- Audio CD (15 Nov 2011)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Universal Japan
- ASIN: B00599UHIM
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Audio Cassette | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
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Product Description
Album Review
Chock full of new-wave charisma and tamed by Bob Geldof's up-front wit, The Fine Art of Surfacing is novel in both its lyrical flair and modern pounce. Made famous by the colourful history of "I Don't Like Mondays", a true story about a 13-year-old girl who shot 11 people without showing any remorse, The Fine Art of Surfacing switches gears from this song's well-crafted harshness to the hectic pace of tracks such as "Nice N' Neat" and "Sleep", among others. "Diamond Smiles" jaunts along on a hiccup-like rhythm, while "Keep It Up" is downright frantic. "Someone's Looking at You" basks in a certain type of smug paranoia, and songs like "Having My Picture Taken" and "Nothing Happened Today" are beautifully lit up by Geldof's wide-eyed dramatics and explicit vocal swings. Sharing the same sort of stylishness as A Tonic for the Troops, The Fine Art of Surfacing bursts with florid pop genius, which in turn kept the Boomtown Rats from sounding like other new wave bands that existed at the time. --Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide
Album Description
This version is the 2005 remastered reissue of the third album from The Boomtown Rats featuring frontman Bob Geldof, originally released in 1979. It contains four bonus tracks: "Real Different" (B-side), "How Do You Do" (B-side), "Late Last Night" (B-side) and "Nothing Happened Today" (live in Cardiff). It has been Digitally Remastered by Jon Astley and was overseen by Bob Geldof and Boomtown Bassist, Pete Briquette.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album really is the Rats at their very best. It features the number one single I Don,t like Mondays but even better than that When the night comes with its epic guitar solo which really is unforgetable and a real album high light.
Their are several other songs that could easly have been hit singles, keep it up,featured on the Kenny Everitt show, Nice N Neat, Nothing Happened today with its Henry Hooper tag line,this really is one of the most under rated albums of the time and one the Rats would never surpass. EXCELLENT
Their are several other songs that could easly have been hit singles, keep it up,featured on the Kenny Everitt show, Nice N Neat, Nothing Happened today with its Henry Hooper tag line,this really is one of the most under rated albums of the time and one the Rats would never surpass. EXCELLENT
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Fine Art of Surfacing was the first serious album I ever bought when I was about 8 years old and soon after I bought FAoS I went out and bought the prior two albums and then bought Mondo Bongo as soon as it was released, so for me Bob was 'Sir Bob' even before he invented Live Aid. I probably wore all 4 albums out and then forgot about them as 'cooler' synth bads emerged.
Listening to this CD now, however, it hasn't aged at all. I have so I'll try and avoid writing anything pretentious. The songs are as punchy, tuneful, memorable, catchy and as finely crafted as anything else I've ever listened to and the ability of the band is even better than I recall which gives the whole album a togetherness that's an utter joy and delight to listen to.
Totally brilliant from beginning to end.
Listening to this CD now, however, it hasn't aged at all. I have so I'll try and avoid writing anything pretentious. The songs are as punchy, tuneful, memorable, catchy and as finely crafted as anything else I've ever listened to and the ability of the band is even better than I recall which gives the whole album a togetherness that's an utter joy and delight to listen to.
Totally brilliant from beginning to end.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
GELDOF WAS AT HIS BEST HERE.ALL THE BEST TRACKS WERE RELEASED AS SINGLES (MONDAYS, DIAMOND SMILES, AND SOMEONES LOOKING AT YOU)THOUGH THERE ARE SOME OTHER GREAT SONGS ON THE ALBUM AS WELL,(WHEN THE NIGHT COMES AND KEEP IT UP).ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN 1979 THIS ALBUM IS REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET HOLD OF ON CD...THOUGH I`VE HEARD ON THE GRAPEVINE THAT ALL THE RATS ALBUMS ARE TO BE RELEASED ON CD.LETS HOPE SO. 9/10 FOR THIS ONE
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Still Great
Hadn't heard this in years before i ordered it. It was just as good as i had remembered. The only song i ever hear on the radio
from this LP is 'I Don't Like Mondays' but... Read more
from this LP is 'I Don't Like Mondays' but... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Peter J. Wedesweiler
The peak of the Rats, angry, eloquent, and highly listenable
This is a very good album indeed. And it really has not aged - if someone was writing exactly these songs now, they would be massive hits.
Published 10 months ago by bmju
Great memories
I was a big fan in younger days.. Bought this on vinyl when it came out still sounds just as good
Published 13 months ago by The Exile
Memories
I used to own this on vinyl and hadn't heard the album for years. Was immediately transported back to the 80's and sang along all the way through the album - oh the memories....
Published 16 months ago by Lorraine Westall
Still just as good
I bought this album back in 1979 on cassette, it was awesome then it still is now, except that now it has extra tracks on.
Published 19 months ago by Mark Kaye
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