Sell me on The Chameleons?

[DJ Phoenix]

I've been readfing/hearing good things about this band, but I havent taken the plunge to purchase their re-release(the record store by my house has it for sale) is it worth picking up?

"Keepin the '80s alive!"

[rsgonzalez]

The Chameleons are my second favorite band ever and I could not recommend them more highly. Start with either Strange Times or Script Of The Bridge, then go buy their entire catalog from there

[Frau_Blucher]

I won't try to "sell" you on the Chameleons. You'll either like them or you won't. <a href="http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=59983142&blogID=108306596&MyToken=087db71d-bcb6-40f0-bcaa-a29749ed68c2">Here's an essay I had linked to</a> quite awhile ago though that conveys a bit of the passion in those that are indeed sold.

[djcraig]

"Record store"? Are those still around?

Is it next to the Pony Express outpost? Did you post this message by telegraph?

I digress. The Chameleons are simply the best band of the 80s that didn't make it big.

PS Did you get one of those newfangled "horseless carriages" yet?

<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>

[schwenko]

[quote]Originally posted by DJ Phoenix
[br]I've been readfing/hearing good things about this band, but I havent taken the plunge to purchase their re-release(the record store by my house has it for sale) is it worth picking up?

"Keepin the '80s alive!"
[/quote]

what did you find when you searched the NWO forum?

[SwampThing]

The Chameleons are my favorite band. The first time I played "Script of the Bridge" I was sold. This was during a period when I was moving away from mostly "synth" oriented bands and seeking out more guitar oriented stuff.

I like this passage from wiki...
[quote]A shame then that 'The Chameleons' had to expose themselves at a time when 'Stock, Aitken & Waterman' had a seemingly unbreakable monopoly on British taste, and lovers of guitar-oriented rock were left with either 'hair metal' or 'goth rock' with room only for the likes of 'The Smiths', 'Echo & The Bunnymen' and 'The Cure' to satisfy demands for more sophisticated guitar pop-rock structure and sound. Of course, the undeniable star quality of these bands combined with the charisma of their leading players further sidelined the likes of the more prosaic 'Chameleons'. Understandable? Quite possibly. Regrettable? Most definitely.[/quote]

<font size="1">[b]Favorites of 2008 (so far):[/b]
Beach House - Devotion
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Crystal Stilts - Crystal Stilts
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
</font>

[tenohtwo]

The Chameleons are quite possibly the most underrated band EVER. Definitely a top 5 band of mine. The songwriting, lyrics, and FX-heavy guitar work is all amazing. I think you should definitely start with "Script Of The Bridge" (still my personal favorite). Every studio album they released is great in its own way, so you'll want to explore their whole catalogue. Their live CDs and Peel Sessions are incredible, too, so there's even more to collect once you've heard the albums. It's easy for me to say "just buy them all", but seriously, every single album has classic material on it. I got a late start on this band, but it didn't take long for them to become one of my favorites.

1002

[NuWaveRx]

This band is one of the prime reasons I thank my lucky stars I stumbled onto the Outpost. I had only heard "Swamp Thing" back in the 80'and I often think "how the hell did I miss these guys back then?" I'd echo what others have said here, and add that the twin guitar/fx setup coupled with songwriting with more hooks than a bowling alley are what have made these guys a "new" favorite.

[Minty]

I own their "big three" albums, and well... They're good. I like them though I wouldn't call them a "favourite". They do have a tendency to be a little too bombastic/over-the-top at times (a la The Mission).

[DJ Phoenix]

Thanks gang, I really love you guys and appreciate all of your opinions. They have "SCript of the bridge" @ the Zia here in Vegas, and it's a 2 disc re-master. The price was kinda steep though(it was something like $36.99) thats why I backed off. But, now that Ive read so much good stuff on them, and you all speak so highly of them, I may have to break down and just go buy it.[:)][:D]

"Keepin the '80s alive!"

[randy]

Script Of The Bridge was an under rated masterpiece!! Well worth getting!!

[SwampThing]

If you don't mind MP3...

http://www.amazon.com/Script-Bridge-25t ... 3&sr=103-1



<font size="1">[b]Favorites of 2008 (so far):[/b]
Beach House - Devotion
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Crystal Stilts - Crystal Stilts
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
</font>

[Max Murdoc]

Am I the only one who doesn't like "Script of the Bridge"?

Just didn't go for it but when the next 2 came out, I was sold. You should pick these up if your into guitar oriented new wave.

[FiveTenFifteen]

No Max, you're not alone. My own personal favourite is their second album proper, 'What Does Anything Mean? Basically' - for me that is a faultless album from start to finish with not a single track that doesn't belong there. (Well, the vinyl version anyway - there were a couple of extras tacked on the CD version, which don't really belong to that era).

My recommendation as a starter then would be 'What Does Anything Mean? Basically'.

[TheChameleonsRgod]

They are the best band from the 80's. My favorite group ever. The songs are amazing. The guitars are incredible the lyrics are deep, the melodies are haunting and beautiful.

Recommended songs to get into them:

Swamp Thing (I can already hear your tune
Calling me across the room
When the world and his wife
Are on my back again
Not enough pleasure
Too much pain)

Up the Down Escalator (I'm gazing at faces
Staring blankly at me
I suppose it's just a sign of the times
They tell me tomorrow will never arrive
But I've seen it end a million times)

Second Skin (One cold damp evening
The world stood still
I watched as I held my breath
A silhouette I thought I knew
Came through
And someone spoke to me
Whispered in my ear
This fantasy's for you
Fantasies are "in" this year)

------------------------------------
"Mark, Mark above Everything else."