Me, I'm All Smiles

Performer: Echo & the Bunnymen
Distributor: E1 Distribution (USA)

Notes: Echo & the Bunnymen: Ian McCulloch (vocals, guitar); Gordon Goudie, Will Sergeant (guitar); Paul Fleming (keyboards); Stephen Brennan (bass guitar); Simon Finley (drums). Even though the flurry of nostalgia ubiquitous in the early 2000s seemed to glorify every new wave/post-punk band from the 1980s, Echo & the Bunnymen still stand out as one of the better British groups of that era. The fact that they were still going strong in 2006, as the live document ME, I'M ALL SMILES shows, lends credibility to the claim. Recorded during the band's tour for their 2005 album SIBERIA, ME, I'M ALL SMILES gives emphasis to both old and new material, and effectively captures the moody, swirling sound for which the band is famous. Frontman Ian McCulloch may not sing with quite the dramatic flair he had in the band's heyday, but he still turns in serviceable performances, especially on atmospheric gems like "The Killing Moon" and high-octane rockers like "Scissors in the Sand." While not a definitive document of the band, this live offering is testament to Echo & the Bunnymen's stature and longevity.

Q (p.140) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]his captures the Bunnymen's latest line-up in ferocious form....A surprise triumph."

Along with Teardrop Explodes and Wah! Heat, Echo & the Bunnymen were part of the early-1980s Liverpool scene that was somewhat misleadingly dubbed "neo-psychedelic." While the Bunnymen bore elements of the Doors' dark, mysterious sound and decidedly abstract lyrics, punk played as much of a role in the development of the band's music as anything else. What marks their sound more than anything else, though, is a soaring, anthemic quality that can be quite affecting. After a lengthy hiatus, the band reunited in the early 2000s to tour and record.

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