Funplex Reviews

• The Future Generation of the B-52's

  
  By ASQ1LT7RXLVF6 on 2008-03-29
  This is tough. When Loreena McKennitt emerged with her new album after a 10 year gap, half of the album was great, and the other was "ok". The B-52's are back with a full length studio album, their first in 16 years. Wow, 16 years is practically a generation! I am writing this as an ardent fan, I own all their albums, a smattering of singles, rarities, books, etc. But I am honest, too. So, the Funplex... Fred is still in good voice and everyone is in a party mood. But is this a Party Out of Bounds?
  
  The first thing I noticed was the music, from note one it was great! Three songs later it still sounds like the same song. That's how you keep the party going. They all are in good voice! I can still distinguish Kate and Cindy, welcome back Cindy!! Two things struck me that were very different from the other albums. 1. Electronics are more on the foreground now. Beats, beeps and whistles and all. Good stuff (wink). 2. Sex. There are a lot of sexual innuendos going on in the lyrics! More than ever! Look no further than "Ultraviolet"! Fred belts "let's hit the G Spot!" and "tell your skirt to take a hike!". Over the top, funny and fun.
  
  "Juliet of the Spirits" is a nice number from the girls and Cindy can still reach those high notes that have been showcased in songs like "Girl from Ipanema goes to Greenland" and "Deadbeat Club". The album's best moment comes with "Deviant Ingredient". Just perfect!!! Sounds like a lost song from BOUNCING OFF SATELITES!. Great lyrics, chemistry, energy, swingy and kitschy! "Funplex" the title track and first single is a great party tune, about a mall... or a state of mind, not sure.
  
  All in all FUNPLEX is a great album and the future generations of the B-52's are gonna party like it's the year 3000! The Kings of the Zulus and Daughters of Dracula are still partymonsters and will provide you the vibes!! So sit back in that outer space chair, drink that Mojito, wear that shiny poly blend, and wear those sunglasses on top of your head!
  
  FUNPLEX in five words:
  Hypnotic, Harmonic, Sparkling, Dizzy and Futuristic!
  
  

• A less than thrilling return

  
  By A4OSXRZR2BMX8 on 2008-03-25
  If you've read Amazon customer reviews for awhile, you've learned that you can't really trust the dominant 5-star reviews of EVERY new product that comes out, especially from adoring fans who see only perfection from their faves. So here's an alternative perspective. First let me quote from two print reviews of Funplex that are less than 5 stars. EW (a B+ review): "...the B-52s are still gloriously single-minded party animals more interested in giddily rocking love shacks than stoking intellects." OK, they liked it. And from Mojo (one-star review): "...(now) Fred Schneider's ironic lounge lizard is just creepy." My own reaction was somewhere between the two, but closer to Mojo's view. Despite upgrades in the guitars and synths - they have modernized - the sound is still the same basic B-52 party rock, something that sounds pretty dated overall. They may have been THE party band for a time back in the '80s, but I'm not sure there's a place for this music in 2008. And I do think Fred's recitations sound desperate and a bit embarrassing by today's standards. So much of this music sounded all the same after about four songs - "Party - version 1," "version 2," "version 39," etc. The worst possible thing that can happen occurred while I was listening to Funplex - the songs blurred into the background, and my mind began to drift away to other things. So, not so fun after all.
  You may now click on "no" below.
  
  

• Fresh, modern, New Wave Dance Rock for the 21st Century!!

  
  By A3ADFUS74MLPMA on 2008-03-25
  Finally, the long wait is over and the B-52s, my favorite party
  band has put out an excellent new record. The Band sounds in top
  form on this collection, Cindy Wilson is back in the line-up and
  Keith Strickland has taken his time with the help of producer
  Steve Osborne and come up with a futuristic, modern, spin on dance rock
  with a new wavish touch that does not dissapoint. Kate & Cindy sound awesome harmonizing together
  and Fred's vocal interplays stand right out in the mix, always something
  off the wall to listen to. Sexual situations clash with their
  best music since they first started making records, this one's for everyones
  collection. Pump starts the party off right and other highlights,
  Eyes wide open, Juliet of the Spirits, Funplex, Hot Corner, Deviant Ingredient,
  Dancing Now, hold you in their spell to the closer Keep this party going
  making this a B-52s classic. Its great to have these guys back with
  some fresh new music.
  
  

• Thank You Bs--the FUN is back in music!

  
  By A2SODFKGQ1UPZS on 2008-03-25
  This CD rocks and pops and dances along at a decent beat and it's so nice to have the Bs back.
  
  The sound reminded me of their second album, WILD PLANET, because it's more "dance rock" than GOOD STUFF and it's not as "arranged" as COSMIC THING.
  
  Think of "Dirty Back Road" transformed into 2008 and you'll know what to expect.
  
  
  And I'm happy to say that I really liked the ENTIRE CD -- every song makes the iPod!
  
  In these troubled times, thank you Bs for bringing some FUN back into music!
  
  

• Ego-Free Vitality in an Age of Exhaustion and Angst

  
  By A1W3MBU3V858G9 on 2008-04-11
  The music of the B-52's, for me, has always been an acoustic narcotic. Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson have got to be the two most emotive singers I have ever heard (Mahalia Jackson comes in a pretty close second), and they contrast beautifully, the former being the tortured one (think "Hero Worship," "Give Me Back My Man," or "Ain't It A Shame") while the latter is all sunshine and positivity (think "Revolution Earth" or "Housework"). Fred Schneider is Fred Schneider; he can't sing and he can't dance, and he's brilliant at both.
  
  Keith Strickland has the impossible job of compensating for the absence of Ricky Wilson, and it has to be said that he is the main brain behind the reinvention of the band. In his minimalism, Ricky Wilson was a fantastic guitarist. "Funplex" is the first post-Ricky album to capture the riff-happy playfulness of his style, and the album has a buoyancy and lift that "Cosmic Thing" and (especially) "Good Stuff" lack. It seems Strickland has learned from Ricky Wilson to keep it simple, straightforward, and energized.
  
  There is nothing around today that sounds this exuberant. I'm thrilled that the B-52's are back, but it is something of a sad commentary that music nowadays, for the most part, simply isn't fun like this. Just because it's "party music" doesn't mean it isn't or can't be important (think Motown during the early 1960s). Yes, the B-52's are political (not that Amazon is the place to make that argument).
  
  When I heard Steve Osborne was producing, I cringed a bit. He was ideal for New Order, but the B-52's sensibility seemed antithetical to the extremely polished tendencies of Osborne. I was totally wrong; Keith Strickland's choice to work with him was a stroke of genius (if only other vintage acts would make such a move). Osborne and the band really meet each other halfway, a truly inspired collaboration.
  
  To really appreciate the production value of the album, you need to listen to it in full stereo on a more-than-decent system (it sounds muddy in my car and overly compressed on my mp3 player).
  
  It amazes me how some people make their minds up so quickly, and have decided that the album is something of a letdown without really letting it grow on them. Remember, it took "Cosmic Thing" months to catch on. I have found that the more I've listened to it, the better it has gotten. The songs I initially didn't care for ("Dancing Now," "Deviant Ingredient") have become my favorites. Just no pleasing those dimestore critics out there, I guess.
  
  I don't mean to sound greedy, but this can't be their last album...
  
  
• Any B-52's album is better than none
  By A37WVQUDN0RTS2 on 2008-03-27
  When you make one of the best party records of the 80's as Cosmic Thing was, you set a pretty high mark. Comparisons are inevitable. This album is no Cosmic Thing, and it comes kinda close to Good Thing though good thing had songs with good hooks. That being said,Funplex still has some Good Stuff. The girls are still in A+ form, and hearing Fred's screaming warble is always fun. They remain true to their classic hippiechick lyrics and shimmy shake lyrics while incorporating new electric dance sounds. The main problem I have with the album is gets pretty redundant after while. The tempos are all pretty much the same, the themes of the songs feel like you just heard them 10 minutes ago. In short it's kind of like going to a rave. You're dazzled for a while and then start wondering if you've been to this party before.
  
  
• Refreshingly the same
  By A2VF7MX9ANLJ3N on 2008-02-25
  It sounds just like sixteen years ago. I love it. It is very consistent with their original sound. If you are a die-hard B-52s fan, you won't be disappointed.
  
  
• The B's White Album
  By A3KBG7E1XSNTYC on 2008-03-26
  Only the B-52's could come back with a record after 16 years, when they're all in their 50's, that focuses on sex and romance! This is the best new release I've heard in ages. Funplex manages to combine the quirky lyrics and dance beats that made fans fall in love with them over the past 3 decades with some cool, now sounds like driving rock guitars and funky electronic grooves. It is easily both their most unusual(for them) and most accessible album. The first six tracks on the disc will have you shaking your booty and creating your own in-home funk-a-thon. After that, things get a bit experimental. The tracks:
  
  1. Pump: this is a delicious slice of chaotic rock that will have you pumping and jumping. Love the way Kate sings about "mama."
  
  2. Hot Corner: this rocked out jam will have you dancing in your room until you're out of breath.
  
  3. Ultraviolet: a tune with a hyper rock vibe that is fun and funky.
  
  4. Juliet of the Spirits: a fan fave, a shimmering techno love fest in which the girls admonish a friend to come out of her shell and really live life.
  
  5. Funplex: the first single, a funky, funny, mid-tempo dance/rock number that will have you laughing and singing along. "Lady? What lady?"
  
  6. Eyes Wide Open: my favorite song on this album. This is absolutely incredible and tough to describe. Starting out as an ominous, stark techno experiment, it gradually builds into an all-out dance frenzy that will have you shakin' it like crazy. I love Kate's refrain: "I don't want to clash, I don't want to re-hash the past, I just want release."
  
  7. Love in the Year 3000: The verses are odd and experimental, with Fred talking about different kinds of robots. The choruses are catchy with the girls exquisite harmonies. It's an interesting and addictive combo.
  
  8. Deviant Ingredient: The closest thing on the album to a ballad, the song is lush and sensual, a bit on the commercial-sounding side, but the female vocals on the choruses are hard to resist, and the song builds to a somewhat rocking climax. Sort of like a peppy chill out song.
  
  9. Too Much To Think About: This is the only song on the album that I don't like. The different parts of music and vocals just don't work. It felt flat to me.
  
  10. Dancing Now: A really cool ditty that harkens back to the B-52's garage/punk origins, with Fred barking out verses while the girls sing verses behind him. It's a great effect.
  
  11. Keep This Party Going: While not the best song on the CD, this is a fun and warmly felt tune that is the perfect album ender. Leaves the listener with a happy, party friendly glow.
  
  If you like fun, danceable, quirky music, buy this now!
  
  
  
  
• Rumored 2-disk version is for real!
  By A2YAEFBB7G2YEB on 2008-03-28
  The limited 2-disk version is a Target exclusive and only available in-store. I purchased mine today($11.99) and it contains a bonus disk recorded live at the Roxy in L.A. It contains the following tracks:
  1. Party out of bounds
  2. Channel Z
  3. Roam
  4. Strobe Light
  5. Rock Lobster
  
  There are no rainchecks on this version so if you want it, you better get it soon.
  
  
• They are in top form!
  By A2EPRDQJF2XPJ9 on 2008-04-11
  I remember being just a kid when I saw them on SNL doing "Rock Lobster," back in '79 or '80, and thinking at the time "they're really weird." I wasn't an instant fan, but felt oddly drawn to them. Over the years, I took notice of their more mainstream stuff (I was rather sheltered and never sought out music that I wasn't rather mundanely exposed to), such as I'd see on MTV, and as of "Cosmic Thing" I began to check out more of their older stuff and have considered myself a fan for a few years now.
  However, nothing prepared me for what I'd feel with upon hearing this magnificent CD. I don't think I have ever loved an entire album so much upon the first listen, and "infectious" (to quote another reviewer) is an entirely appropriate adjective for this collection of songs.
  I find it to be the perfect blend of their early, raw party sound, and the more highly-produced sound of their later years. This is classic, prime B-52s here, folks; it doesn't get any better than this. The songs from this CD stay with me even after I've stopped listening to them (which, I admit, can be maddening if one is in a circumstance--such as at work--where the CD can't be played).
  I find that the best venue for this CD is in a car with a great stereo system, on a sunny-day highway. It is the ultimate road-trip music, and I can't help but crank it up so loud that I fear I'll blow out my speakers. And that is saying a lot: I'm about to turn 41 and I very rarely do that (or even feel like doing that). So thank you, B-52s, for staying the course and doing what you do best: making great, uplifting, bizarre and fun music that inevitably makes people move and smile. This is one of the rare bands that just keeps improving with age, and I can't help but wonder if or how they could top this terrific CD. BRAVO!!
  
  
• FUNPLEX just ROCKS
  By A3TBLDGTD1XOGT on 2008-03-25
  Well, after a 16 year wait, they're BAAACCKK! From PUMP to Juliet of the Spirits, to Funplex and Hot Corner, the "Deviant Ingredient" here is Keith Strickland's commitment to the band, and his commitment to the evolution of their sound.
  Cindy and Kate sound TERRIFIC, and their vocal harmonies are instantly recognizable. I had a smile on my face as wide as the Grand Canyon whilst listening to the tracks. Fred Schneider, in rare form, completes this grand quartet.
  I'm a huge fan since the beginning, and it feels SO GOOD to have them back. Grab it, and listen to it. I'll bet you're up on your feet, shaking your honeybuns, before the first trak is over.
  I say all of the B Fans out there, UNITE and petition the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME to get this band in. They are true survivors, pioneers and .... THE WORLD'S GREATEST PARTY BAND.
  
  
  
• Thank God.
  By A3LU4M8PIQAXKV on 2008-03-30
  At no other time in our nation's history have we needed the B-52's as badly as we need them now. In a time when the whole world seems intent on bleeding the average Joe white while stuffing the pockets of the few; war, recession, politicians and all the rest, we NEED the B-52's to remind us how to party.
  
  
• The party is still out of bounds.
  By A3KJ6JAZPH382D on 2008-04-15
  Wow - in less than two weeks we have albums from REM (Accelerate) and this new one from The B-52's. The Athens Attack has survived three decades and these bands (who could be argued peaked about the same time, REM with Green and The B's with Cosmic Thing) drop comebacks just in time for Spring.
  
  The question, then, is how does The B-52's Wild Planet message of freedom relate to love in the years 2000? The answer on "Funplex" is something of a mixed bag. Kate and Cindy still sound wonderful together, Fred Schneider still yelps and Keith Strickland has kept his trademark guitar riffs raw. The difference on "Funplex" is in producer Steve Osborne, who sounds like he forgot he wasn't producing New Order. This collision works great on the kick-off track, "Pump." The pulsing electronics are reminiscent of Whammy! (a severely under-rated album), with a fierce dance beat, the B-Girls chanting, Fred barking and Keith laying down one razor sharp riff. It's enough to make you hope the rest of "Funplex" is of equal brilliance.
  
  Unfortunately, the remainder of the CD drifts around and starts to run out of steam midway in. There is one moment for Kate and Cindy to do their Girl Group greatness on "Juliet Of The Spirits." "Ultraviolet" and the title track (about hanging out in the mall - how 80's!) supply more dance-floor shake, as does the closing "Keep This Party Going." But "Deviant Ingredient" and "Too Much To Think About" are weak songs that begin melding into each other, eventually making "Funplex" fall into samey-sounding territory...the party goes on a bit too long. Old fans will likely be delighted (after all, no new B-52's album in 16 years is a long dry spell), the youngsters will wonder what all the fuss is about.
  
  Y'know what? This is still gonna rock my Summer of Love. I'll just rip the CD into a party playlist and leave out the not-so-Good Stuff. It may not bring on the crazy fun of the "Love Shack" days (dang, that makes me feel old!), but "Funplex" will deliver the goods when The B's hit the road with Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Tour this summer.
  
  
• PHENOMINAL return after far too long a wait!
  By A2EW0I9JZ1C45U on 2008-03-31
  I have to say I'm absolutely stunned at how good this album is! I've had it since day 1, and cannot stop playing it daily. I know some people claim all of these 5 star reviews are from people who would rate anything by a favorite artist that high. That is not the case here at all. As much as I love Kate Bush, her last album, "Aerial", was at most 2 1/2 stars. As much as I think Siouxsie and the Banshees are the greatest band in history, I didn't go near Siouxsie's recent solo album. When it came to the B-52's, I was encouraged by the two excellent new songs they put on their Greatest Hits CD 10 years ago, and with Cindy back in the fold, I wouldn't miss this.
  
  Let me start off by saying though I've been a fan for 20 years, I've always hated "Love Shack", and feel "Rock Lobster" has been too burned out. I avoided the dance funk Cindy-less blandness of "Good Stuff" from the start, but this could not be passed up..., even if it turned out I hated it, I had to try it.
  
  "Funplex" is a B-52's album for everyone. It contains their signature sound with enough of a modern feel that people should avoid using the term "dated" when describing it. There is nothing wrong having a sound all your own, and let's face it, no one else could ever sound like the B-52's. I could have easily seen them wearing space suits on the cover.
  
  From the opening track, the first thing that came to mind was how wonderful the ladies' voices have maintained over the years. A number of my favorite female artists have definitely lost their voice through the years; Hazel O'Connor and Siouxsie. But a few others sound amazingly untouched by time on their most recent recordings; Lene Lovich, Toyah, and now Kate and Cindy. "Funplex" contains all the things we've loved by the B's over the decades - excellent harmonies and melodies, Fred's campy talk/shout, upbeat tunes that get the feet tapping. There are some songs clearly geared for the dance floor on this album, and as much as I dislike modern dance music, in the world of the B's it works! "Juliet of the spirits" better be a single, and a #1 for that matter. What an amazing song, with beautiful harmonies and a damn catchy hook throughout. It gives me chills. "Love in the year 3000" and "Eyes Wide Open" are other excellent dance numbers, but even with a hint of a darker dance edge, which succeeds 100%. "Too much to think about" opens with an instantly recongnizable B's guitar riff, and rolls right into the fun. Though I do like some songs better than others, there is not one real dud on the album, and that's amazing in this day and age. But to see four people in their 50's making an album that can cause me to feel this much enthusiasm in 2008, I can't help but be surprised. I've got my tickets for the Cleveland concert in late April, and am looking forward to it more than the previous two times I've seen the B-52's perform. They should feel endlessly proud of this album, and I can only hope the next will not take as long to release. The dead world of bland modern music desperately needs the B-52's, to remind us what we used to get excited about with music. I'd almost forgotten!
  
  
• Shake & shimmy at the Funplex..
  By A24N1BAS3CU27H on 2008-04-18
  B-52s are a fun bunch whose sound reminds one of a raucous party. I first came across them when I heard and fell in love with their 1989 hit "Love shack" which prompted me to get the album it came from, "Cosmic thing". That was a brilliant album which featured some production by Nile Rogers (of Chic fame). After that, I heard a pair of songs they did for movies; "The chosen one" from "Pokémon 2000" and "Meet the Flintstones".
  
  "Funplex" is their first album in some 16 years and is much more of what we've come to expect from the band, and despite the heavy use of synthesizers and heavy beats, the album still manages to transport one back to a time when bouffant hairdos and miniskirts ruled. Musicianship is top notch, and the inspiration for the more electronic sound was apparently New Order.
  
  The sound is dancey, with loads of jangly surf guitars, shout-and-reply refrains, and copious use of silly words like "shimmy". Opening cut "Pump" is a prime example. Others along this line are "Hot corner", the jangly "Ultraviolet", title track "Funplex" (jagged guitars against a bubby synth bassline - my favourite), "Too much to think about", the extremely catchy "Dancing now" (with a fuzzy bassline) and the sunny "Keep this party going".
  
  Slowing the tempo down but not by too much are the buzzing "Juliet of the spirits" (lovely harmonies making them sound like a sixties girl group), the plodding eighties sounding "Eyes wide open", the groovy "Love in the year 3000" (another favourite of mine), and "Deviant ingredient" (which finds Fred Schneider yelling silly words like "Bootybots" and "Erotobots" at intervals). There are no real ballads to dampen the fun party mood.
  
  "Funplex" is a real fun album which more than lives up to its name.
  
  
  
• The B-52's still rule . . . . .
  By A1E6UE6TXEKC43 on 2008-03-25
  The 80's are long gone, cheap gas is just a memory, America is deindustrialized and on the brink of financial ruin . . . . . but one thing remains the same . . . . . the B-52's still rule, and do they ever.
  
  I've been listening to "Funplex" on AOL (streaming the entire album) until the CD is released, watching the YouTube videos (Benicassim 2007) and my best friend and I were fortunate enought to see the B-52's live at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC last August where they performed some of the "Funplex" songs. The 16 year wait was worth it because this album/CD is just awesome, I can't stop listening to it. From the vibrant "Pump" and "Funplex" and the techno-futuristic "Love in the Year 3000" to the hauntingly beautiful "Juliet of the Spirits", there isn't a bad song to be found here.
  
  Most of the CD's I buy I usually end up ripping the one or two good songs I really like to my hard drive or compilation CD and storing the original away, but "Funplex" will be played in it's entirety along with a very few others . . . . . "Blown to Smithereens" (The Smithereens), "The Aqua Velvets" (The Aqua Velvets) and "In Time: The Best of REM. 1988-2003" (REM). "Getting some platinum action" is the probably the only way to have more "fun" than listening to "Funplex".
  
  The B-52's just get better with age, Keith is just incredible on the guitar, Fred is so cool and so funny, Kate has a voice to die for and seems to be having more fun than ever, and Cindy . . . . . what more can I say about Cindy, the goddess from Athens (Athens, GA although she would be perfectly at home on Mount Olympus). I've been in love with Cindy for a long time, she is enough to make a gay guy go straight . . . . . almost. If you want to see an uber-cool flashback of Cindy, Ricky and the rest of the B's, check out the YouTube video of "Give Me Back My Man" (Rare video and the full verson...B-52's new wave 80's), it will bring a smile to your face and tears to your eyes.
  
  That's the only bad thing about "Funplex", Ricky isn't a part of it . . . . . but I have to believe he's looking down with a big smile on his face. He must be very proud of his little sister and his friends.
  
  One final note, if you want to learn more about The B-52's and the music scene in Athens that gave rise to the B's, REM and Pylon, check out the DVD "Athens GA. Inside/Out".
  
  
  
• Great to Hear the Whole Gang Again
  By AB34EWV1Y2PVN on 2008-03-25
  It is great to hear the whole band together again. It's hard to believe that it has been 16 years since the last album. Their sound is still as fresh and new sounding as their first album.
  
  I think my favorite track so far is Juliet of the Spirits. Love the harmony of Kate and Cindy on that track. The only weak track for me was Ultraviolet. Maybe after I listen to it a few more times it will grow on me.
  
  
• Funplex
  By A34Y1FT0MTD7C9 on 2008-04-06
  The B-52's-Funplex *****
  
  
  Easily the best thing The B-52's have released since Cosmic Thing in 1989. This is fun, over the top, danceable, creative, has infectious grooves, and above all still maintains amazing musicianship. With Cindy Wilson back in the group things seem to once again mesh the way the always did before she left. While the group did make some great music after she left it just wasn't the same.
  
  The overt-sexuality on tracks like 'Ultraviolet' and the albums opener 'Pump' are classic 52's. Fred Schneider seems to be in top form as does Keith Strickland. Kate Pierson sounds just as good as ever, especially on the excellent title track and first single, 'Funplex' which is honestly on par with some B-52 greats such as 'Love Shack' and 'Dance This Mess Around.'
  
  Funplex is a refreshing album of fun and exciting music in an age full of imitators. It's great to have the original.
  
  
• Really, really, really good!
  By AWXI4J5OA9A0W on 2008-04-11
  This CD is really good, and gets more amazing every time I've listened to it. The whole "let's party, have fun and a good time" vibe is still there, but there are songs that are beautiful and meaningful, too, while still being upbeat and everything you'd expect from this great group. Cindy's vocals are the strongest they've ever been on this one, as I prefer her voice over Kate's. It's am amazing CD, buy it, you won't be disappointed and you will grow to like it more and more and more. I love the songs Juliet of the Spirits and Deviant Ingredient the best. But the whole CD is great.
  
  
• WELCOME BACK........FUNPLEX WORTH THE WAIT.
  By A237UQWA01EGVD on 2008-03-25
  I have waited soooo long, and the B52s bring it. If your a fan or not, your gonna love this cd. I just hope were not gonna have too wait so long for the next one.......YOU GUYS ROCK THE PLANET. and then some, great, outstanding. a work of true pop art. love ya. I am a fan for life. Can i give this cd 7 stars.....Hell YA.
  
  
• Happy Fan
  By A314APAWYQFKBJ on 2008-03-25
  I've been a fan since '79 and have wished for a new album for a long time. I saw them twice over the last year and they played a few tracks at their concerts. When I heard them I liked them right away. Especially the title song Funplex. I knew the song would be popular when I heard it, and the fans loved it. I especially love the quirky lyrics, vocals, and heavy guitar sound. It really wants you to get up and dance! I'm glad the new album is out, and it's made me a very happy B-52's fan!
  
  
• Not Bad
  By A3RA5PLXURBQJ5 on 2008-03-27
  This album is pretty good but I think some of the songs sound too similar. Some of my favorites are Pump, Juliet of the Spirits and Funplex. I think the girls could have done 2 or 3 more songs w/o Fred. I like him, but his voice is a little to shrill, sharp, and sometimes annoying for me to listen to on every song. Great to hear them back together.
  
  
• Funplex--WOW!
  By A2ABXL666OZVSE on 2008-03-30
  This album once again shows the beautifully creative genius that is The B-52's! From the girls' unbelievable vocals, to Fred's quirky quips (love you Darlin'!), to that undeniable guitar, it's the most fun all over again. Those first moments of "Pump" had me sayin' "where's my seatbelt" because this here rocket is about to blast off into SuperSpace, and that's just the start of that trip to dancin' heaven. I'm enthralled y'all by the simplistic complexity in these songs, the melodies, I can't find all the words to describe it--maybe like a total brain orgasm--again! This band is the best band in the world.
  
  
• Surprisingly fresh for a seasoned band
  By A2364DJDJWF5LO on 2008-04-01
  After spinning this CD three times, I am happy to report that it is definitely a keeper, and should hold up well for many years to come.
  First and foremost, I've always considered Kate and Cindy's vocals, combined with Ricky Wilson's impressive guitar work, the secret ingredient that made this band so unique and lovable. As fans know, Ricky isn't with us anymore, but, Kate and Cindy and their glorious harmonies are.....and brother, do they soar all over this great CD.
  Unlike their last release, the lackluster "Good Stuff," the band decided to drop the overwhelming silliness that ruined that album, and get back to their gift of authentic fun and playfulness. The songs on "FUNPLEX" are shorter, more to the point, and revved up to to get the party started. In other words, it's a B-52's album. There are echoes of their first two albums here, but, overall, FUNPLEX is more in line with "Cosmic Thing." Trust me when I say thats a good thing. Basically, it means an album of fun and play for adults, but any youngster that hears it should be drawn in by the funky and cosmic grooves. The title song should come with a warning label that reads....."Once Played, It Will Stay In Your Head For Days." It's an extremely enjoyable tune where the girl's harmonies become otherworldly and irresistible. If the music gods have any power left, this song should top the charts. My second favorite is "Juliet of the Spirits." Like "Topaz" from Cosmic Thing, this song is also irresistible with a very melancholy feel to it. It has that uniquely charming blend of a party tune and a very reflective and sober message song. The B-52's are amazing in their efforts to pull this off so well. Third favorite is "Deviant Ingredient." Again, we have the girl's outstanding vocals wrapping around a killer party tune. I just can't get enough of it. All through the album Fred offers his offbeat singing, blurbs and yelps in all the right places. Unfortunately, his bizarre lead vocals are wasted on "Eyes Wide Open," which I consider the weakest song in a sea of gems. It's not really a bad song, but, it seems out of place on this particular CD, and would suit one of his solo albums better. Ultimately and overall, we have a great album here, and one the band put a lot of heart and soul into.
  I think it's amazing that a band that's been hammering it out for 30+ years can still offer so much freshness and joy. "FUNPLEX" offers it by the train load, and I hope it brings them much deserved success. Thus far, it ranks as one of my top 3 albums of 2008, and I have a hunch it will remain in the top 3. Yes people, it's that good.
  
  
• Simple really
  By A3GDYKGP67ERRC on 2008-04-03
  I could go on and on about song titles and whatnot. But I'll just leave a short note that sums it up - Ricky Wilson would have liked it ;)
  
  
• Outstanding New Release
  By A399RPHTNZPKUR on 2008-04-04
  Thank goodness they are back!!! This cd is strong across the board--great dance music (but many songs have an unmistakeable rock guitar edge to them), solid vocals--you name it, this cd has it. It seems weird to me that the B52's have been sort of out of commission lately, because they sound in absolute top form on this cd. All of the tracks are fun to listen to--this is one cd that you won't skip around to find the one or two decent songs. The B52's have somehow managed to stay true to their unique style, while presenting us with a relevant and current sound. Buy this one--it's not a waste of money. And, I look forward to having the chance to hear this music played live in concert.
  
  
• The B 52's Are Back
  By A2KBXRNALTZFGB on 2008-04-07
  I have been a fan of the B-52's for a quite a long time. I'm sooooo happy they are back from them their (I don't know how long) hiatus. It was forever! I was afraid they weren't coming back. But they are back.
  
  Now, I'm not the best person to describe music. All I can say, is that this is a great come back album or CD for the B-52's. Their style of furturistic music, and dance/bass/drum beats are on the money. But the vocals of Kate and Cindy are better than ever! And of course Fred is the greatest! Keith with his great guitar licks, brings you into the future, and yet reminds you of the good old days of the B-52's (Rock Lobster) I love the song Funplex, Pump and Juliet of the Spirits. All and all, this a great album/cd. B 52's I'm glad you are back! You are here to stay!
  
  
• The B's
  By AY63ZAG7SBVY3 on 2008-04-09
  Everyone should own this addictive mood booster. If you are ever down, just play this album at a decent danceable volume. I'm so happy to hear the new harmonies from Cindy and Kate! I love Juliet Of The Spirits. What a terrific sound. The B-52s always seem to know how to create an instant party with their creative lyrics and melodies.
  
  
• Well Worth the Wait!
  By AO839XTIPFRGL on 2008-04-12
  If you were around when the B-52s first hit the music scene (like I was--man! I'm old!), you'll think you've been transported back to the '80s when you listen to this tour de force. But somehow it sounds as if it's coming through a time-warp from the future. Well, the B-52s ARE timeless. And happy, happy, happy!
  
  These old friends of mine astonish me with this album. It's fresh, new, but very familiar. Cindy and Kate sound better and cuter than ever, and Fred still has that great white-nerd rap goin' on! Just try to keep from dancing all over the living room with this CD spinning! The mix is crisp and the electronic accents are great additions to the good old-time rock guitar from Keith Strickland.
  
  This album's going to get worn out from too much play this summer! Yeah! Keep doin' what you're doin' 'cause it's what *I* like!
  
  10 out of 10! Album of the year! Grammys all around! Thanks again, you fabulous four! Ricky would be so proud.
  
  
• fantastic !!
  By AJ9FC1GZOTA1O on 2008-04-15
  rockin swinging hip mesmerizin witty and i think their best album ever!!! a tonic to hear such original funny great music from this group who have lost nothing but gained if anything--- the best of what we loved about them abounds here---- every song is a winner ! deviant ingredient is genius !!! if this music doesnt cheer u up and get u feelin glad all over !-- yer in trouble !!!! choice and major groove-aliciousness !!! !!!
  
  

• Accelerate
• Hard Candy
• Last Night
• Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
• Consolers Of The Lonely