Search - Gary Numan :: White Noise

White Noise not background music

L. Xideris | Houston, TX United States | 11/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is my very favorite Gary Numan album. True, Karen Taylor's voice is off key at times, but it makes the album human. I'm also charmed by the moments he breaks into laughter, and I always wonder what made him break his concentration and burst into genuine laughter. Always makes me smile. This was taped during his "Berzerker" phase - one that explored the takeover of robots and an interest in sci-fi. The flaws make it real and not so, well, electronic, an ironic thing to say about the godfather of the electronic music genre. The melodies and the rhythms are captivating. The album includes everyone's all-time favorites such as I Die: You Die, My Shadow in Vain, and, of course, Are Friends Electric. Includes violin and saxophone players who are not in his current line up which shows Gary's versatility to exploring music as well as eclecticism. If you're interested in owning essential Gary Numan, this is an absolute must."

I wish he'd done a DVD of the concert too!!!

Scott E. Packard | Alhambra, CA United States | 03/15/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought the LP of this concert back in the '80s and it still is exciting to listen to. I am working my way across the 'net tonight checking out Numan sites. I've listened to four or five different versions of "We Are Glass", "Me, I Disconnect From You", "Are Friends Electric", and, uggh, even a live version of "Cars" performed at an Oregon concert (I dread listening to that song anymore because it's so overplayed in the U.S. and it's the only one most tourists know Numan by).I think this album has the best versions of these songs by far. Very tight bass, very good control of the instruments, Numan laughs and I think he lets the audience clue him in to the words occasionally during one of the songs.
I couldn't really listen to more than 5 or so songs on this album all these years. I never fell in love with all his music. Maybe now that I can actually find lyrics on the net for them I'll revisit his album so I can understand what the heck he's saying!
The lyrics I *could* make out, plus like I said the very tight performance, made this a really good album anyway.
Now that I'm older I wish I could get more material such as concert tapes, but I'm guessing he probably didn't do much filming of his concerts. That would have been expensive at the time and from what I read he lost money during his tours as it was. Bummer. Gary - you were ahead of your time in some ways.
On the other hand, there's so many anti-depressants on the market today that kids wouldn't be able to understand and relate to some of your songs as I did while you were doing well back then."

WHITE NOISE,BLUE LIGHTS !!!!

JUAN MARTIN GABASTOU | Weston Hills, FL United States | 01/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A corker of a double live album (93'+ ) recorded on the last night of the Berserker tour at the Hammersmith Odeon.The tracklist comprises 25% of songs from that album,25% of songs from I,assassin and Warriors and the other half are the usual classics reworkerd in the funkier,eurodancey way Numan introduced with Berserker.The whole of the songs are played with fretless bass,providing for a marked and welcome variation.The whole set transpires energy but the sound is not top notch,but very good overall.The mix sounds different as those on the DVD making me wonder whether the takes on the cd are the same as those.Voices are very echoey but get the job done.I love live records,especially Numan's,but understand people who stick to studio work for the sake of perfectionism or the fact that live albums are almost always ¨doctored¨in order to round the sound up.Get this one if you like Gazza.Plus,at the moment this review was written,I got the cd for very little money !!!!!"