Mr. Spock's Beagles

Overall Album Score: 7.6 out of 10

So, this album has the hit single "I Ran (So Far Away)" on it. But is it actually notable for anything else? That's up to argument as anything, I suppose, but ... well, they don't consider A Flock of Seagulls a one-hit wonder for nothing! Unfortunately, this is just another example of a rock band with just one good hit in them and nothing else.

This hit made them household names (also, their haircuts), but I do feel sorry for everyone who rushed to the record store and bought their eponymous album hoping for even more hits. The other tracks that are worth noting really don't come close to measuring up. It's also most unfortunate that its greatest shortcomings lie in their melodies. Apart from the hit track, it's bland melody after bland melody! Yeesh!!!!

Now is a good time to mention that I am a considerable fan of "Standing in the Doorway." If they weren't trying to do an Oingo Boingo impression with that, then they sure fooled me! They completely nailed the creepy mood and the melody is even above average for this album. Unfortunately, the melody *is* pretty weak, which is ultimately why we'd never confuse this for something composed by Danny Elfman.

Many of the other tracks work well in a similarly orchestral fashion. I do like the atmospheres (or 'synthscapes' as they're known) they develop here. Some of them are so weird that it's difficult for me to dismiss the song despite the melodic shortcomings. Some tracks are developed better than others, but this album is mostly an atmospheric success story. If that's all you care about (coupled with this album's general sci-fi lyrical themes), then this might be a recommended album for you. But, for the love of god, don't expect anything other than the hit track to linger in that mind of yours after the album finishes playing!

Overall Album Score: 7.6 out of 10 (This group pretty much qualifies for one hit wonder status, and I can't say that the rest of their material is so much worth listening to... Well, this is a mildly formidable album at least.)

Average Song Score: 7.7 ("I Ran" blows everything else out of the water. The supporting material is unfortunately weak.)

Album Tilt: 7.5 (This album has a personality... Well, it's kind of interesting...)

Artist Rating: 7.5 (At least they don't come off like they're writing throwaway filler.)

Track Reviews

I Ran 10/10

I'd imagine that it's difficult for even people who hate '80s music to dislike "I Ran," which was a huge hit in 1982 and still gets considerable radio play to this day. It takes about a minute and a half to start up, but it takes us through a pretty nice synth-passage with ear-catching chord progressions and a fun beat. Their instrumental work is very enjoyable in the '80s method. When the actual song pipes up, the melody is so catchy and danceable it's no wonder this song is still widely known to this day. It has a great guitar riff and dated (but extremely fun and semi-innovative) instrumentation. Take it or leave it, this is classic '80s pop at its best.

Space Age Love Song 8/10

It's a shame that they couldn't quite keep up with it. This is a much lesser effort! You can already tell that they didn't spend quite as much time with the instrumentation (although it's still fun ... you can hear the "Space Age" in it). The chord progression isn't quite as capturing, which is a shame! The melody is also quite a bit more simpler (consisting basically of two or three notes) and it seems to rely pretty strongly on the atmosphere. I will certainly give them credit for creating a relatively successful and thick atmosphere, but this song just isn't unabashed fun. You can note my sheer disappointment.

You Can Run 7/10

Of course, "You Can Run." You just ran so far away!! (Bad joke, but I couldn't resist just the same.) Again, they continue with thier practice of their long, bloated 1+ minute introductions before they think about adding some singing. Not that there's anything particularly wrong with that--it's just a weird habit! But there's a huge problem. This song has a horrible chord progression and it relies almost exclusively on its jerky drum machine beat. Where's the thick atmosphere? They still rely on some spacey guitar chords and synths but it's considerably thinner than the previous two tracks. Well, I hate to say it, but that's all just not good enough! The melody, to put a final stake in the coffin, is not catchy whatsoever. It's simple and it sounds like it was made up on the spot. Meh.

Don't Ask Me 7/10

This ends their habit of 1+ minute introductions. (At thirty seconds, it's still considerably longer than most, however.) It's unfortunate that this is such a bland pop-rocker. You could argue that the lyrics are goofy fun, but ... who cares about the lyrics when the melody is so bland? At the same time, this is a strictly silly song that's not difficult to sit through. The bouncy (but harmonically bland) guitars help with some of that. It certainly seems to have the right spirit.

Messages 8/10

Only a 15-second intro. Slowly getting normal, are we? It's for the best, anyway. This is the best song on the album since "I Ran," which isn't saying much frankly! The guitar riffs do manage to have some ear-catching power. I also think the melody is alright, but it would be nice if their chorus wouldn't consist of three notes altogether (it's mostly one note though). There's some pretty enjoyable guitar interchanges to boot. Altogether, this track is lacking, but it's mildly enjoyable enough to be worth hearing.

Telecommunication 8/10

This is easily the strangest track of the album. It consists of an almost industrial groove consisting of a very metalic sounding synthesizer! It's an interesting sound although slighly grating to the ears. They do the best they can with this novelty, but they don't have a melody to back it up. Just the same, this song is unusual enough to work. I like some of their rhythmic ideas, too.

Modern Love is Automatic 6.5/10

Just a wind sound effect starts it off, which isn't exactly impressive after we already heard how they began "I Ran" and "Space Age Love Song." But we get an idea of why they did that once a creepy and slow electric guitar solo pipes up gracefully in the background. Surely enough a new wave beat pipes up around the 1:15 minute mark as they try to deliver a catchy groove. Well, if you've picked up the general trend of the album, their "efforts" didn't produce anything extremely catchy. This melody is so bland that it almost hurts! Their atmospheric intro was appreciated but way too simple for me to actually be impressed with it. Well, nice try!

Standing in the Doorway 8.5/10

Funny that the beginning of this reminds me so much of Taco's version of "Puttin' on the Ritz." Well, I'm not a huge fan of that track (and half the world gasps for breath at that statement). But I do like the beginning of this song, "Standing in the Doorway." I like that cool beat, and these guys put forth a pretty impressive suite of sound effects, this time. There are all sorts of noises oscillating through my ears! It's dazzling in its weird, sci-fi way. Then, all of the sudden, the beat changes and the effort gets more danceable. They don't start singing until the two-minute mark and they sound, oddly enough, like Oingo Boingo. I must assume that this is a direct response to them, because the sound is so similar (including the singing style)! They really managed to pull off the song. The melody is only OK and there is a decent guitar lick or two. But it's their slightly crazed mood they pulled off. It helps that I'm an insufferable Oingo Boingo fan!!

D.N.A. 7/10

A 2:30 minute instrumental. I thought it was going to be another huge introduction and they would get around to the singing eventually. Maybe they just couldn't figure out what to sing! Anyway, this is kind of fun in its own way. At least it has a beat you can dance to. The guitar line is OK ... it keeps the effort from becoming tedious.

Manmade 7/10

It starts out pretty insteresting. A twinkly synth in a high register goes off as a slow, clunky groove slowly builds up. ... But, um, the idea doesn't quite materialize. They abadon their efforts to build-up the song for way too long. They insert some goofy lyrics about machines taking over the planet. And when the song does build up, it's not nearly as glorious as I would have liked. Furthermore, it is in desperate need of hooks! You might not believe me, but a catchy melody is what a song needs to be enjoyable. You can embelish your songs with sound-effects all you want, but that just seems like you're trying to cover up your lack of songwriting talent! Well, your sound effects and atmospheres are very neat (particularly in the last minute) but that doesn't make up for the fact that this track is melodically bland! I WANT A CATCHY MELODY! BLAGGGHHHH!!! That is all.

Tumble over your brain and send me your thoughts about this freakish album here!