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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Following on from the success of "Calling all the Heroes" It Bites went into the studio and produced this masterpiece and were duely rewarded by being ignored by the general public forevermore. It's incomprehensible that this album should be overlooked. At it's heart it's prog rock fused with pop melodies so tuneful and catchy that you just don't notice the supreme musicianship that is displayed by the whole band. Tracks such as "Yellow Christian" and "Old man and the Angel" have time signatures that would confuse Stephen Hawking but again once you hear the melodies and "Angelic" harmonies you'll be humming them for weeks. Great little stories are found sunch as "Plastic Dreamer" about a boy locked inside a toyshop overnight as all the toys come to life. Finally there's the 14 minute track, a true classic that is based around a day at the races (yes I know that's a Queen album title) and is brilliant from start to end ("Willy Carson done for arson for burning up the track!) it reminds me a little of Battle of Epping Forest by Genesis with all these characters introduced, but above all the playing is never short of sensational. I think It Bites were marketed too much as a Duran Duran pretty boy band when in fact their music was far more adventurous for the average girly teenager, which is a pity as they never received the recognition they deserved. Buy this album and feel very guilty!
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is the middle It Bites album and the one to have. Sure, in 1988 the world didn't need some digitally-recorded, full-on prog rock lunacy - but they got it anyway and the UK music scene was all the better for it.
Hats off to Richard Branson and Virgin for funding this cos it really was the last gasp of progressive rock. Mainly recorded at the Manor, scene of Oldfield's Tubular Bells et al, obviously under the influence of various 'substances', OATW is essentially one side of pop/rock mainly produced by another Virgin prog survivor Steve Hillage and the other side featuring some completely brilliant, barmy prog rock songs.
Take 'Plastic Dreamer', for instance. It fits an unbelievable amount into its four minutes, including a vocal harmony section that would make Roy Thomas Baker drool, a stunning Holdsworth-like guitar solo from Frank Dunnery and some propesterous 'fantasy' lyrics that would have Syd Barrett turning in his grave. The title track is quite simply astounding considering it was recorded in the same year as Kylie's 'I Should Be So Lucky' and has to be heard to be believed. Amazingly, they could play all this stuff live too, and with great elan.
John Beck's keyboard textures have dated a bit and pale in comparison compared to what Trevor Horn and David Sylvian were doing with synths at the time, but people often forget what an amazing rhythm section It Bites had. There's a solidity there that suggests that they were always influenced by much more than just progressive rock music, and Frank Dunnery's guitar playing and vocals still have incredible bite.
The lads took a much heavier direction after this, but this is the one to get. A great band at its peak with peerless musicianship.
Hats off to Richard Branson and Virgin for funding this cos it really was the last gasp of progressive rock. Mainly recorded at the Manor, scene of Oldfield's Tubular Bells et al, obviously under the influence of various 'substances', OATW is essentially one side of pop/rock mainly produced by another Virgin prog survivor Steve Hillage and the other side featuring some completely brilliant, barmy prog rock songs.
Take 'Plastic Dreamer', for instance. It fits an unbelievable amount into its four minutes, including a vocal harmony section that would make Roy Thomas Baker drool, a stunning Holdsworth-like guitar solo from Frank Dunnery and some propesterous 'fantasy' lyrics that would have Syd Barrett turning in his grave. The title track is quite simply astounding considering it was recorded in the same year as Kylie's 'I Should Be So Lucky' and has to be heard to be believed. Amazingly, they could play all this stuff live too, and with great elan.
John Beck's keyboard textures have dated a bit and pale in comparison compared to what Trevor Horn and David Sylvian were doing with synths at the time, but people often forget what an amazing rhythm section It Bites had. There's a solidity there that suggests that they were always influenced by much more than just progressive rock music, and Frank Dunnery's guitar playing and vocals still have incredible bite.
The lads took a much heavier direction after this, but this is the one to get. A great band at its peak with peerless musicianship.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Well, what can I say. It starts with a bang and goes on to surprise with every track, especially the 14 minute long title track Once Around the World. A musical masterpeice. I bought this album on it's original release about a decade ago and played it to death, literally (it was on tape and got mangled). God knows why this band split up, heaven knows I wish I knew ! I am sure they could have had a lot more success than they did, especially with Francis Dunnery's excellent guitarmanship. Have a listen, I'm sure you'll be hooked too.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
How did I miss this???
Back in 1988 when this album came out, I was listening to the likes of Marillion, Genesis and Yes. To me, It Bites were that one hit wonder pop group that did 'Calling all The... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Stotty
Great album
It Bites at their best, in my highly opinionated opinion! A couple of weak songs in the opening `Midnight' (odd choice for a single) and `Rose Marie' and a re-recording of their... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Piranha Pish
the most underrated band of all time
This is more of a review of it bites themselves.
It is criminal they were not huge - I suspect they were born at least 10 years too late and were around at a time when music... Read more
It is criminal they were not huge - I suspect they were born at least 10 years too late and were around at a time when music... Read more
Published 8 months ago by J. Richards
Once Around the World
Although over 20yrs old this album still stands out as a "prog rock" masterpiece. I bought the album in the 80's & was lucky enough to see them play live & they blew me away with... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Burnsy
Genius
Yes indeed, "Genius" is a word rarely thrown at popular beat combo's, but this opus from a tragically under-acclaimed group is just that. Marvellous.
Published on 24 Jun 2009 by D. Allen
Simply Awesome
If I was stranded on a desert island with nothing else but this CD, and something to play it on of course, I would quite happily spend the rest of my days listening to an album,... Read more
Published on 24 Dec 2008 by B. Darkins
Bitten!
It Bites were, in retrospect, a band around at the wrong time. It's not as if they didn't have a fair crack at the whip; Virgin spent a LOT of money trying to promote them, but the... Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2008 by Shark Sandwich
Overlooked gem
One reviewer here asks why the band split up. In all likelihood, it was because Virgin didn't know what to do with them, they didn't really know what they wanted to be, and most of... Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2008 by GoonMoon
Big Bites
It Bites only produced three original albums of which 'Once Around the World' was the middle one. The first album promised great things and this second album delivered although the... Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2006 by N. Mason
It Bites - It's Disappointing
I purchased this album because I am a fan of Kino, a band in which John Beck is currently playing and the fact that it was recently announced that It Bites were reforming with John... Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2006 by Andy H
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