The Age of Plastic
The Buggles
℗ 1980 Island Records ILPS 9585
The fun, quirky single "Video Killed the Radio Star" garnered The Buggles international attention in 1980, but it was just one of The Age of Plastic's fascinating, futuristic visions. From the title track's opening strains, Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes transform your living room into a world of Jetson-like proportions. It's a world, though, where technology is seen for what it is — full of both promise and frightening implications. On "I Love You Miss Robot," a metaphorical love affair with a robot explores modern man's relationship to, and dependence on, technology. "Kid Dynamo"'s spirited tempo, biting lyrics, and menacing vocal track questions the loss of imagination plaguing the mass media age. For the most part, The Age of Plastic is a fun record that doesn't need to be taken too seriously, though a subtle sense of loss is woven throughout. Variety is the constant and tracks vary from the giddy "Video," to the dark and pulsating "Johnny on the Monorail.." The vision here is so beautifully articulated that the superb musicianship and production wizardry is easily overlooked. Paradoxically, Horn and Downes employed electronic devices (which were considered new and cutting edge in the late seventies) to create an album which, at times, spoke eloquently about their drawbacks. With The Age of Plastic, Horn and Downes stamped an indelible image in the collective pop psyche. What is equally impressive is the sound of this disc given its analog origins and 1980-release date. While hiss can be heard in some of the quieter passages, it would be difficult to find a record from this era that sounds half as good. Pop rarely reaches these heights. — Jeri Montesano. |
- 1. Living in the Plastic Age [05:08]
- 2. Video Killed the Radio Star [longer lp version] [04:14]
- 3. Kid Dynamo [03:30]
- 4. I Love You (Miss Robot) [04:59]
- 5. Clean, Clean [03:53]
- 6. Elstree [04:31]
- 7. Astroboy (And the Proles on Parade) [04:47]
- 8. Johnny on the Monorail [05:26]
- 9. Video Killed the Radio Star [short version] [03:16]
- 10. Video Killed the Radio Star [cute] [03:20]
Тексты:
Living in the Plastic Age
Every day my metal friend Shakes my bed at 6am Then the shiny serving clones Run in with my telephones Talking fast I make a deal Buy the fake and sell whats real Whats this pain here in my chest Maybe I should take a rest They send the heart police to put you under, Cardiac arrest and as they drag you the door They tell you that you've failed the test Living in the Living in the plastic age Looking only half my age Hello doctor lift my face I wish my skin could stand the pace In the bed I read my mind Remember how the mice were blind I watch them fighting in their cage Could this be the plastic age? They send the heart police to put you under, Cardiac arrest and as they drag you the door They tell you that you've failed the test Living in the Plastic age Plastic age Plastic age Plas… tic Plas… tic They send the heart police to put you under, Cardiac arrest and as they drag you the door They tell you that you've failed the test Living in the Plastic age Plastic age Plastic age
Video Killed the Radio Star [longer lp version]
I heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two Lying awake intent at tuning in on you. If I was young it didn't stop you coming through. Oh-a oh They took the credit for your second symphony. Rewritten by machine and new technology, and now I understand the problems you can see. Oh-a oh I met your children Oh-a oh What did you tell them? Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. Pictures came and broke your heart. Oh-a-a-a oh And now we meet in an abandoned studio. We hear the playback and it seems so long ago. And you remember the jingles used to go. Oh-a oh You were the first one. Oh-a oh You were the last one. Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far Oh-a-aho oh, Oh-a-aho oh Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far. Pictures came and broke your heart, look I'll play my VCR. You are a radio star. You are a radio star. Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. (You are a radio star)…
Video Killed the Radio Star [short version]
I heard you on the wireless back in Fifty Two Lying awake intent at tuning in on you. If I was young it didn't stop you coming through. Oh-a oh They took the credit for your second symphony. Rewritten by machine and new technology, and now I understand the problems you can see. Oh-a oh I met your children Oh-a oh What did you tell them? Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. Pictures came and broke your heart. Oh-a-a-a oh And now we meet in an abandoned studio. We hear the playback and it seems so long ago. And you remember the jingles used to go. Oh-a oh You were the first one. Oh-a oh You were the last one. Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far Oh-a-aho oh, Oh-a-aho oh Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. In my mind and in my car, we can't rewind we've gone to far. Pictures came and broke your heart, look I'll play my VCR. You are a radio star. You are a radio star. Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. Video killed the radio star. (You are a radio star)…