sound effects and synthesizers that made for a very catchy and very odd sound collaboration. From then on I watched out for the odd pieces that would appear. From the electronic Duane Eddy "Peter Gunn," to the Max Headroom starring "Paranoimia" this band was always surprising. Sure when you travel this far away from the norm there are bound to be misfires like the "Dragnet" theme from ill-advised remake, but the overall effect is one that will make you smile as these very different sounds tie together in a melodic and often humorous way."