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"No serenade, no fire brigade, just a Pyromania (c'mon)"
Submitted by imaginary dana on July 3, 2007.Last night I went to see my first film in the movie theater* in about six months (note: the last film I saw was For Your Consideration and I disliked it so much it's taken me this long to be willing to invest $9.50 and two hours yet again in a darkened public space). But I digress.
My point here is, we had about half an hour to roam Ballard pre-film, and while perusing the used CD bin** at Sonic Boom Records, I couldn't resisit picking up this gem....
Some interesting trivia about Def Leppard's Pyromania...
- It was recorded before singer Joe Elliot got vocal nodules, before drummer Rick Allen lost an arm, and before guitarist Steve Clark died. The band has certain known tragedy.
- It was also recorded by Mutt Lange, before he discovered, married, and produced a pile of crappy records for Shaina Twain.
- It was the first ever album where the cassette sales outsold the vinyl. 1983. I fairly certain this is true and not a figment of my bad-music-trivia-addled brain, but can't seem to find an online link to prove it. If you've got proof, share it, pretty please.
It was also a childhood favorite of mine. And while it certainly sounds dated now (I made it halfway through track #6, "Foolin'" -- also known as track one, side 2 -- before turning it off during my sunny morning commute today), some of those tracks surely stand the test of time; most notably, I would still call "Photograph" a nearly perfect pop song.
Your mileage may vary.
* In case you were wondering, the film in question was Ratatouille, which was great (of course, Pixar is incredible). Though I must confess, I'm rat-averse -- so when they scurried about onscreen (and especially in the kitchen scenes), my tummy still churned!!
** Speaking of the Sonic Boom Records used CD bin, who is the fool who sold back Liz Phair's Exile in Guyville and Miles Davis' A Kind of Blue? And the TWO copies of the Breeders Last Splash?? Abominations!!
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Erik Gonzalez said on July 3, 2007:
I saw The Crow at a drive-in. Ah, those were the days.
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jesse said on July 3, 2007:
Pyromania 2007!
So Crazy, I just got Pyromania on vinyl from my neighbor who is getting rid of all her records!! I am making "Photograph" the lead song at my DJ set at Solo next Saturday.
I had to use great restraint and not pack too much out of there. But, I also got: Cibbo Matto, The Misfits, Luscious Jackson (Don't judge!), PJ Harvey and The Jesus Lizard. Delicious!
BTW- I only like movies in the privacy of my own home.
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imaginary stella said on July 4, 2007:
I, too, rock Pyromania on vinyl with regularity. It's a classic!
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Erik Gonzalez said on July 4, 2007:
I wish I could say something different, but Luscious Jackson was one of the worst concerts I've ever seen.
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imaginary dana said on July 4, 2007:
Really?? All those cute ladies and still, no love? Must have been pretty bad.
Actually, while we're on the subject, Def Leppard was one of the worst shows I've ever seen, and that was ages ago (tho long after Rick lost that arm).
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jesse said on July 4, 2007:
Luscious Live!!
I saw them at the old King Cat Theater (now a church) and the were AWESOME! As a matter of fact that is when I pledged my undying love. Then, Electric Honey came out, and I went fickle like a pickle and dropped them like the needle into the groove of one of their good records! (i.e. the classic "In Search of Manny")
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Michael said on July 4, 2007:
I always see Last Splash in the used bin. I figure it's people that just bought it for Cannonball. But I'm still looking forward to their next one. The song Kim (or, alternately, Kelley) sang in Loud Quiet Loud sounded really good!
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Powerpop-Gary said on July 4, 2007:
I'm obviously coming in late on this conversation. But, Pyromania rules! That record brings back really strong memories about summertime in that year between junior high and high school, hanging out at the pool.
While I can't prove it, either, I bet the tape did outsell the vinyl because that was, at least in my home town, totally the summer of the boombox and the year that everybody who was anybody had a Sony walkman (which was introduced in 1980).
My favorite ad-lib line from Rock Of Ages:
band says: I want rock and roll
Joe replies: yes I do
That "yes I do" cracks me up.
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Trent Moorman said on July 5, 2007:
That is funny. Yes it is.
Burn it dooooown to the grownd.
Just a pyromania, COME ON!!
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Paulus said on July 5, 2007:
Saw Def Leppard in '83 and '05. They destroyed both times.
High n Dry is a much better album, though. "Let it Go" is one of the best hard-songs ever and easily the best thing they ever recorded.
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Reviews
imaginary char said on July 3, 2007:
This past weekend I went to my first drive-in movie. It was really fun!