From: atay@warp.UWaterloo.ca (Tay-man)
Subject: Re: Poppies
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 20:54:05 GMT

THE DRUMMER:
A number of people have asked about the new drummer.  According to an  
article in SELECT circa September '92, his name is Fuzz.  He isn't truly  
their first drummer, since Graham Crabb who is still in the band used to  
play drums (although not too well).  I think he played drums full time  
until "This is This" when he started sharing lead vocals with Clint  
Mansell and they started using drum samples and machines (although not all  
of Box Frenzy has live percusion -- by the way, the title is really "Box  
Frenzy", not "Go! Box Frenzy").

THE TOURS:
I may be wrong, but I fairly sure that PWEI were touring Europe last fall,  
as well as playing a few dates in the summer.  The only band that I know  
that has opend for them recently is Ned's Atomic Dustbin, but it seems  
unlikel that they'll open for the Poppies in Canada/USA in the  
winter/spring because: a) the Ned's are more popular in North America than  
PWEI, and b) the Ned's are already planning to tour N.A. as a headline  
act.

THE ALBUMS:
Funny, everyone seems to disagree about what their best material is,  
except that "This is This" is definitely the best.  I have most of their  
stuff, including the four albums, the "Now for a Feast" compliation, most  
other EPs and singles, and a few limited editions.  I like the new album a  
lot (listen to it a few times -- it'll grow on you).  True the sampling  
isn't as complicated as on "This is This", but it can hardly be accused of  
lacking in creativity.  I like the fact that they've renewed the aggresive  
guitar that was so grest on "This is This" and yet so lacking on "The Cure  
for Sanity".  Anyway for those that aren't too familiar with the band,  
here is my humble attempt to describe and rate (out of 10) some of their  
releases:


NOW FOR A FEAST (1989?)			rating: 9/5
>> compilation of early EPs: "Poppies say Grrr", "Poppiecock", "Sweet  
Sweet Pie" single and B-sides, B-sides to "Love missle F1-11"

Their early style is kind of like a punkish indie guitar rock/pop.  No  
rap, samples, scratching, or neat high tech sound effects yet.  A few  
songs have keyboard played by Adam Mole.  They were pretty fun and had a  
good sense of humour.  Some of their influences were The Buzzcocks and The  
Mighty Lemon Drops.  It's all pretty good except for the Poppies say Grrr  
songs which are rather lame.

HIGHLIGHTS:  The Black Country Chainstore Massacre, Monogamy, Oh Grebo I  
think I Love You, Sweet Sweet Pie, Everything that Rises, Candydiosis,  
Like an Angel.

*NOTE: the "9/5" rating means that the best songs are really good (9) and  
the worst would be best ignored (5)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOX FRENZY (1987)			rating: 7
>> first studio album

They've now started listening to more rap music, and it shows on this  
album (they were on a tour opening for Public Enemy and Run DMC about this  
time).  Scratching. Samples. Hard guitar riffs, Drum machine. Rap. More  
samples.  They've got an even stronger sense of humour than before.  There  
are some good songs, but it could be better.
** NOTE:  The single version of Love Missle F1-11 is very different from  
and much better than the album version.  "No Love" is outstanding.  

HIGHLIGHTS:  There is No Love Between Us Anymore, Beaver Patrol, Hit the  
High Tech Groove, UBLUD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS IS THE DAY, THIS IS THE HOUR, THIS IS THIS (1989)	rating: 632
>> second studio album

			- BUY THIS!!! -

Their best album.  A very powerful balance between agressive guitars and  
modern technology (if that makes any sense).  This album is difficult to  
describe, so I won't bother. I'll just say that if you haven't bought this  
yet, you should get off your butt right now and get it!

HIGHLIGHTS: just about all of it 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
VERY METAL NOISE POLLUTION (1989 EP)		rating:	9

Contains "PWEIzation" and the original version of "92'F" plus album  
versions of "Def.Con.One" and "Preaching to the Perverted".  The style is  
similar to that of the album.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DANCE OF THE MAD BASTARDS (1990 12" single)	rating: 10 

The "yellow cover" version (it was also released with a purple cover and a  
slightly different track listing) contains a cover version of Elvis'  
"Rock-a-Hula Baby", a wonderful remix of "Preaching to the Perverted", and  
a version of "Dance of the Mad" with a live intro. Excellent!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE POP WILL EAT ITSELF CURE FOR SANITY (1990 Eur/1991 N.A.) 	rating: 8
>> third studio album

This album is fairly different from the previous one in that their is  
hardly any guitar.  Instead they've carried the futuristic theme further  
into their music by dabbling more with technology:  lots of synth, lots of  
drum machine, lots of rap, lots of dancy beats, lots and lots and lots of  
samples.  The problem is that it isn't nearly powerful enough.  Lots of  
good songs though.  Get the single versions of "X, Y, & ZEE", "92'F", and  
"Another Man's Rhubarb" because they very different from the album  
versions.

HIGHLIGHTS (see above), also:  1000x NO!, Dr. Nightmare's Medication Time,  
Touched by the Hand of Cicciolina, Nightmare at 20,000 FT.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE LOOKS OR THE LIFESTYLE (1992) 	rating: 9

As you've probably read, opinions vary greatly on this one.  I like it,  
particularly because it's got some guitar on it.  There's less rap and  
more singing, and the percussion is a hell-of-a-lot better because it's  
real.  It's also very energetic.  Some people may not like it as much  
since there's not as much sampling or sound effects.  Decide for yourself.

HIGHLIGHTS: All except for "I've Always Been a Coward Baby" 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy Tay	-- and yet another posting without a fancy signature