REISSUES
By Wilhelmina Steppenwolf
27 August 2012
27 August 2012
Copyright 2012, The Turntable Times
WE ARE FAMILY...
The next round of Little Blue Men reissues will start hitting stores next week, and we're back to review the first of these right here: "We Are Family... The Little Blue Men Celebrate the Music of Charles Manson."
In what was potentially a PR disaster of the highest order, the Little Blue Men decided to record and release an album of covers written by one of the most infamous murderers in U.S. history. "Career Suicide," read the headline on the cover of Time Magazine. The National Music Express wrote, "Never before in the history of rock & roll has anyone done something so crass and insensitive." Roman Polanski stated, "I've said it before and I'll say it again, 'God I'm glad I wasn't home that night.' ...Oh, the album? Yeah, it's pretty crass and insensitive."
It was bold. It was ballsy. It was profoundly crass and insensitive. And damnit if it wasn't one of the best albums of LBM's career, thanks to the surprisingly brilliant songwriting by Manson. Guns N' Roses fans remember the hubbub over that group's cover of just one Manson song, "Look at Your Game, Girl." But Axl and the boys had nothing on the Blue Men, who had decades earlier recorded "We Are Family..." live in just three takes.
Now on this reissue, Microgram has made these gems shine even brighter, with a remaster that sounds crystal clear. The standouts are "Helter Skelter?...Helter Schmelter," "I'm Pretty Sure I Can Handle Acid," and "Who Wants to Do Something a Little Different This Friday?" Even briefly-tenured Blue Man, Sven Nordstrom sounds better than ever playing mellotron on "Wow, That Really Really Got Out of Hand."
If you've got the quids, spring for the vinyl edition, which sounds so warm and inviting, you'll feel like you're at a party in Laurel Canyon.
In what was potentially a PR disaster of the highest order, the Little Blue Men decided to record and release an album of covers written by one of the most infamous murderers in U.S. history. "Career Suicide," read the headline on the cover of Time Magazine. The National Music Express wrote, "Never before in the history of rock & roll has anyone done something so crass and insensitive." Roman Polanski stated, "I've said it before and I'll say it again, 'God I'm glad I wasn't home that night.' ...Oh, the album? Yeah, it's pretty crass and insensitive."
It was bold. It was ballsy. It was profoundly crass and insensitive. And damnit if it wasn't one of the best albums of LBM's career, thanks to the surprisingly brilliant songwriting by Manson. Guns N' Roses fans remember the hubbub over that group's cover of just one Manson song, "Look at Your Game, Girl." But Axl and the boys had nothing on the Blue Men, who had decades earlier recorded "We Are Family..." live in just three takes.
Now on this reissue, Microgram has made these gems shine even brighter, with a remaster that sounds crystal clear. The standouts are "Helter Skelter?...Helter Schmelter," "I'm Pretty Sure I Can Handle Acid," and "Who Wants to Do Something a Little Different This Friday?" Even briefly-tenured Blue Man, Sven Nordstrom sounds better than ever playing mellotron on "Wow, That Really Really Got Out of Hand."
If you've got the quids, spring for the vinyl edition, which sounds so warm and inviting, you'll feel like you're at a party in Laurel Canyon.
Little Blue Men
DELUXE VINYL/DVD EDITION
180g audiophile quality 12" vinyl with original and new artwork
Newly re-mastered
"Crass and Insensitive" documentary DVD
Newly re-mastered
"Crass and Insensitive" documentary DVD
DELUXE CD/DVD EDITION
Newly re-mastered, with original and new artwork
"Crass and Insensitive" documentary DVD
"Crass and Insensitive" documentary DVD