Anthem

Anthem Artist: Toyah
Label: Connoisseur
Category: Music


Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1
EAN: 5015773026329
ASIN: B00002544A


Release Date: 2002-08-29

Anthem


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Tracks:

  1. I Want to Be Free
  2. Obsolete
  3. Pop Star
  4. Elocution Lessons
  5. Jungles of Jupiter
  6. I Am
  7. It's a Mystery
  8. Masai Boy
  9. Marionette
  10. Demolition Men
  11. We Are

Similar Items:

  1. The Changeling
  2. Sheep Farming in Barnet
  3. Mayhem
  4. Love Is the Law
  5. Safari Records Singles Collection, Vol. 2: 1981-1983

Album Description

Reissue of the hit British pop vocalist's 1981 album for theSafari label, complete with the CD-ROM video to Godley &Creme's clip for 'I Want To Be Free' added, as well as sixunmarked bonus audio tracks that are on disc for the first time, 'Walkie Talkie',

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars The first in the trilogy. Toyah becomes a star!.......2006-08-27

For many part time Toyah fans, 'Anthem' will be the only album by Toyah they will own, or even remember. That's a shame because she has such a vast catalog of great music. For many full time fans, 'Anthem' was the first of a trilogy of brilliant albums, which continued with 'The Changeling' and 'Love Is The Law'. While 'Anthem' did bring Toyah a larger fan base than she already had with her first two wonderful releases, 'Sheep Farming in Barnet' and 'The Blue Meaning', the over exposure of the awful hit singles, "It's a Mystery" and "I Want To Be Free", may have alienated some fans because of their crass commercial sound. If this was the case then these people have missed out on an otherwise brilliant album.

"I want to be free" is a song clearly aimed at a teenage market. Its lyrics of juvenile rebellion connected with many, and made the song a hit.
"Obsolete" is a powerful punchy song. It has a great driving beat and a semi-gothic feel to it, sounding not unlike something Siouxsie and the Banshees would have done around this time.
"Pop star" is another one of the more experimental, moody pieces in which Toyah throws her voice around in many different ways to deliver and interesting song.
"Elocution lesson" is the only other song, outside of the hit singles, that I do not like. It sounds as if she was intentionally trying to be annoying, and she succeeds very well.
"Jungles of Jupiter" and "I am" are more attractive, laid back songs that have been favorites since my first listen.
The original album closes with the energetic pop hook of "We are". A fitting end, but with more brilliance to come in 1982.

The CD has a number of great bonus tracks, covering songs from the 'Four from Toyah' ep, as well as B sides and flexidisc tracks; all of which are wonderful additions. This includes one of Toyah's career highlights; the classic tribal stomping of "War Boys".

At the time of release, Connoiseur Collection opted against enhanced packaging, lyrics and rare photos, for the sake of including a CD rom video. I'd have much rather had the enhanced packaging considering a PC video was only going to have limited quality, and be outdated quite fast.

'Anthem' was mastered entirely from original studio master tapes, and was done so in HDCD (High Definition). The sound is loud, booming and excellent. Major label releases occasionally don't sound as good. A real professional job.

4 out of 5 stars A Very Good Toyah.......2003-08-05

Why am I not giving this album five stars? The song quality on Anthem ranges from the brilliant "Jungles of Jupiter" to the power pop hits "I Want to be Free" and "It's a Mystery" to the uneven/bizarre "Pop Star" and "Elocution Lesson". The album extras have some interest, particularly "Angels and Demons" and perhaps "Alien". Overall, the songs on Anthem don't match those on The Changeling and don't have the power of The Blue Meaning.

Of course, if you like Toyah, you must own this album, too. Anthem just sounds like Toyah had run out of her best ideas; so I'd purchase The Changeling and The Blue Meaning (if you can find a copy) first, then Anthem. Toyah's Love Is The Law is also worth seeking out.

4 out of 5 stars A great CD from Toyah.......2001-11-06

Toyah's music sways between being great pop songs with rich melodies and art experiments tinged with adolescent fantasies of rebellion. You get it all here and Anthem is mostly a delight. There's hot and cold running pop songs (the dynamic "Demolition Men" and "We Are"), atmospheric, mellow numbers ("Jungles of Jupiter" and "I Am"), the big chart hits ("I Want To Be Free" and "It's A Mystery" - a song Toyah hated apparently) and the annoyingly bizarre ("Elocution Lesson").

Toyah sings of aliens, the supernatural, androids, Orwellian societies, suburban boredom and everything in between all resolutely encased in her rich, esoteric imagery. I loved it as a rebellious 15 year old and now as a more settled 34 year old I'm loving it only slightly less. Toyah held the spirit of post-punk 1980's in her florid word play, fantastic universes, sometimes nihilistic prophecies and daring individualism.

On this CD you get some great extra tracks including For You (previously only available on a flexi-disc with Flexipop magazine) and Alien which she originally recorded as 9 To 5 and credited to The Maneaters in Derek Jarman's film 'Jubilee'. As it is the new millenium you also get a video of the Godley & Crème clip to I Want To Be Free to play on your computer. Anthem represents a time and mood, and as such, succeeds completely.

4 out of 5 stars A New Wave Classic........2001-04-27

Parts of this 1981 release are dated but it's still a striking example of early 80's new wave/post punk. Alot of the songs have sci fi themes which give it an almost prog rock feel at times. Sadly, Toyah never made a name for herself in the States (our loss) but she's been successful for many years in her native UK.

5 out of 5 stars

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