Nothing Extra, Nothing More... - Day One - Outfield - Voices Of Babylon - 1989
This one takes me back to the days during my Junior and Senior years of High School. Working at McDonalds 3-4 nights a week, flirting and teasing the girls, hanging out with friends on the weekends. It's weird how sometimes music can take you back, mentally and emotionally, and you actually feel just as you did when you were introduced to it. Right now, listening to it and typing this I feel like I'm 17 again, and the feelings flood as they did then. I remember Jen at McDonalds, who I dated for 2 months, that girl at the grocery store I asked out on a date, and then she wouldn't answer her door when I went to pick her up. My nerves still on ultra-edge from my move from Chicago. Making new friends in a town you can't stand is difficult. This was when I embraced music like no other time in my life. I felt defined by it. I am still defined by my music............ This is an interesting post for me.
Good or bad, I could not find any b-sides, remixes or unreleased material for this album. What we have is ten songs of American Rock perfection. Funny, they were a British band. Big sound, anthem-like quality, and incredible pop hooks. Every song on this album is wonderful. Every one of them. Maybe it's my past relationship with the album, maybe they are really that good.
My favorites, though, are the first three songs, and the very last one. "Just a part of your life" magic!
If you can find any material that would constitute making this a "Deluxe" (excluding live tracks) then let me know, so I can get it updated.
It really IS that good. I've been an Outfield fan since their first album, "Play Deep," when the video for "Your Love" was a staple on MTV. And I stayed with them all the way through their 2011 album "Replay." But this one has always been my favorite, and I agree that the first three songs are the best ones, though the whole thing is great!
ReplyDeleteThere were some definite non-album B-sides included in the singles from that album (e.g. https://www.discogs.com/Outfield-My-Paradise/master/122030) but most of them were later included in "Big Innings" and "Extra Innings" in 1999 .... so, I have to agree with you that this album is just fine as it is! But let me know if you need those B-sides! Or you could include the DJ X remixes of Use Your Love (or the covers by Topmodel), but that would definitely alter the mood of the record!
ReplyDeleteWay underrated band!
I thought the song "Reach Out" was fantastic. Just a great pop song with amazing hooks.
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