Search - Ultra Vivid Scene :: Joy 1967-1990

A special find

H3@+h | VT | 02/09/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know how wonderful albums like this go out of print, but it's well worth looking for used. Not quite as good as the UVS self titled, but better than "Rev", this is a great record with that early alternative sound to it. A few upbeat tracks including "Special one" with Kim Deal from the Pixies, but most of it is mellow. Similiar to early Cure or New Order, but most like Velvet Underground to my ears. UVS is one of those secret bands that nobody knows, but everybody likes, and I have probably played every month since 1990."

How this was overlooked by pop culture, seems strange.

TBenR | san diego, ca United States | 05/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album was enlightening to me when I was first exposed in the early 90's. It has been a go-to for me ever since. Just yesterday I listened to it again and decided to see what the state of UVS was, if the album/cd was still out there and found the reviews here on Amazon.



If you are waffling on this cd, I encourage you to take the chance and discover some of the most incredible compilations. The production lends itself to a Sunday morning, sun streaming in as you enjoy breakfast and your favorite paper. You'll leave the house smiling, and catchy lyrics in your head, and wondering to yourself "how did this slip by the masses and miss being played?"



Enjoy!"

Novocaine daydreams

wm | ...onward....thru the fog! | 01/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"UVS is Kurt Ralske's relatively brief adventure into rock n roll. Ralske was educated at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, which is hardly your typical rock star spawning grounds.



Since doing 3 or 4 albums as UVS, Ralske has gone on to doing some electronic ambient stuff, working with films, producing other bands, and even has a permanent exhibit at MOMA in New York.



Maybe the best way to describe UVS is post 60s, pre Beck psychedelia. Other than Robyn Hitchcock, nobody comes immediately to mind who was doing psychedelic pop like this in the late 80s and early 90s, at least not as succinctly as UVS.



If I remember correctly, Ralske plays just about all the instruments on this album, a remarkable feat in itself. The subject matter with this and later UVS records seems to revolve mostly around sex, guilty pleasure (the title to one of the songs), drugs (the self titled album even has a syringe on the cover), and death. You might think this sounds depressing, but this album actually doesn't come across negative, but instead has a numbing psychedelic aftertaste if that makes any sense.



The overall effect is a detached novocaine feel. I gather it's out of print now, but a great CD if you can get ahold of it."