OINGO BOINGO

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Introduction

ALBUM REVIEWS:

Disclaimer: this page is not written from the point of view of an Oingo Boingo fanatic and is not generally intended for narrow-perspective Oingo Boingo fanatics. If you are deeply offended by criticism, non-worshipping approach to your favourite artist, or opinions that do not match your own, do not read any further. If you are not, please consult the guidelines for sending your comments before doing so. For information on reviewing principles, please see the introduction. For specific non-comment-related questions, consult the message board.

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Introduction

Coming soon.

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ALBUM REVIEWS

ONLY A LAD

Year Of Release: 1981

Overall rating = 12

If you thought funny, smart, AND musically challenging social lashing didn't exist back then... well, think again.

Track listing: 1) Little Girls ; 2) Perfect System; 3) On The Outside; 4) Capitalism; 5) You Really Got Me; 6) Only A Lad ; 7) What You See; 8) Controller; 9) Impostor; 10) Nasty Habits .

The world is welcome to savour this first full-fledged - heck, STALLION-natured even! - LP of Oingo Boingo. It's funny to realize that such an artificially "manufactured" band could have established such a unique style on its very first 'independent' album, but after all, Danny Elfman and his colleagues had quite a bit of time to spend together and to gel in the Seventies, and they had every occasion to work out this unique style over the course of several years when they were actually left to themselves.

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NOTHING TO FEAR ****

Year Of Release: 1982

Well, so much for right wing complacency. This album's chock-full of establishment bashing, condemnation of brain washing procedures, ridiculing the corrupted ways of society, and pumping up Danny Elfman's ego in mammoth-sized puffs. But who cares if the songs are that good?

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GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL *****

Year Of Release: 1983

In a fit of blind folly, the All-Music Guide gave this album two stars, then kinda made up for it in the more compromised review, but they're assholes all the same. This is the Oingos at their most consistent so far, with nary a clunker in sight and sharp, concentrated, intelligent songwriting around every corner. True, it doesn't progress much over the previous two albums, but overall the songs are better - it's a clear-cut case a la The Doors/Strange Days debate. In fact, I think I'll go over this song by song, even if it's hardly cool to do that.

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DEAD MAN'S PARTY ***

Year Of Release: 1985

In a fit of blind folly, the All-Music Guide gave this album four and a half stars, then proceeded to rave about it some more in the despicably short and lameass review. Boo! Without a doubt, this is Oingo Boingo's biggest stinker so far.

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BOI-NGO ***1/2

Year Of Release: 1987

I actually think this one is marginally better than its predecessor, and the "margin" in question is indeed important; essentially, I could imagine myself listening to Boi-ngo some other time, whereas I could care less if Dead Man's Party just entirely disappeared off the face of the planet. On the conceptual end of the biz, Elfman is still being way too serious here, with annoying preachy stuff like 'New Generation' telling the same ideas that he used to tell in a flashy and hilarious way in his earlier songs in a predictable and boring way now. But even so, Boi-ngo is notably lighter and tongue-in-cheekier than its predecessor. And almost half of the songs actually do try to recapture the unimitable goofy vibe of old, whether they succeed at it or not.

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DARK AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL ***

Year Of Release: 1990

This album gets three stars from me. Three stars is all that it gets. And let me tell you what three stars mean. There are bad records made in the rock business. This is not one of them. There are great records made in the rock business. This is not one of them either. There are really good records thrown out from time to time. No cigar again. Then you have really really mediocre albums you can't enjoy but you can't really put the foot down upon. Not this case.

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BOINGO ***

Year Of Release: 1994

Not to be confused by Boi-ngo by all means: the ratings might be almost the same, but these are sure two different records. Actually, this one doesn't even bear the "Oingo Boingo" moniker, just "Boingo", as if it were a different band - and in a way, it is. It is also the group's last studio offering before Danny started concentrating exclusively on his soundtracks. And as a swansong, it's a weird and curious offering.

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FAREWELL ****1/2

Year Of Release: 1996

One hell of a BIG live album. Two CDs, crammed from top to bottom with thirty friggin' songs - and then there's two more on the tape if you have one (too bad that one of those two just had to be 'Nothing To Fear (But Fear Itself)'! The band's best song or nearly so, and I don't have the chance!). And this is indeed the band's farewell concert, recorded at their usual, "traditional" Halloween gig at the Universal Amphitheatre. And it rules.

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