The Fixx. An eighties band to many people who only heard One Thing Leads to Another or saw the video for Stand or Fall. But the band has never really stopped. After Reach the Beach, Phantoms was not as big commercially, but still a solid album in Scruffy's opinion. The follow-up Walkabout still shines as a unique testament to the band. Then Calm Animals came out, which was still pretty good, but not quite the same. Unfortunately, the next three studio records, Ink, Elemental and Want That Life were different animals. I'm sure the band had to move in different directions, but they lost me.
But The Fixx have a new album coming out called Beautiful Friction on July 17, and the first single Anyone Else is out now. And it's pretty good. The cover is once again done by George Underwood, who created the unique album art for classics Reach the Beach and Phantoms. Can the band bring guys like me back into the fold? Leave a comment below, I'd love to hear what you think.
Here's the band doing an older one recently, Saved By Zero.
Buy anyone else at iTunes or Amazon.
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3 comments:
I know several people who lost track of the Fixx between 1991 and now. Between Ink, which they have said they were forced to make with outside writers, and the band's exploration of new musical avenues, it's understandable.
I think a band like The Fixx puts a big emphasis on following their muses and being true to where they are in their musical journey, and so it makes sense some people wouldn't go along for the ride.
Personally, I think some of the songs on Elemental and Want That Life are right up there with their best work, but overall I'd have to say Phantoms is my favorite and most cohesive album. Shuttered Room has some great rockers and awesome songwriting, but Phantoms is really The Fixx that I love best.
That said, I'm really looking forward to this album based on Cy Curnin's comments about Occupy Wall Street and how it re-invigorated their songwriting process. I also dig the new songs I've heard, especially "Just Before Dawn."
And if you EVER get a chance to see these guys live, I definitely recommend them because an album can't do justice to how great Cy's voice has become and how hard they still rock!
Glenn
Hey thanks for the comment Mr. Page! I love Phantoms too, Calm Animals would be my favourite that most people have not heard. I am really curious about the new album. Where can I hear some of it? Email me at the address on the blog if you don't want to tel lme here.
Hey there Cy!
The songs that I've heard from the new album are the single "Anyone Else", and the album tracks "Just Before Dawn", "Take a Risk", "What God?" and "Beautiful Friction." I've only heard them because they played them live when I saw them in New Jersey last month! They were all pretty much immediately hummable and accessible. "Dawn" in particular has that melancholy, moody, hooky, Fixx feel that I love so much. "What God?" has a really raucous chorus, with Cy breaking out his best "tormented, screaming rocker" voice. Haha! However, unless you can go see them live, I don't know if you can hear the full cuts anywhere. HOWEVER... I do know there are snippets of all the tracks over on Amazon. Lots of people seem to like the song "Girl With No Ceiling," but I'm holding off on listening to any snippets or samples. I want to hear the album as a whole, and I don't want any "spoilers," so to speak! :)
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