Search - Russia :: Russia

Lynda C. from GIG HARBOR, WA
Reviewed on 3/2/2012...

After owning thousands of albums, this is still a sentimental favorite. It definately leaves you wanting more, and it's a shame that never happened.
I think that they are most similar to the Yes of the '80s, with a blend of ELP, creating this new wave/art rock blend. Willing to experiment more than many bands of that era (including more commercial bands like Yes),they were certainly innovative and one-of-a-kind.

Worst thing I ever did was sell this record...

Jon D | Joisey | 03/30/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't BELIEVE this album is FINALLY on CD! Forever I've pined for this. I useta be a cut-out bin (and flea-market) hound, and this is by far, my most beloved find (cut-out bin, circa 1981.) The worst thing I ever did was sell that vinyl (I recorded it to cassette, which promptly got ruined almost directly after selling it.) Years later, I downloaded it from Napster, but only recorded that to cassette as well (long before CD burning became a viable option) and since have only found a bad rip - too poor to burn. I Did buy the vinyl again (along with the much inferior, though not awful, Force 10) but that skipped... sigh. I just can not believe this ever made it to CD - I never knew anyone who knew about them (guy I sold it to had their Force 10, which I never got to hear then, but I never learned what he thought of it.)

This band was SO full of potential, which makes their follow-up (as Force 10) so puzzlingly dull and uninspired, by comparison. I don't know any of the details, but it's as if the first album got A-List treatment - producing, engineering, recording and mixing, while the second sounds litle better than a demo. Based on their eponymous, however, this ill-fated band gets my vote for the most "Woulda-Shoulda-Coulda" act ever. It is everything the previous reviewer Kirk Lott describes - in spades (though I never thought of the backing vocals as "Soviet"-like, I think I know what you mean.) I'd add 100cc/Godley & Creme and Sparks to a list of similar artists. If you like music in the Power Pop/Art Rock/New Wave vein (no single classification suffices), then you must hear - and buy - this great lost gem.

Caveat: I haven't yet heard the CD, but I hope it sounds a lot better than my vinyl-ripped mp3s. I've just recently decided to start a project to soup up my car audio system solely to do justice to this great rock classic; perhaps the CD version will eliminate the need - buying the CD may well have saved me a lot of money, lol.

If I can be assured the band still gets royalties, I'll buy a hundred copies - though it may take a hundred years on my non-existing budget. Can't decide if this is the worst time or the best time to discover this CD reissue, but it is mighty welcome.

PS. I never learned anything substantial about the band or album, so thanks also for the little history lesson, Kirk."

Wall to Wall Fantastic Cars/Queen-Style Rock

Kirk Lott | adrift on the seas of life | 08/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Au contraire to the first review, Russia was anything but a 1-hit wonder.



This album is wall-to-wall, giddy-with-delight classic rock. Every song boasts a fresh arrangement and clever lyrics, and always a surprise around the corner. How to describe? Er...imagine a mash up of The Cars and Queen and maybe a little ELO - with some wacky tongue-in-cheek Soviet backing vocals every now and then.



The band was the next big thing - and their record company knew it: there are 6 potential hit singles here. Indeed, the band was slated to debut at the opening of the 1980 Olympics to a global television audience. Only one problem: the Soviet Union then invaded Afghanistan. The world boycotted the Olympics, Russia (the band) lost its debutante ball, and the record company - well, how do you promote a band with the most unfortunate name of the year? Russia inexplicably changed its name to Force 10, released an inferior follow up album, and well...they broke up.



I digress. Back story aside, listen to song samples. Best tracks: the pop perfection of Who Do You Think You Are?, If I Were You and Out of My Mind; the rockers Fight Back and Nothing to Say; the utterly unique and intense Gotta Get Away, and my personal favorite, the stomping Piece of Ice. Indeed, the album gets better and better, with numbers 6, 7 and 9 perhaps the highlight.



If you're fond of the great rock of the late 70s and early 80s, a visit to Russia is a journey of discovery to some undiscovered classic rock, the hit that should have been."