Drastic Plastic (Deluxe Edition)

Be-Bop Deluxe

Esoteric Recordings, 2021

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be-Bop_Deluxe

REVIEW BY: Mark Kadzielawa

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 03/24/2021

Drastic Plastic was Be-Bop Deluxe’s last studio record. I think the title says it all when it comes to the music. At that time, the musical scene was changing drastically.  Punk was still raging, and then many post punk bands began to appear creating new wave sounds. Be-Bop Deluxe’s progressive rock influence began to wear thin and as a result, this is a very different album. It is still very well written and played, but does not have the flavor the band’s fans were used to.my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

Bill Nelson is still being very adventurous here with his guitar and the overall songwriting. The man was certainly never afraid to take chances. Songs like “Love In Flames” definitely show that punk energy within the Be-Bop Deluxe setting. Now listening to it, it’s fun to see how the styles overlap here. But you can clearly see the band was moving in a slightly different and new direction. It’s no surprise, Bill Nelson broke the group and pursued the new musical territories. The formula simple became outdated to him, and he needed to move forward. While many missed would love for the Be-Bop Deluxe to maintain their style, the change was simply inevitable, and Bill Nelson’s solo career went on to prove that he embraced changes.

This deluxe reissue really put some life into this forgotten classic. There are a lot of extras that now come with this album, including plenty of bonus tracks, a live show initially intended for an EP release. The two discs include two different mixes of the album, so you can make your own choice as to which mix is the best for you. The booklet is really incredible. Not only there are plenty of band photos from this particular time frame, but also great liner notes from Bill Nelson himself. The notes are extremely informative, and very revealing in many ways. I don’t want to give everything away so I don’t ruin your own personal surprise. All in all, this is a great package that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to Drastic Plastic and events surrounding it.

Rating: B

User Rating: Not Yet Rated


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