A Certain Ratio - Graveyard And The Ballroom CD Album

A Certain Ratio - Graveyard And The Ballroom CD


Available from Amazon Marketplace 5 New from $69.99 7 Used from $40.00 1 Collectible from $79.95

"The Graveyard and The Ballroom" is the legendary first album by A Certain Ratio. Originally released in 1980 this album has been a collectors' item ever since it's initial release on cassette-only by Factory Records. Soul Jazz Records are releasing this album on CD and for the first time on LP.

The angular, bass-heavy post-punk of A Certain Ratio could conceivably be compared to that of their Factory labelmates Joy Division (singer Simon Topping is a dead ringer vocally for Joy Division's Ian Curtis). One key difference is that A Certain Ratio has a more pronounced funk influence, which makes their music more danceable. Another difference is that Topping's lyrics, more abstract and even humorous (albeit in a dark, quirky way) are less dramatic than Curtis'. The Graveyard and the Ballroom, compiled from a collection of early four-track recordings and a set of live tracks (recorded when the band was opening for the Talking Heads), shows off A Certain Ratio's strengths well. The sound is surprisingly good for such lo-fi recordings, and the band is, for all of their musical amateurishness, rather precise and controlled. Unfortunately, that highlights a key flaw of the album: Too often, it is accomplished enough to be intriguing, but never all that gripping. By emphasizing rhythm over melody, A Certain Ratio makes music that is interesting and danceable, but not hugely compelling. It's mechanically well-played, with quirky, interesting lyrics that never really seem to add up to anything more than an attention-grabbing sound. Nonetheless, those seeking an idiosyncratic, interesting art-funk band can do no wrong with this release, even if it ultimately falls short of any meaning beyond quirky experimentalism. ~ Victor W. Valdivia

Graveyard And The Ballroom Music

Category	Rock/Pop Albums, Jazz CDs, Jazz Instrument, Rock
Label	Universal Sound
Orig Year	1980
All Time Product Rank	436,529
CD Universe Part number	6658266
Catalog number	621221
Discs	1
Release Date	Feb 14, 2006
Studio/Live	Studio
Mono/Stereo	Stereo

A Certain Ratio - Graveyard And The Ballroom Songs

Trk

Song

Time

Price

Do the Do (Casse)

Faceless * See All 5

2:36

$0.99

(From different album)

Crippled Child * See All 3

4:21

$0.99

(From different album)

Choir * See All 6

4:08

$0.99

(From different album)

Flight * See All 7

3:37

$0.99

(From different album)

I Fail

Strain See All 2

All Night Party * See All 5

4:11

$0.99

(From different album)

Oceans See All 3

Choir * See All 6

4:08

$0.99

(From different album)

Fox See All 7

Suspect See All 2

Flight * See All 7

3:37

$0.99

(From different album)

Genotype/Phenotype See All 2

And Then Again

Thin Boys

(*) MP3 for this song is from a different CD. Listen to the sound sample to be sure this is the version you're looking for.

Graveyard And The Ballroom Review

Guidelines
Remember to focus your comments on A Certain Ratio - Graveyard And The Ballroom CD.
Check our review guidelines for specific details regarding customer review policy.

To submit your review, please fill out the above form and click "Submit Review." A staff member will then verify your review meets our guidelines. Upon approval, your review will be published within a few days.

Please do not use this form to comment on web site errors or for order related questions. If you have concerns of this nature, please contact customer service by filling out this form.

Purchase Graveyard And The Ballroom CD

To buy, Click on price to add to cart

Other Ideas

Planet D Nonet
Old School CD (2012) Audio Samples

$11.09

Other Ideas

Al Cohn / Zoot Sims / Phil Woods
Jazz Alive: A Night At The Half Note CD (1959)

Check Availability

Add to WishList

Share this Product

1.	Different Kind Of Truth Van Halen
2.	Different Kind Of Truth Van Halen
3.	21 Adele
4.	Old Ideas Leonard Cohen
5.	Tank Full Of Blues Dion

›All Time Top Sellers

This Week

1.	Different Kind Of Truth Van Halen
2.	Different Kind Of Truth Van Halen
3.	Kisses On The Bottom Paul McCartney
4.	Home Dierks Bentley
5.	Summer In Kingston Shaggy

Next Week

1.	Rockpalast: Ian Hunter Band Feat. Mick Ronson Ian Hunter
2.	Electric Sea Buckethead
3.	Michael Schenker Group: Rockpalast - Hardrock Lege Michael Schenker Group
4.	Scorpions: Live In 3D - Get Your Sting & Blackout Scorpions
5.	Un "Sung Stories" Phil Alvin