Search - Various Artists :: Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits Of The '80s, Vol. 1

Riding The Wave

Thomas Magnum | NJ, USA | 07/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first volume of Rhino's New Wave Dance Hits collection is a superb collection of songs that range from big hits to obscure gems. "My Sharona" by The Knack was the number one single of the year from 1979 and despite the fact that never became the new Beatles, the song is a classic with it's hypnotic, thumping bass line and adolescent lyrics. Blondie's obsessive "One Way Or Another" has a punk sneer with a pop gloss. The Buggles' "Video Killed The Radio Star" is best known as the first video ever played on MTV, but it is a fun song that has held up well over the years. Veteran rocker Dave Edmunds does a roaring version of Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk" while Graham Parker has fun on the sprightly "Local Girls". Rock Horror star Tim Curry does a credible job on "I Do The Rock" and The Flying Lizards put a new spin on the old chestnut "Money (That's What I Want)". The set would be worth buying alone for Nick Lowe's power pop masterpiece "Cruel To Be Kind". The song was Mr. Lowe's lone hit in the US and is a perfectly crafted piece of music that stands up against anything to come out this era."

Irresistable Time Capsule From Hell

Ken Cook | Chelmsford, MA USA | 03/29/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Since all of these songs date from 1979, the title "New Wave Hits of the '80s" is a little misleading but subsequent volumes in this excellent series explore that era in depth. If you were around a radio during the latter half of 1979, then this disk will be like going back in time. To a time where disco still ruled, Jimmy Carter was in the White House and inflation was something like 20 percent. Time capsule from hell!But what a collection of catchy songs. "Ca Plane Pour Moi" hits you like a freight train with it's endless chords and nonsense lyrics (even in French.) "Warm Leatherette" by The Normal makes even Ric Ocasek (of The Cars) seem warm and fuzzy by comparison. The excellent "One Way Or Another" by Blondie is one of the few songs on this set you still might hear on the radio today. I was really into this kind of music back in 1979 but I found a few tracks on this disk that even I didn't know about (and they are quite good): "Too Young To Date" by D-Day for example, how did I ever miss that one! The lyrics have to be heard to be believed.Standouts on this disk are as follows: "Hey, St. Peter" by Flash And The Pan is an excellent track that should have gotten more airplay back then. "Local Girls" by Graham Parker and "Girls Talk" by Dave Edmunds are worth the price of this disk all by themselves. Then you have monster hits like "Cruel To Be Kind" by Nick Lowe and "My Sharona" by the Knack (is it possible to get tired of hearing this song?)You got the very first clip ever to be played on MTV ("Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles) and the bar band classic "Dirty Water" by the Inmates. You got Tim Curry doing the name-dropping classic "I Do The Rock." Even the Ramones make an appearance with "Rock & Roll High School." The disk ends with the infectious "Money (That's What I Want)" by the Flying Lizards. The only reason I give this four stars and not five is because of the inclusion of a couple of marginal tracks that really have no place here such as the very lame cover of The Monkees "I'm A Believer" by Tin Huey. If you were anywhere near a radio in 1979, you've got to get this disk!"

Rhino Gets Its Hands Dirty...

Alf Kremer | Denver CO | 05/15/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"...daring to release a huge 15 volume set of New Wave/No Wave music from the late 70's thru the 80's. Most of the songs on this first volume should probably better be called "postpunk" than "new wave", but let's not get hung up on words. The first five tracks make this album worth the money alone - Blondie's stellar "One Way or Another", Plastic Bertrand's one shining moment "Ca Plane Pour Moi" and so forth. The rest of the album is perhaps spottier - hitting notable highs ("Money (That's What I Want)", "Video Killed the Radio Star") and some not-so-highs ("I Do the Rock", where Tim Curry sounds like he's trying really hard to be cool). An excellent start to an excellent series. Odd note - this series doesn't contain the Depeche Mode song "Just Can't Get Enough" on it...but then again, EMI's LIVING IN OBLIVION series didn't contain the Anything Box song "Living in Oblivion". Hm."