https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/13/the-boomtown-rats-citizens-of-boomtown-review-nostalgia-and-toe-curling-currentness

Noel · Dave

Press Reviews of New LP

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

RE: First album review is good! 8/10 in Uncut

Noel · Dave

Noel wrote:
Paul Moody of Uncut magazine has given Citizens of Boomtown 8/10. Moody is a hardened, seasoned ex NME journalist so high praise indeed. Review was not very detailed but word runbunctious used to describe sound.
Wasn't expecting such a high mark from a respected magazine like Uncut.

Good start, hope the rest are as good. Got my spelling wrong. Moody described album as rambunctious which means exuberant. Probably a good idea to have a thread on album reviews just to get a flavour of how the critics are seeing it.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

RE: Press Reviews of New LP

Noel · Dave

No review in April edition of Q. So will have to wait for May edition to read about a mid March release. You'd think that a review copy would have been sent out in time.

Noel · Dave

Classic Pop 3.5/5

Another good review generally. Apart from wondering why after 36 years the band wanted to bring out a new album the reviewer is fairly complementary.

Songs are described which is probably little help until we get to hear them. Was reading review in shop so haven't bought the magazine. Simple Minds are on the cover.

Monster Monkeys sounds a bit Happy Mondays/ Madchester the writer opines. One of the songs features Geldof allegedly rapping, which the critic isn't too happy about.

3.5/5=7/10 so so far two good reviews.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Noel wrote:
Classic Pop 3.5/5
Another good review generally. Apart from wondering why after 36 years the band wanted to bring out a new album the reviewer is fairly complementary.
Songs are described which is probably little help until we get to hear them. Was reading review in shop so haven't bought the magazine. Simple Minds are on the cover.
Monster Monkeys sounds a bit Happy Mondays/ Madchester the writer opines. One of the songs features Geldof allegedly rapping, which the critic isn't too happy about.
3.5/5=7/10 so so far two good reviews.

Thanks Noel, so far so good.

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Happy days. It's been along time from I have been looking forword to buying a new album. Roll on two weeks

Noel · Dave

Record Collector's Terry Staunton gives COB 3 /5, another pretty good verdict.

There is also a six page interview with Bob by Pete Paphides, covering the Rats story and Geldof's career since the Rats disbanded. Geldof says 'door is still open' for Fingers to rejoin band.

Pete Paphides wrote the liner notes for In The Long Grass CD reissue and says some complementary things about the new album.

-- Edited by Noel on Sunday 1st of March 2020 06:06:48 PM

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Noel wrote:
Geldof says 'door is still open' for Fingers to rejoin band.

I cant see that happening after the recent dispute over Mondays. Also Fingers is mainly in Japan. More chance of Gerry Cott rejoining, and that is highly unlikely.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

8/10 Classic Rock.

Good review musing about why the rats have been deleted from Rock history despite been very good back in the day.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Not so good from Mojo. 2 stars. Those hoping for back in the day tracks will be disappointed by the glam. Except for Passing Through which is the best track 'by a country mile'. Piano based track.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
Not so good from Mojo. 2 stars. Those hoping for back in the day tracks will be disappointed by the glam. Except for Passing Through which is the best track 'by a country mile'. Piano based track.

Mojo should be coming through my letter box in next day or two. As one of those hoping for back in the day tracks, sounds like I will be disappointed. Passing Through got mentioned in Classic Rock.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

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Mark L · Loudmouth

That's clearly the most positive review so far. On the basis of what I've heard with TGB and NTLT, it's very much aligned with my opinion and I see no reason why that won't flow through to the album. I already know the rather mediocre 2013 filler on there (although some say it's a bit different) so if there's a b side to the next single and the third, should there be one, I'm looking at a dozen new cracking tracks from my favourite band ever.

Who'd have thought it?

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Here here. Like all rat fans I'm really looking forward to hearing this album. Long may it continue

Mike menzies · V Deep

I agree the rats pls we all different in the past so something new is great Buzzing with excitement whatever the genre the rats always do good albums and this will be no different

Mike menzies · V Deep

Every rats lp has been different they are not frightened of changing tack they always come up with the goods all their lips were good d and some were quite experimental but always seemed to work so roll on week on Friday

Mark L · Loudmouth

Hear hear!

Mark L · Loudmouth

https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-boomtown-rats-citizens-boomtown

Another generally very positive review, but two songs are described as horrors. Were meant to watch out for the supposedly disgraceful KISS, which sounds like a Toploader pub singalong, and Rock N Roll Yé Yé, whose title apparently tells you all you need to know

A Toploader pub singalong doesnt sound that bad to me and theres always one song in our charmed lives that dies the little the death. wink

-- Edited by Mark L on Saturday 7th of March 2020 07:52:14 PM

-- Edited by Mark L on Saturday 7th of March 2020 07:52:49 PM

Mike menzies · V Deep

I will reserve judgement until I hear the LP but in general all the rats songs have been good in the past you are alwaysone that's gonna do you in (sorry for the pun again I think I'm going to be in the asylum in boomtown but hey I don't care) luv all the rats albums still playing them on vinyl now even their worst songs are better than some of the rubbish out here in musicland

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-boomtown-rats-citizens-boomtown

Another generally very positive review, but two songs are described as horrors. Were meant to watch out for the supposedly disgraceful KISS, which sounds like a Toploader pub singalong, and Rock N Roll Yé Yé, whose title apparently tells you all you need to know
A Toploader pub singalong doesnt sound that bad to me...

Mmm, sounds bad to me if that is true.

Like Mike I am reserving judgement for but none of the same reasons...

Noel · Dave

Mark L wrote:
https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/album-boomtown-rats-citizens-boomtown

Another generally very positive review, but two songs are described as horrors. Were meant to watch out for the supposedly disgraceful KISS, which sounds like a Toploader pub singalong, and Rock N Roll Yé Yé, whose title apparently tells you all you need to know
A Toploader pub singalong doesnt sound that bad to me and theres always one song in our charmed lives that dies the little the death.

-- Edited by Mark L on Saturday 7th of March 2020 07:52:14 PM

-- Edited by Mark L on Saturday 7th of March 2020 07:52:49 PM

That's a very good review, and the longest and most detailed so far.

I think KISS is the song described as rap by a number of critics. Title just puts image of horrendous band of same name in mind. Rock N Roll Ye Ye is a cr*p title and I'm not expecting much from it. Now you start to wonder what brain thought these songs are better than No Tomorrow Like Today.

Is it just me but a lot of the song titles seem pretty dull and mundane?I remember thinking that when I first read them a while back.

Bob said 'Boomtown Rats Monthly ' gives the album 20/10. We'll go with that. smile

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Noel wrote:
No review in April edition of Q. So will have to wait for May edition to read about a mid March release. You'd think that a review copy would have been sent out in time.

Just got latest Q, and no review.

Noel · Dave

ArrGee wrote:
Noel wrote:
No review in April edition of Q. So will have to wait for May edition to read about a mid March release. You'd think that a review copy would have been sent out in time.
Just got latest Q, and no review.

Maybe no Q's is good news. Nothing in April edition so May edition should be out end of March. There should be loads of newspapers reviews out next week and Hotpress, Rolling Stone and more.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Noel wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Noel wrote:
No review in April edition of Q. So will have to wait for May edition to read about a mid March release. You'd think that a review copy would have been sent out in time.
Just got latest Q, and no review.
Maybe no Q's is good news. Nothing in April edition so May edition should be out end of March. There should be loads of newspapers reviews out next week and Hotpress, Rolling Stone and more.

nothing in Mays edition that I got yesterday.

Mark L · Loudmouth

4 page interview in the Mail on Sunday's Event magazine in which Citizens of Boomtown is described as the Rats' finest since A Tonic for the Troops.

Geldof believes blessed oblivion awaits upon death, yet says he will often put his hands together and 'thank God' for Jeanne Marine.

The other contrarism is that he bought Davington Priory in 1982, yet the band was virtually broke by 83/84.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
4 page interview in the Mail on Sunday's Event magazine in which Citizens of Boomtown is described as the Rats' finest since A Tonic for the Troops.
Geldof believes blessed oblivion awaits upon death, yet says he will often put his hands together and 'thank God' for Jeanne Marine.

The other contrarism is that he bought Davington Priory in 1982, yet the band was virtually broke by 83/84.

Geldof's idea of being poor & broke is unlike most people's. Geldof is the only poor broke kid I know who went to public school. Probably down to his last million or two at that point. He wants to live like common people...

Mike menzies · V Deep

The reviews n general are favourable from what I have read etc I have heard snippets of a few of the songs off citizen and I ain't heard a bad track as yet yes each is different but good in their own way can't wait till friday

Mark L · Loudmouth

Noel wrote:
Record Collector's Terry Staunton gives COB 3 /5, another pretty good verdict.
There is also a six page interview with Bob by Pete Paphides, covering the Rats story and Geldof's career since the Rats disbanded. Geldof says 'door is still open' for Fingers to rejoin band.
Pete Paphides wrote the liner notes for In The Long Grass CD reissue and says some complementary things about the new album.

-- Edited by Noel on Sunday 1st of March 2020 06:06:48 PM

I bought this magazine given the amount of coverage afforded to the Rats. It's not bad but there are occasional contrarisms and I am astonished Pete Paphides waved them through.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mark L · Loudmouth

They both appear to have deleted the entire In the Long Grass tour from their memories and I believe Glastonbury.

Noel · Dave

Mark L wrote:
They both appear to have deleted the entire In the Long Grass tour from their memories and I believe Glastonbury.

Wow. I just read the article in the newsagents so hadn't spotted that.

Noel · Dave

I think the critics are right about KISS. It is truly awful. This is from the 30 second taster. It has to be heard to be believed. I may be completely mistaken but it could go down as the worst Rats song ever. smile

Mark L · Loudmouth

Noel wrote:
I think the critics are right about KISS. It is truly awful. This is from the 30 second taster. It has to be heard to be believed. I may be completely mistaken but it could go down as the worst Rats song ever.

I rather like it! It's way better than most of the Ratlife EP output. 30 second tasters have their obvious limitations but I am surprised at the extent to which you dislike it.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Noel wrote:
I think the critics are right about KISS. It is truly awful. This is from the 30 second taster. It has to be heard to be believed. I may be completely mistaken but it could go down as the worst Rats song ever.

Worse than Ratlife or Ratified. That is not possible, is it? I am avoiding all the tasters.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:

Where Is that from?

Mike menzies · V Deep

I actually like k.i.s.s.i think it's better than little death man at the top etc

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
Where Is that from?

Record Collector, March 2020

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mike menzies wrote:
I actually like k.i.s.s.i think it's better than little death man at the top etc

It's good and growing on me. I don't think it deserves to be considered alongside the usual suspects like Death, Red, Whitehall or Charmed Lives.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Where Is that from?
Record Collector, March 2020

Can you scan the entire article? Or was this a quick snap when you were shopping?

i am self isolating this week. Not gonna miss Bryan Ferry on Friday if someone at work gets ill...

-- Edited by ArrGee on Tuesday 10th of March 2020 02:58:20 PM

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mark L wrote:
Noel wrote:
Record Collector's Terry Staunton gives COB 3 /5, another pretty good verdict.
There is also a six page interview with Bob by Pete Paphides, covering the Rats story and Geldof's career since the Rats disbanded. Geldof says 'door is still open' for Fingers to rejoin band.
Pete Paphides wrote the liner notes for In The Long Grass CD reissue and says some complementary things about the new album.

-- Edited by Noel on Sunday 1st of March 2020 06:06:48 PM
I bought this magazine given the amount of coverage afforded to the Rats. It's not bad but there are occasional contrarisms and I am astonished Pete Paphides waved them through.

See above. I will see what I can do.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
See above. I will see what I can do.

Thanks.

Noel · Dave

Noel wrote:
I think the critics are right about KISS. It is truly awful. This is from the 30 second taster. It has to be heard to be believed. I may be completely mistaken but it could go down as the worst Rats song ever.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse along comes Rock n Roll Ye Ye. Dont think I'll be having a sleepless night on Thursday, at best there may be four adequate to good songs to hear on Friday.

It would be a major shock if some of the 'bad snippets' morphed into classics. Fear also is that some of the better tasters may prove to be disappointing when hearing the full versions.

Can't see myself giving it more than 6/10 and 6 might be stretching it. cry

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Noel wrote:
Noel wrote:
I think the critics are right about KISS. It is truly awful. This is from the 30 second taster. It has to be heard to be believed. I may be completely mistaken but it could go down as the worst Rats song ever.
Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse along comes Rock n Roll Ye Ye. Dont think I'll be having a sleepless night on Thursday, at best there may be four adequate to good songs to hear on Friday.
It would be a major shock if some of the 'bad snippets' morphed into classics. Fear also is that some of the better tasters may prove to be disappointing when hearing the full versions.
Can't see myself giving it more than 6/10 and 6 might be stretching it.

Have you bought it? I will give it a listen on Saturday before I think about paying for it.

Noel · Dave

ArrGee wrote:
Noel wrote:
Noel wrote:
I think the critics are right about KISS. It is truly awful. This is from the 30 second taster. It has to be heard to be believed. I may be completely mistaken but it could go down as the worst Rats song ever.
Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse along comes Rock n Roll Ye Ye. Dont think I'll be having a sleepless night on Thursday, at best there may be four adequate to good songs to hear on Friday.
It would be a major shock if some of the 'bad snippets' morphed into classics. Fear also is that some of the better tasters may prove to be disappointing when hearing the full versions.
Can't see myself giving it more than 6/10 and 6 might be stretching it.
Have you bought it? I will give it a listen on Saturday before I think about paying for it.

I will download album on Friday. I did buy the vinyl single even though I have nothing to play it on!

Might just download some of the individual tracks on Thursday night like Monster Monkeys and Sweet Thing.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Noel wrote:

I will download album on Friday. I did buy the vinyl single even though I have nothing to play it on!

Might just download some of the individual tracks on Thursday night like Monster Monkeys and Sweet Thing.

You should get a month trial on Amazon, and you can hear it in super HD quality for free before doing something as radical as paying for it.

I have so far resisted buying Citizens and Beyond The Pale by Jarv Is. I did go through the whole Amazon pre-order for the latter but then thought better of it.

Though like the sucker I am I did get this https://store.rhino.co.uk/uk/is-it-any-wonder-cd-12-e-p.html

Also this looks very tempting https://thedivinecomedy.tmstor.es/cart/product.php?id=61774

Must resist.

-- Edited by ArrGee on Tuesday 10th of March 2020 06:58:22 PM

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mike menzies · V Deep

Just rec my copy of record collector magazine love article on rats and good review of lp soon be here two more days can't wait

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mike menzies wrote:
Just rec my copy of record collector magazine love article on rats and good review of lp soon be here two more days can't wait

It is a good article but, as I've pointed out, it is not free of inaccuracies. Yes, there was a number one about a school shooting, but there was no number one about leering teachers.

Mary of the 4th form reached 15 and Peter Paphides should know better than to use the opportunity Record Collector gave him, to hype the headlines. Tempting to do so as a great fan, but now I'm wondering what else he's ever written is 'poetic licence'.

Or fake news as the modern parlance goes.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark - Thanks so much for all of this.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Ah, interesting he mentioned re-recording of Joey in the Dudgeon sessions.

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
Mark - Thanks so much for all of this.

No problem at all

Noel · Dave

https://creeksidevinyl.co.uk/2020/03/07/pop-lives-in-faversham/

Another very good review.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Great review. They seem to be consistently in the 7 out of ten category.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
Great review. They seem to be consistently in the 7 out of ten category.

Noel and I haven't delivered our verdicts yet...

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
Great review. They seem to be consistently in the 7 out of ten category.
Noel and I haven't delivered our verdicts yet...

That is true, but likely Mike and I will counterbalance any sub 7 scores from the above juries wink

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
Great review. They seem to be consistently in the 7 out of ten category.
Noel and I haven't delivered our verdicts yet...
That is true, but likely Mike and I will counterbalance any sub 7 scores from the above juries

Hard to counterbalance 0/10 biggrin

In fact, if the two tracks I have heard are anything to go by it could be minus something evileye

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
Great review. They seem to be consistently in the 7 out of ten category.
Noel and I haven't delivered our verdicts yet...
That is true, but likely Mike and I will counterbalance any sub 7 scores from the above juries
Hard to counterbalance 0/10
In fact, if the two tracks I have heard are anything to go by it could be minus something

I'll have to try to tempt Jules back for a one-off voting event, with Irene in tow!

I would be surprised if you and Noel were so out of kilter with the Press reviews.

Mark L · Loudmouth

Mark L · Loudmouth

Nice to see Geldof and the Rats' output outclass Morrissey's forlorn effort

Mark L · Loudmouth

Heaven knows I'm not miserable now biggrin

Mike menzies · V Deep

What I've heard (snippets of about 30 seconds of each song)I hadn't heard a bad song so I will be praising it up .

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

The Boomtown Rats Citizens Of Boomtown Out Friday
Rating:

+6

This is the Rats first album since the year of Band Aid (1984). These ten decent songs mostly labour in the shadow of Ziggy-era Bowie and other glittery Seventies staples, chugging and pouting but only truly hanging around with the Perfect Day-style lament of Passing Through

Ziggy era Bowie! Perfect Day! If it is that good, I can't wait for tomorrow.

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:

The Boomtown Rats Citizens Of Boomtown Out Friday

Rating:

+6

This is the Rats first album since the year of Band Aid (1984). These ten decent songs mostly labour in the shadow of Ziggy-era Bowie and other glittery Seventies staples, chugging and pouting but only truly hanging around with the Perfect Day-style lament of Passing Through

Ziggy era Bowie! Perfect Day! If it is that good, I can't wait for tomorrow.

Where is this from?

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
The Boomtown Rats Citizens Of Boomtown Out Friday
Rating:

+6

This is the Rats first album since the year of Band Aid (1984). These ten decent songs mostly labour in the shadow of Ziggy-era Bowie and other glittery Seventies staples, chugging and pouting but only truly hanging around with the Perfect Day-style lament of Passing Through

Ziggy era Bowie! Perfect Day! If it is that good, I can't wait for tomorrow.
Where is this from?

Daily Mail - I changed subject, but that was lost somehow.

Noel · Dave

Hotpress magazine in Ireland has given the album 8 stars out of 10. Reviewer was Jackie Hayden.

-- Edited by Noel on Thursday 12th of March 2020 05:53:05 PM

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Noel wrote:
Hotpress magazine in Ireland has given the album 8 stars out of 10. Reviewer was Jackie Hayden.

Must be just the two of us then. Right now all I want it to be is half as good as V Deep. 5 hours to go.

Noel · Dave

Review from Stuttgart newspaper. This is translated from German.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/13/the-boomtown-rats-citizens-of-boomtown-review-nostalgia-and-toe-curling-currentness

The Guardian - Citizens of Boomtown review nostalgia and toe-curling currentnes

Citizens of Boomtown succeeds best when at its most understated. But then they added the rap track

Michael Hann

@michaelahann

Fri 13 Mar 2020 09.00 GMT

Citizens of Boomtown is actually the kind of comeback album that bands tend to make after a long time away: it has nostalgic nods to their first musical loves, bits that nod back to the first records they made, plenty of vim and spark but without the fuel that was first ignited by that spark. And, of course, it has toe-curling attempts to be current, just in case there really are disenfranchised kids listening. The best songs arent ashamed to be nostalgic the opening Trash Glam Baby rollocks along on its muscle memory of 1973; Heres a Postcard is simple, pretty and memorable; Passing Throughs borrowings from David Bowie are so obvious theyre charming, and it has a lyric thats delicate and understated.

Sadly, delicate and understated are not words you can apply to most of Bob Geldofs writing here, which has a tendency to wander off into a strange hey-daddio-Im-down-with-the-streets chattiness that sounds like an elderly uncle talking to a teenage boy about girls, under the impression hes still 18. And then, oh God, on KISS, the Boomtown Rats discover rap (and on Get a Grip they discover four-to-the-floor house as well), and the world stops turning. The rapper isnt listed on the credits, and who can blame him? The lesson: be afraid of trying to be young, not of getting old.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/the-boomtown-rats-citizens-of-boomtown-review-not-half-good-not-half-bad-1.4197513

The album starts well with Trash Glam Baby, a nifty, taut collage of Elton Rocks Crocodile Rock and the bands own Mary of the 4th Form.

The first half of the album is much sharper, tighter. Sweet Thing and She Said No astutely self-reference the sweaty, proto-punk Dr Feelgood-like sensibilities of the bands 1977 self-titled debut album.

The best songs, however, are slower, textured, less prone to cliché: Passing Through and Heres a Postcard run, respectively, on heady fumes circulated by David Bowie and Lou Reed.

The former songs guitar lines and piano frills call to mind a blend of Robert Fripp and Mike Garson; the latter song is Geldofs cute hybrid of Velvet Underground/Jonathan Richman, the tracks sparse lyrics and clipped guitars cherry-topped with a harmonised coda of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

Its a pity the remainder of the album doesnt reach similar heights, but thats Geldof for you: when it comes to the music, he is, with no small justification, still lookin after number one.

It ends with four clunkers: the hollow if not redundant dwanna be in my gang call-to-arms of The Boomtown Rats, the below average R&B thrust of Get a Grip, the hugely misjudged K.I.S.S., a Boomtown rap that even with an all-clear certificate shouldnt have been let out of the studio, and RocknRoll Yea Yea, a song (some dexterous lyrics notwithstanding) almost as stylistically dumb as its title.

Mike menzies · V Deep

Think the reviewer was listening to something else to me I find all tracks very good or brilliant not one duff one amongst them

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mike menzies wrote:
Think the reviewer was listening to something else to me I find all tracks very good or brilliant not one duff one amongst them

The reviewer was listening to the same thing, just comes to a different conclusion. It's an opinion. Some people like Ed Sheeran songs and some don't. Some people like David Bowie songs and some don't. If you like it and others don't so what.

Mike menzies · V Deep

The I have my views and that it I normally find press reviews not as interesting as user reviews my friend who molested glam has just told me he has it on solidify and live the album

Mark L · Loudmouth

On Citizens of Boomtown, their first studio album since 1984, Geldof and his fellow Rats (Pete Briquette, Simon Crowe and Garry Roberts) sound like their only ambition is to have an old-fashioned blast.

Trash Glam Baby sets the tone. A stompy, windmilling number channelling The Who and Bruce Springsteen, it finds Geldof in good voice hollering about rock and roll and Saturday nights. Sweet Thing slyly glances at I Dont Like Mondays (Im gonna love you Monday, youre the start of my week, Geldof cries), but the soundtrack swaps the Elvis Costello-isms of the 1979 hit for basic garage rock.

The tone turns serious in Passing Through, a grand ballad about the haunting nature of the past. One aspect of Geldofs past is left unexplored, however: theres no attempt at Band Aid-style humanitarianism. Citizens of Boomtown is ruled by cheerful nostalgia, not civic duty.

The Financial Times review 3 0ut of 5 stars

Mark L · Loudmouth

https://tinnitist.com/2020/03/13/boomtown-rats-citizens-of-boomtown/

Noel · Dave

Bad review in Evening Standard magazine. Only 2/5

Mark L · Loudmouth

AMOEBA REVIEW

How is it possible for a late 70s rock n band that hasnt released new material in thirty-six years to sound this good? On Citizens of Boomtown, The Boomtown Rats come out snarling and snotty, sounding mad as hell and fresher than most new garage punk bands half their age. Listening to these new songs is a rip-roarin, riotously good time. The band sounds more vital than ever, with all their edges and attitude still intact, and dare we say, dialed up way past ten. The Boomtown Rats are legends for a reason and Citizens of Boomtownshould serve as an instantly likable introduction to a whole new wave of fans.

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Not a bad album. But in my opinion. Pete should not have been aloud to produce this. Two rats songs. And the rest Bob's solo song's.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

manatthetop wrote:
Not a bad album. But in my opinion. Pete should not have been aloud to produce this. Two rats songs. And the rest Bob's solo song's.

Probably would have cost a lot to get a known producer in. Fair play to Pete Briquette though, played the bass, produced the LP, co-wrote half the songs, sired the backing singers, answered everyone's queries on Facebook. What would they do without him?

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
manatthetop wrote:
Not a bad album. But in my opinion. Pete should not have been aloud to produce this. Two rats songs. And the rest Bob's solo song's.
Probably would have cost a lot to get a known producer in. Fair play to Pete Briquette though, played the bass, produced the LP, co-wrote half the songs, sired the backing singers, answered everyone's queries on Facebook. What would they do without him?

Sired or hired?! The former and probably the latter biggrin

Noel · Dave

This one not so positive.....

Mike menzies · V Deep

You always get 1bad review on the whole the review s are good i take no notice of them and make up my own mind like others on this forum do and no be influenced by the media

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
manatthetop wrote:
Not a bad album. But in my opinion. Pete should not have been aloud to produce this. Two rats songs. And the rest Bob's solo song's.
Probably would have cost a lot to get a known producer in. Fair play to Pete Briquette though, played the bass, produced the LP, co-wrote half the songs, sired the backing singers, answered everyone's queries on Facebook. What would they do without him?
Sired or hired?! The former and probably the latter

Don't get me wrong here. I'm not having a go. Just think someone else might think outside the box. Pete's done to many of geldofs solo stuff. Do in my opt some of the song's just feel and sound like something of geldofs last two albums

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Agree always nice to have your own opinion

Noel · Dave

Mike menzies wrote:
You always get 1bad review on the whole the review s are good i take no notice of them and make up my own mind like others on this forum do and no be influenced by the media

I've seen way more than one bad review. Here's another one. I'm just posting them so that they are all together for future reference in this thread.

Mark L · Loudmouth

The reviews out there are mixed, maybe slightly more good ones than poor or average ones. I see no genuinely catastrophic reviews. I've seen nothing higher than 8 out of 10 or 4 stars out of 5. Amazon rating is early doors but at least 4 stars. The reviews out there will be as mixed as the ones on here and that's entirely as it should be. Nobody is right or wrong.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
The reviews out there are mixed, maybe slightly more good ones than poor or average ones. I see no genuinely catastrophic reviews. I've seen nothing higher than 8 out of 10 or 4 stars out of 5. Amazon rating is early doors but at least 4 stars. The reviews out there will be as mixed as the ones on here and that's entirely as it should be. Nobody is right or wrong.

Has Mark Boyle reviewed it on Amazon yet?

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
The reviews out there are mixed, maybe slightly more good ones than poor or average ones. I see no genuinely catastrophic reviews. I've seen nothing higher than 8 out of 10 or 4 stars out of 5. Amazon rating is early doors but at least 4 stars. The reviews out there will be as mixed as the ones on here and that's entirely as it should be. Nobody is right or wrong.
Has Mark Boyle reviewed it on Amazon yet?

Not that I can see, only reviewed Trash Glam Baby.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
The reviews out there are mixed, maybe slightly more good ones than poor or average ones. I see no genuinely catastrophic reviews. I've seen nothing higher than 8 out of 10 or 4 stars out of 5. Amazon rating is early doors but at least 4 stars. The reviews out there will be as mixed as the ones on here and that's entirely as it should be. Nobody is right or wrong.
Has Mark Boyle reviewed it on Amazon yet?
Not that I can see, only reviewed Trash Glam Baby.

Cant wait!

Mark L · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
ArrGee wrote:
Mark L wrote:
The reviews out there are mixed, maybe slightly more good ones than poor or average ones. I see no genuinely catastrophic reviews. I've seen nothing higher than 8 out of 10 or 4 stars out of 5. Amazon rating is early doors but at least 4 stars. The reviews out there will be as mixed as the ones on here and that's entirely as it should be. Nobody is right or wrong.
Has Mark Boyle reviewed it on Amazon yet?
Not that I can see, only reviewed Trash Glam Baby.
Cant wait!

Wait no longer :

M. Boyle

2.0 out of 5 stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 March 2020

Format: Audio CD

The Boomtown Rats are music's hor d'oeuvres - hopeless without Fingers!

Oh dear, dear, dear, dear. If ever the failings of Geldof's old mates without a top notch producer and - more importantly - Gerry Cott and Johnnie Fingers were exposed, this is it.

With the talented Pete Briquette on the mixing desk, the only Rat that stuck by Geldof post split, the trouble with this album was it was always going to be little more than a Geldof solo effort according to his diktat - justifying the Boomtown Rats label with the presence of Simon Crowe and Garry Roberts (whose career oblivion post-Boomtown Rats speaks for itself - and whose shameless use of the band title for a series of mortifying "tribute" act appearences showed a distinct lack of integrity).

As such it's a vehicle for meandering self-indulgence through Geldof's semi-youth with bits of glam, punk, funk and everything else Billy Joel sneered at in "It's Still Rock 'n' Roll To Me." and little cohesion.

That can work spectacularly well - evidence for the prosecution, Peter Gabriel's first album in 1977. But it needs to have a strong team behind it. Peter Gabriel had Robert Fripp and Steve Hackett. Geldof has Simon Crowe and Gary Roberts.

"Trash Glam Baby" tries to be T-Rex, Mott The Hoople, Oasis and their old stuff, all at once, and is spectacularly awful - like the sort of song a failing celebrity would release at Christmas in the hope of a hit on the nostalgia circuit.

"Sweet Thing" pastiches the lyrics of "Wild Thing" and the music of glam rock Suzy Quatro and other Mickey Most Mickey Mouse outfits rather than the Bowieisms it aspires to.

The funky "Monster Monkeys" and big heavy Big Bill Bronzy style "She Said No", sounds alarmingly similar to the sort of stuff Mike Scott's The Waterboys come out with these days and are good fun.

"Passing Through" tries to be the Beatles at their most thoughtful, or Oasis trying to be the Beatles at their most thoughtful. Indeed there's traces of "Champagne Supernova" to this in a last Dún Laoghaire lilt rather than a Manchester council estate one, but it loses its way and meanders off into the distance without impact.

"Here's A Postcard" and "Rock And Roll Ye Ye" are forgettable rubbish, and the inclusion of a black rapper in the highly promising "K.I.S.S." (everything good about Geldof's brilliant 'Sex And Age And Death' album distilled into one easy package) smells of desperation to get hip with the kids. Could have been worse - he could have got Ladbaby to do it - but since Geldof, like Jagger, has been doing a bad impression of Big Mama Thornton all his career, why not stick to tried and tested, especially since he did exactly this sort of thing for concert regular 'In The Beat Of The Night' since 1986.

It jars even more considering the spoken style sections of "Get A Grip", a weird song which sounds like the sort of retro synth Bis tried making a career out of in the 1990s and again traces of 'Sex And Age And Death.'

The final track, "The Boomtown Rats" is the bonus track from their last compilation, "Back To Boomtown" revisited and rendered funkily ten times worse (a feat in itself) - five minutes of your life you won't be getting back.

This is an album of what might have been rather than a triumphant comeback - its fate doomed in the dubious circumstances of this reunion - two chancers on the take and a morose multi-millionaire feeling his age amid family deaths. It certainly sounds nothing like any past Boomtown Rats or for that matter Bob Geldof or Gung Ho record, so any hope of repeat sales from the old fanbase could even be in jeopardy here.

You could have an acceptable enough Boomtown Rats with Geldof, Briquette and fellow old stager Alan Dunn (Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Tanita Tikaram, etc) if he got Gerry Cott back, whose solo album a few years back showed he's still got it (forget Johnnie Fingers, who will never forgive Geldof now after the 'I Don't Like Mondays' court battle, even if Fingers did win).

But not the current line up. There simply isn't the talent - and they need some real tyrant of a producer to kick them into shape. As things are, the Boomtown Rats are music's hor d'oeuvres - hopeless without Fingers!

Mike menzies · V Deep

He's not a happy chap pie is he

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Two Stars! He must be softening in his dotage.