Search - Plasmatics :: New Hope for the Wretched

Sex Pistols pushed aside

calmly | 12/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can listen to this album over and over again and enjoy it freshly each moment. Wendy's vocals on this album were unique and compelling. The musicians' sound was driving. Visually no band could match this one.



I saw them twice live in concert at small venues between 1978 and 1980. That was before Wendy had enough of a reputation to draw the local police, although I don't know if that ever stopped her much. She gave her all in every way.



The first time the lights went on and I saw them, I couldn't believe any band could look so strange. All in good fun. Wendy made the best use of a nurse's uniform I've ever seen. I didn't know what was going on when she fired a tommy gun above our heads and "glass" fell down on us. When she aimed at us and fired loud shots at us (blanks, fortunately), I suppose then I realized what performance art was.



The second time I saw them it was snowing heavily so attendance was light. I was able to stand up at the edge of the stage for the entire show. I made eye contact with Wendy a few times and she even smiled warmly at me once. It made my day. I sensed a basic decency in her, despite her wild reputation. When I later learned of her vegetarianism and love of animals, I felt confirmed in my early impression of her.



My impression was that their music declined after this album. Songs like "Living Dead", "Butcher Baby", the erotic "Sometimes I..." and their cover of "Dream Lover" are hard to surpass but the album has an overall consistency as well that sets it apart.



What a tragedy that she is gone. She indeed had provided new hope to some of us. You can enjoy this music for its great rock, for Wendy's energetic singing, and in memory of a special person and band. People who say they were all about money don't understand that the Plasmatics earned their money."

Wendy still smokes!!

johnny | Hog Angeles | 02/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This cd still sounds so relevant, fast, and tight. Wendy O's delivery is amazing.The band smokes. Outtake "you think you're coming..." has typically awesome spoken WOW intro and totally rocks. BUY IT NOW, YOU MONKEY!"

Plasmatics - 'New Hope For The Wretched' (Cherry Red)

Mike Reed | USA | 09/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A CD repressing of the much deserved chilling 1980 debut by the Plasmatics.I mean,if 'New Hope...' isn't classic punk,I SERIOUSLY don't know what is.Love the lp cover,plus the album title.Not many bands could match chaos like this.Tunes that more than took me back were "Monkey Suit"(perhaps a theme song for some),"Living Dead","Test Tube Babies","Squirm" and the notorious "Butcher Baby".This CD version has tagged on several bonus tracks of some rather good quality sounding live cuts.So WHO in their right mind could resist?Line-up:Wendy O.Williams-vocals,Wes Beach-guitar,Jean Beauvior-bass,Richie Scotts-guitar(wasn't he the one who wore a pink tutu?)and Stu Deutsch-drums.An ABSOLUTE must-have."