Search - Buggles :: Adventures in Modern Recording

Buggles Fans will want this

SRFireside | Houston, TX United States | 03/04/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Oh Trevor Horn. What craziness have you come up with on this record. I'll be the first to admit there is a reason why the Buggles never gotten past Video Killed the Radio Star. That being said I am happy to have this album. It takes concepts from Trevor's previous album and moves into a different level. Does that level work? Well... no better than his first album, but for the Buggles fan it's a great addition.



The biggest drawback on Buggles music is that while the song concepts are fantastic when a song gets to the chorus the limitations start to really fall away. It's like Trevor Horn couldn't find that catchy or melodic hook to take the song to that next level. That was evident on the Plastic Age album and it's evident here.



For example I AM A CAMERA is my favorite song on this album. It has an awesome CR 78 drum machine playing some tight rhythms and the verse is as beautiful as any song you can imagine. But then the chorus comes in and it just sounds like Trever ran out of creative juices and just coasted through. In spite of that I still say I AM A CAMERA is an awesome song, but it's just an example of what to expect.



Another cool song of note is VERMILIAN SANDS. It's another song with some sweet flowing chords putting you in a nice laid back mood. The chorus isn't so bad, but still limiting. Funny thing about the song is that it breaks into a fast coctail jazz riff near the end and kind of goes on for a while (using drum machines and synths throughout). Feels out of place, but the song is still good.



The previous release of this CD was back in the late 80's and it had become extremely rare. Now people get another chance at grabbing this album along with some additional upsides for one the CD is remastered so there's better fidelity. Also you get bonus tracks. Lots of them. The original album had nine songs on it. This remastered CD has 19. Not bad, huh?



I guess what I'm saying is the music isn't perfect, but the creativity is at a level you just don't find anymore. That makes up for a lot. Plus now you have a CD packed with much more Buggles goodness than previously released. You won't find any VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR type songs in here. However if you listened to The Age of Plastic and really liked what you hear there is a very good chance you will feel the same way here."

Unlike anything else in Trevor Horn's catalog

Steven LeBeau | 05/09/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first acquired this album as a Yes-obsessed teenager who had just discovered Drama and the first Buggles album. While I was initially upset that it didn't sound more like the first Buggles album, I've come to love this just as much as The Age Of Plastic. It's definitely the more experimental album, but the songs are solid and you can hear Horn developing production techniques he would perfect with subsequent albums such as ABC's Lexicon of Love and Yes's 90125, and of course lots of other mega pop hits."

Charming, enjoyable, pity there isn't more

Arthur J. Munson | Arlington, Virginia USA | 04/02/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This second Buggles CD is largely a solo effort by Trevor Horn, and the loss of personnel shows a little bit compared to "The Age Of Plastic", but it is extremely likeable nonetheless. A few female vocals (as in "Video Killed the Radio Star" and "Johnny Monorail") would have helped the sound, and a couple of more solid songs would have given the original CD a little more substance, but what is there is delightful. The bonus tracks are mostly merely interesting, not fantastic. For example, the alternate version of "On TV" made me grateful for the additional work and thought found in the final studio version...the alternate was interesting, like a tribute performance by a local cover band, but just not quite as good. Still, any Buggles music is worth having. It's a pity there isn't more of their first-string material."