Battle #21

Arcadia: So Red The Rose ( Side One )

Vs.

Roxy Epoxy and The Rebound: Band-Aids On Bulletholes ( Side Two )

Arcadia: So Red The Rose ( Side One )

Arcadia were a new wave British group formed in 1985 by Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor of Duran Duran as a side project during a break in that band's schedule. The project was only active during 1985 and 1986 for just one album, So Red the Rose, which was certified Platinum in the United States and included a number of charting singles. Arcadia is not the only Duran squared spin-off. The Power Station also falls into that category and also had hits. So any doubt of Duran Duran’s hit making ability (not that there should be any) can suck a D...uran. Simon Le Bon himself described So Red the Rose as "the most pretentious album ever made," while AllMusic called it "the best album Duran Duran never made". I must say that I have to agree wholeheartedly with the latter. To say that this album in ANY WAY sounds different than Duran Duran would just be lying to yourself. I mean, they didn’t even try to be different. It did have some big scoring hits though, such as the lead off batter “Election Day”. I am sure you would recognize it dips you heard it, and it is an election year so...maybe it’ll make a comeback. All the candidates are like this song, right? ‘85? (#seewhatididthere). The 80s rock continues with “Keep me in the Dark” which was another charting single although not quite as high. With “Goodbye is Forever” it is especially hard to escape the Duran comparison. Le Bon’s voice is just so recognizable and present. Honestly the comparison is NOT a slam in any way. It’s maybe the highest compliment actually. Mid tempo rocker and these tunes are all good.

“The Flame”is essentially as the Duranx2 song “View to a Kill” from the bond movie went rogue and formed its own band. Their SONGS are doing spin off bands!!?!?! I keep waiting for them to announce at the end of the song that they actually are D-squared and this has all been a joke. “Missing” is the final track and contains the quiet solitude and meditation moments of zen. A good slow down, but still true to the du-roots du-roots and it’s aaaaaa looooooooooonnnnnngggg ssssoooonnnnnnnggggg. Actually this is the most diverse they have been from the former. As in straight up rock band and less new wave. The guest stars on this album is pretty phenomenal too. It reads like a who’s who of 1985. Herbie Hancock, David Gilmore (Pink Floyd), Sting... but yeah this is the lost Duran Duran album for sure. It’s actually the very reason I own it.

Roxy Epoxy and The Rebound: Band-Aids On Bulletholes ( Side Two )

Roxy Epoxy, the soul and front woman of this band is often associated with such fierce and striking artists as Karen O, Siouxsie Sioux, and Chrissie Hynde. Roxy Epoxy made a lasting impact on the punk and indie community in her former band, The Epoxies. At the end of 2007, the Epoxies decided to call it quits, but Roxy wasn’t finished yet. She decided to pull her own songs out of hiding and start fresh. She began writing new songs and found some talented musicians to follow her into the studio. The result was Roxy Epoxy and The Rebound. Now, freshly rejuvenated and ready to tackle the music industry with both fists and a great set of pipes, Roxy embarked on the next chapter of her musical career with her newly-minted band. Whereas The Epoxies focus was often on androids and science fiction themes, this new band was really just an extension in sound and style, but lyrically more challenging and based in traditional themes. Don’t mistake that as bad. They are just more cohesive songs that speak of dark subjects and more mature things. It’s basically a new wave power pop rock band and they are amazing! Unfortunately this and a solo EP by Roxy are really all that exist. This band is now considered defunct as well. But what an amazing output for the one album!! “Svengali” starts it. It’s a reference to the fictional character who tricks and exploits a young girl. The word "svengali" has come to refer to a person who, with evil intent, dominates, manipulates and controls another. Not sure if there are implications outside of the song, but it’s a rocker! New wavier than a lays potato chip and just as delicious!! And this rocker is on Side two! “Fun” has those punky new wave keys please! Roxy has a voxy range that’s nearly unbeatable! “Lola’s Vision” sides more on the indie rock status symbol and has the tick tick of a clock, slower in stature but subtle in subject. “The Spider and the Leach” May well be the most memorable song, if only for the story it tells. Has that wonderful eerie sound and really helps define the difference between the former Epoxies and the current events. Metropolis anyone? Intricate keys and melodies, all over monotone vocals that are perfectly suited to the task. It’s a great juxtaposition on the story time vivid lyrics happening. “Unnamed” is a straight up punkity punk punk rocket. Discordant and dangerous. Lastly, “Watch Me” has those meaty beats to crush your skull and is anti-authoritarian. Overall this record is equally dystopian and Bauhaus as it is poppy and Flock of Seagulls. Again, the key difference is the depth and song-smithing. If Missing Persons were just a straight up punk band...or the movie Blade Runner decided to write music.

Sidebar: I know the title of this whole thing I do is RANDOM record workout, but sometimes there exists some similarities and cohesion in the matchups. For example, possibly the band’s share a member or something as simple as each band plays “7 songs” or whatever. It could be related artwork or any number of things, but there becomes this weird theme developed. Today, the theme was side projects in a sense. I just find it amusing. That is all.

So today it was Arcadia with their roses so red who tried to out Duran themselves. They burned 147 calories over 22 minutes and 5 songs. They averaged 29.40 calories burned per song and 6.68 calories burned per minute. They earned 11 out of 15 possible stars. Roxy Epoxy was on the rebound and put band-aids on her bullet holes. They played for 18 minutes and managed to burn 122 calories over 6 songs. That is an average of 20.33 calories burned per song and 6.78 calories burned per minute. They earned 15 out of 18 possible stars. They may be on the rebound but Roxy Epoxy and Company take the crown today!

Roxy Epoxy and the Rebound : “Unnamed”

https://youtu.be/UgZBH1Ub0OA

#Randomrecordworkoutseasonseven

new eBook for download:

The Epoxies -- Need More Time