A Hybrid US/UK would rate 5 stars....
Tim Brough | Springfield, PA United States | 10/14/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"...but for now, (especially since CBS in the US has deleted all the Rats' proper CD's) this will do fine. "A Tonic For the Troops" found the young Rats in sarcastic snide humor, willing to take on topics as timely as tabloids or as close to home as life on the dole in the classic "Rat Trap." So if you're willing to settle for 8 of the 10 songs that were on the US version of the CD (missing are the improved re-recording of "Mary of the 4th Form" and "Joey's On the Street Again"), this is wonderful. Quite frankly, I could not live without the exuberance of "Like Clockwork," "She's So Modern," and "Rat Trap." Maybe one of these days, someone at CBS/Legacy will realize that "Great Songs Of Indifference" is inadequate and we'll get all the "Tonic" we deserve!"
The Definitive Boomtown Rats Album
zombieH | 03/19/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is by far the best Boomtown Rats album. This is a cd you can put on and leave on. All of the songs are good; melodic, and clever, these guys were at their creative peak when they made this album. Particularly good are "Eva Braun," "Rat Trap," and "Mary of the Fourth Form." This band (and album) has that english "punky" sound of the mid to late 70's ( although the band is Irish)- not hardcore at all. If you're into "classic new wave/punk," this one's a keeper. This band (and album) can easily hold it's own against the likes of the Stranglers, the Damned, the Clash and others from that genre."
The original British version, not the U.S. version...
zombieH | Los Angeles, CA USA | 04/09/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Missing (perhaps forever?) from this cd is the Rat's re-recording of Mary of the 4th Form (faster and better than the original) and, of course, the classic Joey's on the Street Again. Why the Record Company couldn't include these as bonus tracks seems unnecessarily inconsiderate and/or mindless.Nevertheless, here is the Rat's most consistent, most fun, album in all (or nearly all...) of its glory. Favorite track: (I never loved) Eva Braun."