Voodoo Dollies: The Best Of Gene Loves Jezebel

Performer: Gene Loves Jezebel
Distributor: Alternative Dis. Alliance

Notes: Gene Loves Jezebel: Michael Aston, Jay Aston (vocals); James Stevenson, Ian Hudson (guitar); Steve Marshall, Pete Rizzo, Steve Radwell (bass); Richard Hawkins, James Chater, John Murphy, Chris Bell, Marcus Gilvear, Robert Adam (drums). Additional personnel: Jo-Damien Aston, Matthew Aston, Robert Curran (background vocals). Producers include: Gene Loves Jezebel, Peter Walsh, Tim Palmer, Jimmy Iovine, Gary Lyons. Includes liner notes by Dave Thompson. Digitally remastered by John Dent (Loud Mastering). Personnel: Jay Aston, Michael Aston (vocals, background vocals); Robert Curran, Matthew Aston (vocals); James Stevenson (guitar, background vocals); Ian C. Hudson (guitar); Chris Bell , Robert Adam, Richard Hawkins, John Murphy , Marcus Gilvear (drums). Audio Mixers: Mark Dearnley; Michael Aston. Audio Remasterer: John Dent. Audio Remixer: Julian Mendelsohn. Liner Note Author: Dave Thompson . Photographers: David Levine; Jeffery Newbury; Eric Watson; Jeremy Bannister; Richard Hawkins; Sheila Rock; Patrick Quigley; Paul Cox. Looked at in the cold light of day and from some years' distance, Gene Loves Jezebel would seem like the last band whose work would stand the test of time. Weird thing, though -- in all their "everything goes" exuberance, from abstract goth wailing to balls-out Sunset Strip rock, the Aston brothers, much like their labelmates in the Cult, made everything work somehow. Not all the time, certainly, but Voodoo Dollies wisely draws on the best and biggest hits of the group, not to mention a couple of rarer items for the hardcore fanbase, to make an enjoyable career overview (certainly better than Some of the Best of Gene Loves Jezebel). Following a straight chronological order and enjoying the usual high quality of Beggars Banquet remastering, the 18-track collection is a fine treat. Besides the obvious numbers like "Desire (Come and Get It)," "The Motion of Love" (appearing here in a single mix), and "Jealous," the less well-known songs help to really flesh out the band's freaked-out, glammed-up appeal. There's the psychotic drama of "Upstairs" and "Always a Flame," the self-descriptive, perfect FM radio cut "Gorgeous," the attractive psych-shimmer of "Kiss of Life," and the underrated single "Josephina," which would have given the band a hit in earlier days, but didn't connect with the 1993 zeitgeist. The most obscure cut is an interesting one -- an alternate version of Promise's "Influenza," the entrancing and moody instrumental here given striking lyrics sung by Michael Aston and a slightly faster tempo. It would have worked excellently on the original album, and is a definite highlight here. Appreciative liner notes and a slew of photographs from throughout the band's career complete this collection, which will satisfy most casual fans' desires to a T. ~ Ned Raggett

Click Here for Shipping Options and Policies

Shipping or Dimension weight in pounds: 0.25