Shop our Big Takeover store for back issues, t-shirts & CDs
Follow The Big Takeover
For his first digital-only release, head Barbarellatone Robbie Quine presents what is quite possibly his best album to date. Honestly, I probably said that a couple Barbarellatones reviews ago, but it’s the truth: Robbie simply outdoes himself every single time. With The Sound of Love, he perfectly distills his unique vision of ’70s glam, punk rock, psychedelia, pop and John Waters into a single concept and, in turn, creates a perfect album.
The opening title track is a punk rock stomper that describes the “sound of love” in more visceral terms, i.e., the “ughs,” “oohs” and “ahhs” that accompany coitus. “Sex Cow” graphically depicts the pornographic thoughts of a guy who prefers, er, larger women to the tune of Bowie trying out country music. The B-movie action actor is celebrated in “Dolph Lundgren,” a deadpan Lou Reed-ish rocker with Arbic overtones. “Give It Up!” is a bizarre ’80s funk song along the lines of Cameo (remember them?).
As silly as Robbie can be, though, he can also turn out serious songs, like “LTK,” the story of a rebellious stripper/escort, another Reed-ish folk-rock tune. The heartbreakingly beautiful “Feeling Haunted” is a lover’s lament of adultery set to a perfect pop background that mixes Beatles-esque symphonia with ’80s pop, perhaps along the lines of XTC and Tears For Fears. The cryptic new wave-ish “Sunshine Death Mask” (lyrics by Patrick Carpenter) seems to be a commentary on life in Los Angeles.
The remainder of the album consists of two excellent covers, Bowie’s “Rebel Rebel” set to a futuristic ’80s mode and The Velvet Underground‘s “White Light, White Heat,” which perfectly captures the noisy pop of the original and the glam virtuosity of subsequent live Lou Reed versions. Also, there are several tracks from a musical Robbie co-wrote with Vicky Hamilton called Glitter Beach, the standouts being the Rocky Horror country-punk “Redneck Riviera” and “Lonely Beach”‘s psychedelic ’80s pop.
As far as I’m concerned, Robbie Quine is a true artist and The Barbarellatones are one of the best bands currently gracing the ethereal music industry void. Hopefully, Barbarellatone-mania will catch on and Robbie can live the rock star life he deserves after all these years.
The Sound of Love was produced by Paul Roessler of The Screamers, Twisted Roots and 45 Grave, so quit being a poseur and buy the damn album!!!
