Bizarro (album)

Bizarro
Studio album by The Wedding Present
Released	October 1989
Recorded	1989, England
Genre	Alternative rock, indie pop
Length	46:58
Label	RCA
Producer	Chris Allison
The Wedding Present chronology
Українські Виступи в Івана Піла (1989) Bizarro (1989) Seamonsters (1991)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Bizarro is the second studio album by The Wedding Present. It was released in October 1989 by their record label, RCA.

About the album

The Wedding Present's second studio album--and first "proper" album for RCA--came soon after the Ukrainian John Peel Sessions / Українські Виступи в Івана Піла folk music side project and displayed both musical and lyrical growth for the group. Despite using the same production team from their debut album, George Best, Bizarro has a tougher sound, which is likely due to an increased recording budget. Lyrically, Gedge still chronicles the same tales of love, lust, jealousy and revenge, but instead approaches the subjects with a more mature attitude compared to previous works. Musically, the band is more cohesive and experimental, often ending songs in Velvet Underground-like extended rhythm guitar workouts.

Technically speaking, only one single was taken from the album, "Kennedy", which provided the band with their first Top 40 hit, reaching #33. In early 1990, The Wedding Present re-recorded "Brassneck" with Steve Albini, which reached #24 in the UK charts. The single and its B-sides were later included on U.S. release of the album, and are also included on the Singles 1989-1991 compilation. A remastered CD version, released by BMG Camden in 2001, also features the B-sides of the "Kennedy" single, including a cover version of the Tom Jones hit "It's Not Unusual".

Track listing

All tracks written by David Gedge (unless otherwise noted).

Side A

1. "Brassneck" – 4:51
2. "Crushed" – 2:32
3. "No" – 4:11
4. "Thanks" – 2:22
5. "Kennedy" – 4:20
6. "What Have I Said Now?" – 5:18

Side B

1. "Granadaland" – 4:50
2. "Bewitched" – 6:42
3. "Take Me!" – 9:15
4. "Be Honest" – 2:37

US CD release

1. "Brassneck" [original version] – 4:52
2. "Crushed" – 2:32
3. "No" – 4:11
4. "Thanks" – 2:22
5. "Kennedy" – 4:20
6. "What Have I Said Now?" – 5:18
7. "Granadaland" – 4:50
8. "Bewitched" – 6:42
9. "Take Me!" – 9:15
10. "Brassneck" [Steve Albini version] – 4:22
11. "Don't Talk Just Kiss" – 3:20
12. "Gone" – 2:42
13. "Box Elder" (written by Pavement) – 2:14
14. "Be Honest" – 2:37

UK Remastered CD

1. "Brassneck" [original version] – 4:52
2. "Crushed" – 2:32
3. "No" – 4:11
4. "Thanks" – 2:22
5. "Kennedy" – 4:20
6. "What Have I Said Now?" – 5:18
7. "Granadaland" – 4:50
8. "Bewitched" – 6:42
9. "Take Me!" – 9:15
10. "Be Honest" – 2:37
11. "Unfaithful" – 3:21
12. "One Day This Will All Be Yours" – 2:02
13. "It's Not Unusual" (Les Reed and Gordon Mills) – 2:09
14. "Brassneck" (Steve Albini version) – 4:22
15. "Don't Talk Just Kiss" – 3:20
16. "Gone" – 2:42
17. "Box Elder" (written by Stephen Malkmus of Pavement) – 2:14

People involved

The band

• David Gedge – vocals, guitar
• Peter Solowka – guitar
• Keith Gregory – bass guitar
• Simon Smith – drums

Additional musicians

• Amelia Fletcher – backing vocals

Technical staff

• Chris Allison – producer
• Steve Lyon – engineer

References

1. Allmusic review

External links

• Scopitones, home of The Wedding Present