Search - Robin Lane, Chartbusters :: Robin Lane & The Chartbusters

You had to be there.

11/23/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Some great performers become stars and some don't. In late 1980, I had the pleasure of seeing this band in concert, and it was one of the highlights of my musical life. I was always a sucker for jangly-guitared bands, and I saw the Byrds, Tom Petty, and R.E.M. as well as the Chartbusters, but if I could go back in time and pick one of those shows, it would be Robin's. Around the same time I saw other new wave or punk or post-punk bands who became hugely successful, and they didn't approach what this band could do. I loved the Ramones, silly bands like the B-52's and Go-Go's put on great shows, Elvis Costello, who's lasted, or the Romantics, who didn't, were on tour the same winter and none of the above could come close to this band live. I'd put Robin's show up with Patti Smith's first appearances, or the early Pretenders. In terms of energy, it was comparable to a Lone Justice show, speaking of women of the early 80's who rocked hard and then disappeared, but musically, I'm trying to summon adequate words. The drummer was amazing, the guitarists were so brilliantly talented that half the time they distracted me from a singer with stage presence, energy, talent, and raw sex appeal that otherwise completely captivated me. I wanted Robin, but didn't really have a groupie personality, wanted one of their guitars (an SG?) and all the special effects that went with it, but only had the money to buy the records, so I went out and got this on vinyl, soon to be followed by the live EP and "Imitation Life", still both unavailable on CD.This recording really didn't capture their sound, and I found it disappointing. I'd hesitate to say anything negative about it, but I found Robin's comments in the CD liner notes contained every criticism of the album I ever felt. It didn't capture the way Robin sang, their energy level, or the absolutely incredible guitar sound. Didn't even have a good photo of Robin. Still, for a fan, this album was at least a faint reminder of how they sounded live, and I listened to it and the others until I wore them out. Then the band was gone, the albums out of print, and that was that. Until now. The CD actually sounds better than I remembered the record - maybe it's just being old and able to afford a better stereo. My only complaint about the transfer to CD is that, unlike the original record, the lyrics aren't currently included. Songs like "Don't Cry" bring back just how well this band did pop songs with great hooks (plus the memory of Robin singing that one to me in the front row), and "I Don't Want To Know" resonates with much of that raw energy from way back when. "Many Years Ago" seems even more evocative now with its "Many years ago you could live a simple life, and not be so frustrated" chorus. You could actually live a much simpler life in 1980, as my teenagers remind me daily.If you weren't a fan then, or haven't been out to see the recently-reunited band, I'm not sure why you'd want this CD. The sound is dated, and if you clicked here from a new-wave link, you'd probably be happier with bands you remember. There are some good songs, but in most cases I thought more of the music than the lyrics. And that sound just was never recorded well, though one of the show's highlights, a "Shakin' All Over" cover that sounded like the Who's "Live at Leeds" version on speed, did come out pretty well on the live EP.For any fan of Robin's, though, this is an essential, and we can only hope the EP and "Imitation Life" turn up on CD one day."

Robin Lane's First Album...give yourself a gift

C. Solomon | SILVER SPRING, MD United States | 02/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been waiting for ages for this album to finally come out on CD...it's about time. This is one of my favorite rock albums of all time. For me it's never old or tired; it's just timeless rock that ages well like fine wine. Enjoy! Now, if only Imitation Life would come out on CD soon."

Rockin' Robin and the Boys Are Back in Town

Gord Wilson | Bellingham, WA USA | 08/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When this record was first released by Warner Bros., Dave Marsh raved about it in Rolling Stone. He wasn't alone. True, you can't recall a top forty hit from this Boston-based band that Robin put together from pieces of Reddy Teddy and the Mezz, but if you'd ever heard this album, you couldn't forget it either. "When Things Go Wrong," the anthemic, jangly "hit" tune showcases Robin's ability to write simple, catchy and affecting songs, with her main axe effortlessly backed by the old rock/new wave combo of the Chartbusters.
I Don't Want to Know" and "Without You" are high energy rave-ups that could show alternative radio what alternative is, not to mention that after Robin Lane, everything else is just radio. The only album better than this self-titled debut was an EP called Five Live with another great tune, "When You Compromise." That this great album is now out on CD is an event to celebrate as much as was its initial release. Here's to Robin: Long may you rock!"