| | ABC Beauty Stab CD ABC Discography of CDs
 (3 Customer Reviews)
The difference between Beauty Stab's chart statistics in the U.K. and in the U.S. is extremely contrasting. The album's only single, "That Was Then and This Is Now," reached number 18 in the U.K., while it stalled at number 89 in the United States. The album itself climbed to number 12 on ABC's side of the ocean, while it stalled at number 69 on the American charts. The reason that Beauty Stab made such a substantial impact in the U.K. was due mainly to the album's makeshift concept about the band's take on modern England, with Martin Fry and Mark White trying to push their opinions through the buzz of guitars rather than the shiny pop sparkle of synthesizers and drum machines. Every aspect that made Lexicon of Love a masterpiece is absent on Beauty Stab. Gone is the brilliant songwriting which involved Fry's clever wordplay and acute wit, the pre-fabricated hooks that are so addictive, and, above all, the squeaky-clean sound from both a production standpoint and an instrumental one is nowhere to be found. ABC tried to implement a slightly hardened sound into their music, but the result came out thin and undistinguished. The single was the only redeeming factor, showing the most pizzazz of any of the other cuts. "Bite the Hand," "Unzip," and "S.O.S." contain small amounts of pop delight, while "Love's a Dangerous Language" and "Power of Persuasion" tried to recapture Lexicon's spirit, but they both came up short. Album sales for Beauty Stab faltered, since fans were expecting a Lexicon of Love part two, but were utterly disappointed. The change for ABC seemed to be rushed, and the band should have echoed the same characteristics into Beauty Stab since the high demand for their brand of lustrous was still alive and well. Only Fry and White remained for 1985's How to Be A...Zillionaire!, with a handful of session musicians hired to play on the album. ~ Mike DeGagne
For their second album, ABC toned down the synths and turned up the guitars, making an inconsistent set of rocking, Roxy-styled pop that does have its impressive moments, particularly the single "That Was Then but This Is Now." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Remastered, reissued 1983 album with a bonus track 'Vertigo'. Beauty Stab Music | List Price | $10.98 (You save $2.19) | | Category | Rock Albums, Pop CDs, Rock/Pop, New Romantic | | Label | Mercury | | Orig Year | 1983 | | All Time Sales Rank |  40185  | | CD Universe Part number | 1270584 | | Catalog number | 536397 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Jun 30, 1998 | | Studio/Live | Studio | | Mono/Stereo | Stereo | | Recording Time | 42 minutes | | Additional Info | Bonus Tracks; Remastered |
Beauty Stab Music Review Average Rating: (5 out of 5 stars)  They Went THIS Way!
With BEAUTY STAB, gone is much of the glossy, wryly romanticized Brit-pop the group made their names with; that candy-spun confection of pop hooks and tongue-trippy lyrics with just the slight undertaste of belladonna.
Now the bitterness comes to the forefront with a lean, stripped-down rhythm section that recalls the best of Roxy Music (no surprises there, since a couple of RM's revolving personnel sat in for these sessions), that pushes the strings, choirs and OTT orchestration back into a corner, (though the ghost of the "old" band can be heard on the haunting "By Default, By Design).
Martin Fry's singing displays a toughness that wouldn't be heard again on subsequent albums; ditto Mark White's guitar chops, now as hard and glittery as newly-cut diamonds.
For this group, damn near their masterpiece, and a criminally underrated part of their discography.
Submitted by cchase (Arlington, VA.) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Top, top album
So many catchy tunes, great guitar riffs and the usual insightful lyrics make this an ABC tour-de-force. So much better than their facile poppy stuff, this album shows ABC's true musical talent that they have yet to repeat. Most recommended track: The Power of Persuasion. Great stuff.
Submitted by Damian (Hong Kong)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Awesome LP!
By far, their ABSOLUTE BEST ALBUM! They've long-since nose-dived. Ah, if they could only get THIS sound back?!
Submitted by alacey (Chicago, IL)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No | Have you heard this album? |  |
Purchase Beauty Stab CD To buy, Click on price to add to cart | Depeche Mode People Are People CD (1984)
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This 1986 album features 11 tracks, including "Arizona Sky" and "It's Everything."
After making a bid to become the '80s version of Steely Dan on the delightful Flaunt the Imperfection, China Crisis offered a fuller and more pop-oriented follow-up the next year. With the duo of Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley (replacing Walter Becker) sharing the producer's chair, the songs on What Price Paradise feature warm, intricate arrangements and prominent brass and strings. But while more ...
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"ICEHOUSE", "SIDEWALK", "WARNER BROTHERS", "CD", "ROCK" This remastered edition includes four bonus tracks from the Iva Davies-led Austrailian experimental rock band.
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This is Hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.
Byron Stripling, Scott Wendholt (trumpet, flugelhorn); Michael Davis,
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HOMAGE TO COUNT BASIE won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album.
Count Basie was undoubtedly one of the most influential bandleaders in jazz history. It seems only logical then that saxophonist Bob Mintzer (who has dedicated most of his career to big-band music) would sooner or later record a tribute to the great father of swing. Joined by many of the top New York City-based jazz players including Pete Yellin on reeds, Scott Wendholt on trumpet, Phil Markowitz on piano, Dennis Irwin on bass, and John Riley on drums, Mintzer and group create a touching homage to the Count.
We hear five tunes commonly associated with Basie on this disc. Among them are smart versions of "Cute," "April in Paris," and "Shiny Stockings." In addition, we are treated to three compositions by Mintzer himself, each reflecting the Basie style in one way or another. As a modernist, Mintzer adds a contemporary flair to otherwise classic ...
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On REMEDY, Basement Jaxx do for house music what the Chemical Brothers did for techno. By utilizing infectious, accessible song structures and incorporating a sense of musical history, the group brings house to the masses without dumbing it down. In the larger sense, REMEDY can be seen as a thumbnail primer on electronic dance music. Everything from '70s-derived vocoder tricks to late-'80s club beats and hard-funk synth bass is used to cook up a varied, flavorful sonic stew. REMEDY's room-shaking grooves will find a place in the hearts of hardcore ...
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