Pop (Tones on Tail album)

Pop
A black background with a small square photo in the middle of a naked young girl standing on a log in a forest with the words "TONES ON TAIL" and "POP" above and below her, respectively, in white capital letters
Studio album by
Tones on Tail
Released6 April 1984
RecordedDecember 1983
Studio
GenrePost-punk, gothic rock
LabelBeggars Banquet
ProducerTones on Tail
Tones on Tail chronology
Burning Skies
(1983) 		Pop
(1984) 		Tones on Tail
(1985)

Pop is the only studio album by the English post-punk band Tones on Tail, a side project of the Bauhaus members Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins (who later went on to form Love and Rockets with David J), and the Bauhaus roadie Glenn Campling.[1] It was released on 6 April 1984 by Beggars Banquet Records.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

Trouser Press opined, "while Pop [...] reveals some draggy recidivist Bauhaus tendencies, it also has real songs of modern music that show taste, delicacy and moderate imagination".[3] Writing for AllMusic, Ned Raggett called it "an impressive, wide-ranging effort collaging a range of influences into an inspired, often unpredictable experience".[2]

Dave Thompson, in Alternative Rock, considered the album "more serviceable ideas than realized majesty", but nonetheless a recording that "holds its place in time".[4]

Erica Bettina Wexler of Spin wrote, "There is something elusive and haunting about their music. This first album provides no immediate hooks or grooves, no instant good time. But give a serious two-ear listen, and you'll be surprised by its hypnotic power."[5]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Daniel Ash, Glenn Campling and Kevin Haskins. All lyrics by Ash.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Lions"3:57
2."War"3:18
3."Happiness"3:08
4."The Never Never (Is Forever)"3:21
5."Performance"4:12
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Slender Fungus"3:35
2."Movement of Fear"3:51
3."Real Life"5:06
4."Rain"8:27

Personnel

Credits adapted from Everything! CD liner notes.[6]

Tones on Tail

Additional musicians

  • Juan Pedro Diego Ignatius Barraclough y Valls – rhythm guitar on "War"
  • Caroline Lavelle – cello on "Performance"

Technical

  • Tones on Tail – producers
  • Ted Sharp – engineer (A3 and B1–B4)
  • Derek Tompkins – engineer (A3 and B1–B4)
  • Louis Austin – engineer (A5)
  • Mr. Atlas – cover photo

References

  1. ^ "Never Found in the '80s: Tones On Tail". Tampa Bay Times.
  2. ^ a b Raggett, Ned. "Pop – Tones on Tail : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  3. ^ Robbins, Ira; Fasolino, Greg. "Tones on Tail". Trouser Press. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  4. ^ Thompson, Dave (16 July 2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879306076 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Erica Bettina Wexler (October 1985). "Spins". Spin. No. 6. p. 29.
  6. ^ Everything! (CD liner notes). London, England: Beggars Banquet Records. 1998. BEGA 200 CD.