POLL if you want to...POLL around the world: The B-52's Cosmic Thing

well I already KNEW you guys ate kittens, that's what led me to form the hypothesis in the first place

oh and btw:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leohcvmf8kM

That video reminds me of the huge adolescent crush I had on Kate P (& also Cindy, but to a slightly lesser extent).

I still have crushes on both of them right now.

oh Cindy looks totally doable in the Deadbeat Club video...

Supercalifragiwhata outfit you got on!

Good Stuff is totally Cosmic Thing Pt. II, down to the producers and mix. Songwriting isn't as good, but still worth owning -- and you can pick up a used copy easily.

Good Stuff is for sure worth owning if you're a B's fan (1 cent on amazon,) but I don't think it hits any of the highs of Cosmic Thing, and some of the lows (The World's Green Laughter, Bad Influence) are pretty low.

Maybe I'm alone, but "Good Stuff" is at least as good as "Deadbeat Club."

Yeah, I'm not feeling that, but I do have an extended mix of Good Stuff with added horns that's really good.

I think the first four songs on the album, plus Mo-Dean, are pretty good, but second half really trails off.

Oh, but is Mo-dean the one that ends repeating "Astral Projector" ad infinitum? That's kind of annoying.

Maybe I'm alone, but "Good Stuff" is at least as good as "Deadbeat Club."

I sort of agree with this but I am not really a fan of "Deadbeat Club".

"Good Stuff" is much, much better than "Deadbeat Club." Nobody's dangin' on the Deadbeats.

Oh, but is Mo-dean the one that ends repeating "Astral Projector" ad infinitum? That's kind of annoying.

Maybe, but I like the massed vocals that join in along the way.

Funplex is better than Good Stuff.

Agreed.

Okay, I relistened to Good Stufflast night, and some of the stuff I thought I didn't like much was better than I remembered. I STILL don't own Funplex and need to get.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

so am i like the only person who thinks "Dry County" is a standout?

should probly relisten to this, but hate hate the sound of it so much (in comparison to my great love for anything whammy or earlier- or even the first schneider album)

Dry County is pretty great, though I wouldn't exactly call it a standout...I love the way those little exhortations all the way through the song remind me of Prince, and the punchline is great...a really cool, bluesy (in tone not sound) song...

when I was nine I thought this song wz about living in the desert...

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

After listening to the album once more today, "Follow Your Bliss" really stood out.

Unfuckingbelievable rating Roam over Love Shack.

missed this poll, would have voted with the majority (Love Shack a close second). forgot how lovely Topaz is

When I was 11 I borrowed this tape from my local library and it made a big impression. I wrote out all the lyrics from the inlay in my school exercise book (including copying the zany lettering and doodles).

Unfuckingbelievable rating Roam over Love Shack.

yay!

I saw the original LS 7" single in a charity shop. The sleeve was a folder thing which you could assemble into your very own love shack!

"Dry County" maybe the real overlooked gem here. But what a great record.

When the blues whomp you up on the side of the head
Throw em to the floor and kick em out the door
WHENNNNNN the BLUES kick you in the HEAD

yeah Dry County is awesome.

still in love with Topaz though...

(still in love with this thread too)

haha i seriously opened this thread thinking "maybe someone else will finally show some love for Dry County"

"Topaz" is so beautiful. I love this record.

Add me to the list of people for whom 'Roam' is their favourite track on this album. It's not a track that I listen to often, but it's nothing but sheer joy when I do.

I would love to do "Roam" at karaoke.

Of all the albums I've had since childhood, this is easily my favorite.

was about to revive this thread and say basically what I said a year ago so let me just go ahead and retract my earlier shot against "Bushfire" - it's a little overlong but the harmonies are gorgeous, as they are basically across the whole record. Never fails to make me feel good.

I have a hard time imagining many people who could hate this album

Would have undoubtedly voted for 'Roam', and am absolutely delighted that it topped this poll. Every time I listen to this track I think to myself "man, this really could NOT get any better".

SMOKE IN YOUR EYES

otm

that stuttering rhythm guitar lick on "Topaz" -- god, I love this record.

Topaz has been one of my go-to tracks ever since I started this poll: I never seem to tire of it

basically every song on this album is fantastic, except for "Deadbeat Club" which is merely good

TAKE IT HIP TO HIP

I always remember Cosmic Thing as part of the year a lot of the original "alternative" or "college rock" bands made it big on the Billboard Hot 100 with the second single from their album.

There was The B-52's who released "Channel Z" (didn't chart) and then had a huge hit with "Loveshack" (#3).
The Cure did the same with "Fascination Street" (#46) followed by "Lovesong" which hit #2.
Love And Rockets came back with "Motorcycle" (didn't chart) and then had a hit with "So Alive" (#3).
REM released "Orange Crush" (didn't chart) and then "Stand" went on to become their biggest hit at the time (#6).
Depeche Mode had a minor hit with "Personal Jesus" (#28), then had their biggest chart hit with "Enjoy The Silence" (#8).

wow, pretty fascinating

Weird to me that Enjoy the Silence was such a bigger hit than PJ tbh

LoveSong was a single after Fascination Street and Lullaby in the States?

"Lullaby" was third in North America.

"Enjoy The Silence" was much more radio friendly, compared to PJ which was harder and darker. (x-post)

yah but Personal Jesus seems way more iconic, whereas I always remember Enjoy the Silence as the other (great) single from that album

and not just because M Manson's cover either