The Psychedelic Furs

Here Came the Psychedelic Furs -B-sides and Lost Grooves (Sony Legacy)
by Chris Adams

The Psychedelic Furs were a classic post-punk band who released two stellar albums (The Psychedelic Furs and Talk Talk Talk) and a handful of really good ones between ’81-’89. Richard Butler’s smoky vocals and sardonic lyrics made him come off like a sophisticated Johnny Rotten, perfectly supplemented by the Furs’ propulsive, atmospheric rock. Sure, they were angry (the first album uses the word “stupid,” like, 56 times or something) but there was a sensuality and subtlety to their music that, in those days, was practically nonexistent. Here Came the Psychedelic Furs -B-sides and Lost Grooves is a collection of B-sides, dance remixes, and promo tracks that attempts to explore the diversities of the band. It features some excellent tracks, like “Mack the Knife” and “Birdland,” and only falters in that it seems to focus a little too heavily on dance remixes. Still, for the Furs fan, this is an indispensable recording.

Also included in the Legacy Series is The Best of 415 Records, which features songs by such early ’80s faves as Wire Train, Romeo Void, and Translator.

I can’t stress enough what a great idea Sony has with the Legacy Series. I’ve been waiting for years for someone to start re-releasing all these classic punk/post punk nuggets. Let’s hope this spearheads a general movement within the industry, so we can finally put those battered 7″ and 12″s into storage for good.