Hmm. Well, I loved it. I never listened to this band for their lyrics. But for the vocals and great guitar playing and hooks. Which this album has in spades. "Pump" is atomic.

I never listened to them for lyrics either. And I disagree about the guitar and hooks. I don't find much of either. There are about 3 songs that have a significant guitar lick, but the lick in each of them is very similar to the others.

You said the songwriting wasn't there for you. That's why I said I don't listen to this band for the lyrics. And sorry, but I couldn't disagree with you more. There are plenty of guitar licks throughout. It's a fun album (no pun). Sure, not their best. But after all these years, I'm very very pleased.

Lyrics are only one facet of songwriting, along with writing the music, which involves many things..

for any fans / collectors that are intersted... if you order the cd from FYE or NEWBURY comics online, you get a free autographed booklet!

with newbury, they send you the autographed booklet with the cd...

with fye, you get the cd first then the autographed booklet ships 5-6 weeks later...

On first listen I was surprised how average it sounded. Seems like this could have come out 10 years ago and you wouldn't know any better (that's not a positive comment). I'll have to listen a few more times, but I was definitely hoping for something with a little less sheen.

Heads up! If you purchase Funplex from Target, it comes with an exclusive 5 track bonus cd of "classic" live tracks. Couldn't find a tracklisting anywhere. They're selling it for 11.98, otherwise the cheapest appears to be Circuit City for $8.99. Think I'll pay the extra for the live stuff.

That would be cool. My order from Amazon is already on it's way. Oh well. I like Newbury Comics. I've ordered from them before and they always ship fast.

I agree. A couple extra bucks to get a bonus live CD which is in limited print is worth it all the way. I went ahead and purchased it at Target because of this.

I picked up the album today (well, technically yesterday now). It's totally awesome IMHO. I'm really glad to have a new B-52's album to enjoy... and just in time for the summer! :)

Finally got to listen to the album properly yesterday. In my car and on my home stereo. Both BLASTED. And this is one really good album. Sure, like anything that the B-52's have released, there are one or two throw away/filler songs. But over all, I'm very happy and pleased. It's just so much fun to listen to. It just makes me smile the whole time. Personally, I think the stand out tracks are "Eyes Wide Open" and "Pump". Thumbs way up. And welcome back guys. Please don't wait another 16 years to do another proper album.

Here's the video for "Funplex"

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...deoid=31009351

Great album. Makes me wish I still owned a car.

So far, my favorites are "Hot Corner" and "Juliet of the Spirits".

:banana: Cool video. Keith= :drool:

I've listened to the album properly now at least 10 times. And it's definitely top heavy. The filler "forgettable" throw away songs are definitely towards the end. Specifically 8-10 ("Deviant Ingrediant", "Too Much To Think About" and "Dancing Now"). These songs are just so sub-par. And not even worthy of a B-side IMO. Thankfully "Keep This Party Going" closes the album out nicely. I know most of the stuff the B-52's have put out has had one or two "eh" songs. This is no exception. I didn't even love "Cosmic Thing" when it came out. Thought it was a little above average. So it took some time for me to really enjoy and appreciate the entire thing. Still, today, "Wild Planet" is my favorite album of theirs. All in all, I'd give "Funplex" an 8/10.

Hey Trip,

I agree with your grade: 8/10. My favorite B's album is still their first. :banana:

Their first album is my favorite as well but this album is a lot of fun to listen to. I'm really glad it turned out so well. I still need to get Cosmic Thing. I only own a couple of their albums and that isn't one of them (surprisingly).

This is my new favorite album.

Hey, he's mine. :mad:

I can't believe he's 55. It's seriously disturbing.

Like I said in an earlier post, I was in the front row at their Wolf Trapp Vienna Virginia show last August and Keith was right in front of us, and the guy looks like he's in his 30's. Not a line on his face. I can recognize plastic surgery on anyone, even Botox, but this guy has not had anything from what I can see. Just good genes. He looks exactly the way he did during the "Cosmic Thing" tour. Which is disturbing. Kate looks pretty damn good in the video too. Also like she did during the "Cosmic Thing" era. She didn't look very good in the "Debbie" video though. So, welcome back Kate! :)

We can arm wrestle! :D

I swear, this is the laziest band I've ever seen. One week after their new album is out, their official website still hasn't launched. Taking 16 years to come up with said album. Sure, they toured every year and a half. But it was turning into just a nostalgic thing with the same old songs. And it was getting really tired. Which is why they finally did another album. But come on guys, you should be out there doing whatever you can to let people know you're still around and where they can see you. And your website is a good start.

Hello everyone!

Sorry for my questions but I don't know much about Newbury or Target.
So I have 2 questions:
Concerning Newbury, did they send real signature on autographed booklet, or is it just a pre-print?
And concerning Target, can you tell me which one is the limited edition with 5 live tracks?

Thanks in advance

Not sure if this was what you were looking for but I found this easily via Google:

The B-52's Funplex

And, off of that site, found this:

B-52's Official Site

No, I knew of the official site (www.theb52s.com). Which just recently turned into www.atralwerks.com/b-52s. My remark was how long it took to update the site.

Ah, okay. You had mentioned it hadn't launched yet.

After checking out both sites, they need some sprucing up. Maybe they just don't care.

Anyway, been listening to the new CD and can't wait to see 'em in June.

Finally got this and listened to the whole album in my car. Twice!

Funplex is a great album! Although not really as good as the nearly perfect album (IMO) Cosmic Thing, I think it's a much, much better release than their previous album Good Stuff. Excellent guitar hooks and typically funny B-52 lyrics (the title track particularly). Very impressive that the band could pick up again and still have "it" after so many years off.


And I have finally started to realize just how vitally important Keith Strickland is to the band. When guitarist Ricky Wilson died tragically in 1985, the B-52s could've easily disbanded then after losing such an important member and his distinctive style of guitar-playing that was so crucial to the band's sound. But Keith Strickland, then the drummer, taught himself how to play guitar in Ricky's style and the band stayed together. And now the idea of coming out with a new album was his idea and he put all the pieces together to get it done. Without Keith Strickland, the B-52s would've probably ended in the mid-'80s and just be some long defunct "Old Wave" band that a few people remember (and others would have no idea who they were and would probably think that "Rock Lobster" was written for Family Guy). Instead, now the B-52s (quite rightly) call themselves the "World's Greatest Party Band."

Yeah, "Good Stuff". An album they probably shouldn't have made. It was rushed to cash in on their new found popularity ("Good Stuff"). But without Cindy, they should have waited. The material was the weakest they have every put out. And besides "Revolution Earth", and possibly the title track, absolutely nothing stands out. Cindy was sorely missed on this production. As were some killer songs and riffs. When they rebounded with "Debbie", I knew they still had greatness in them.

My two favorites on that album are "Revolution Earth" and "Dreamland".

I received the booklet in the mail today... so pretty much right on with the 5 week mark.

congrats! I still haven't received mine but I'll be watching the mail next week!

Just saw them tonight at the 9:30 Club in D.C. and their new material was hands down the BEST live. Seriously! The older songs just sounded soooooo dated and tired. And I've said that for years. This band has needed to record some new material for a long long time. And it showed tonight. Because the new stuff definitely eclipsed the older stuff. Which is rare for most older bands when they put out a new album.

I saw them on Friday (front row and center!!! made eye contact with Fred and Kate, and shook Keith's hand after the show) and thought it was one of the best shows I've seen.

I agree with Daytripper. The old stuff is classic, but the new stuff is fresh. I just hope that after this album and tour, they're inspired to do another album before 2024.

I was surprised they did nothing off Whammy or Good Stuff. I understand that Bouncing Off The Satellites brings back bad memories for them so it makes sense why we won't hear Summer Of Love or Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland, but while Whammy and Good Stuff weren't the best (actually Good Stuff was pretty bad but there were some good songs on it), I thought we might get to hear Legal Tender, Good Stuff or Is That You Mo-Dean.

I love Funplex and hope this album launches a third chapter in their career (like Cosmic Thing gave them a second chapter)

Whammy is one of their best, if not the best, songs ever. They should play it.

Just want to make one small clarification. I love their older studio material. But it has become lifeless live over the past few years. "Give Me Back My Man" is one perfect example. What once was possibly THE best live B's song was absolutely limp on this tour. Which sucks because it's a killer tune.

yea, I agree with that. Give Me Back My Man is definately in my top 10 B songs, yet in concert it felt lifeless. I noticed the same with Roam, Kate and Cindy seemed like they were "well, we have to do this since it was one of our biggest hits" with it and it just dragged. The new stuff is great live, and I actually wanted to hear more Funplex songs than we got, I would love to hear "Deviant Ingredient" and "Eyes Wide Open" live

I really do hope the next album will come out at a faster pace because Funplex shows they still have great music left in them.

How I'd rank the albums

1. Wild Planet
2. The B-52's
3. Whammy
4. Mesopotamia
5. Cosmic Thing
6. Funplex
7. Bouncing Off The Satellites
8. Good Stuff

"Eyes Wide Open" is such a great GREAT song! Not sure how it would sound live. It's definitely not a "rock" song. So I think the stage drums and guitars would change it's dynamics. If that makes sense. It's a studio marvel for sure. Also, "Give Me Back My Man" was once a fantastic live performance. Especially during the "Cosmic Thing" tour. Cindy doing to the pony on stage in between singing. Sublime! Not to mention earlier performances:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xGdkDuL_fgU

Also, we're in agreement with "Wild Planet". It's absolutely a masterpiece IMO. But I'm surprised you rated "Funplex" so low. I'd put it at #3 on your list. Followed by "Whammy", "Cosmic Thing", "Satellites", "Meso" then "Good Stuff" (bleh). Sorry, but no Cindy equals no sale here. Back to "Funplex". I absolutely love songs 1-7 and then song 11. Songs 8-10 are completely forgettable and not album worthy to me. Maybe as a B-side. "Pump" is the rowdiest and catchiest song they've done in maybe 20 years. And I dare anyone to sit still during it.

great performance, Ricky doesn't at all look like he's near death there

Have they ever performed anything off Bouncing Off The Satellites in concert? I know that album brings back really bad memories for them since Ricky's death happened during production, but I do consider "Summer Of Love" to be one of their classics. I do think the album is very underrated in their catalog (IMO pretty much every album except Good Stuff is excellent)

Funplex at #6 is more a sign of how great the rest of the catalog is than a comment on it being weak. I think it's a fantastic effort, but so are the five albums I ranked higher (even though I admit I haven't listened to Cosmic Thing in a long time because the songs were so played out)

I think they should've waited for Cindy to come back for Good Stuff. I think they were able to withstand losing Ricky since Keith pretty much took his place, but Cindy was irreplacable IMO. Good Stuff damn near killed them IMO (tho I did think the title track was one of the catchiest songs on the radio that summer, and do consider Is That You Mo-Dean and Revolution Earth minor classics), notice the 16 year hiatus as a result of that album's damage.