Album: “Big Trash”

Description

The Thompson Twins: Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie (vocals). Additional personnel: Deborah Harry, Bob Marshall (spoken vocals); Keith Fernley (guitar, harmonica); Felicia (guitar); Reginald Hastings (slide guitar); David Palmer (drums). Producers: Tom Bailey, Alannah Currie, Steve Lillywhite. Engineers: Keith Fernley, Chris Dickie. Recorded at Maison Rouge Studios, London, United Kingdom. The Thompson Twins' first album after changing to a new label (and a new musical direction), BIG TRASH is a concept album about junk culture, thematically pitched between early Blondie and the B-52's. Tarty, glammed-up, and rhythmically aggressive, these surprisingly noisy songs can't be confused for earlier, more relaxed hits like "Hold Me Now" or "You Take Me Up." Not that they pale in comparison; the opening "Sugar Daddy," with its slinky, forceful groove and unforgettable "nah nah nah" hook in the chorus, is one of the Twins' finest singles ever. The Blondie comparison is echoed in Debbie Harry's presence on several tracks, and the Twins' new backing band--featuring future Letterman band guitarist Felicia Collins--invests tunes like "Queen of the USA" and "TV On" with enough power to make Allanah Currie's snarky lyrics hit home. BIG TRASH is an overlooked gem of an album.