Search - Shiva Burlesque :: Shiva Burlesque

Unkown, Classic 80's Album

Intergalatic Purveyor | California | 04/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As one reviewer wrote about Shiva Burlesque "A powerful and graceful band that was too post-punk to be folk-rock and too folk-rock to be post-punk" I think gives you an idea of what the band was like and also brings up a problem of identity as well, but only if you like easily classified music. This album was picked by Melody Maker and Rolling Stone as one of their year end best of releases for 1988. Unfortunately critical raves don't sell records or pay the bills.

Grant Lee Phillips(guitar) and Jeffrey Clarke(vocals) were the main songwriters and no the band doesn't sound much like Grant Lee Buffalo which grew out of the wreckage of this group. Clarke has that sort of Jim Morrison/Nick Cave edge about his vocals with a dash of David Sylvian thrown in also if that makes any sense. An emotional, dramatic and sometimes extreme rollercoaster with literate and dare I say it "poetic" lyrics this record is a highlight of the 80's and most people don't even know about it. If you are a fan of the following groups or musicians I highly recommend you buy this cd.



Grant Lee Buffalo

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

Neil Young

The Doors

Love

David Sylvian

Lou Reed

Leonard Cohen

Psychedelic Furs

Radiohead

Love and Rockets

R.E.M.

Mercury Rev

Echo & The Bunnymen





While it may seem a weird mix of groups it is appropriate for this band."