Rage...Before Beauty

rage...before beauty

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
If Rage Before Beauty proves one thing, its that the Pretty Things haven't learned much in the nearly three and a half decades that passed between the appearance of their debut and this end-of-the-century comeback. And that's a good thing! These aging rockers made their mark in the '60s (with the proto-rock-opera S.F. Sorrow, among other Brit Invasion titles), but here they sound as crude and boisterous as guttersnipes. With founding members Phil May and Dick Taylor (the Rolling Stones' original bassist) leading the charge, the Things intersperse 11 originals with garage-rock covers of "Eve of Destruction," "Play with Fire," and "Mony Mony." Guests Ronnie Spector and Pink Floyd's David Gilmour (a PT alumnus) chip in welcome contributions, helping make this celebration of long-in-the-tooth rock anything but tired. --Steven Stolder

Rage...Before Beauty,The Pretty Things,Madfish Records UK,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock,Rock & Roll,Rock/Pop

Rage...Before Beauty

Average customer rating:

Pretty Things - 'Rage...Before Beauty' (Madfish)
As Good ass It Gets
If this were a perfect world ...
Why stop at Oasis?
they got the reunion thing right this time

Rage...Before Beauty
The Pretty Things
Manufacturer: Madfish Records UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

British Invasion | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Cross Talk
Silk Torpedo
Freeway Madness
Pretty Things
S.F. Sorrow

ASIN: B00000I5H5
Release Date: 1999-03-09

Tracks:

Passion Of Love
Vivian Prince
Everlasting Flame
Love Keeps Handing On
Eve Of Destruction
Not Givin' In
Pure Cold Stone
Blue Turns To Red
Goodbye, Goodbye
Goin' Downhill
Play With Fire
Fly Away
Mony Mony
God Give Me The Stength (To Carry On)

Amazon.com

If Rage Before Beauty proves one thing, its that the Pretty Things haven't learned much in the nearly three and a half decades that passed between the appearance of their debut and this end-of-the-century comeback. And that's a good thing! These aging rockers made their mark in the '60s (with the proto-rock-opera S.F. Sorrow, among other Brit Invasion titles), but here they sound as crude and boisterous as guttersnipes. With founding members Phil May and Dick Taylor (the Rolling Stones' original bassist) leading the charge, the Things intersperse 11 originals with garage-rock covers of "Eve of Destruction," "Play with Fire," and "Mony Mony." Guests Ronnie Spector and Pink Floyd's David Gilmour (a PT alumnus) chip in welcome contributions, helping make this celebration of long-in-the-tooth rock anything but tired. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Things - 'Rage...Before Beauty' (Madfish).......2005-07-24

As for a comeback CD,I thought this disc was okay.Not great,but decent.Although I never did hear their supposedly lame '80's return effort 'Cross Talk'.This was my very first Pretty Things title I ever bought.Enjoyed the covers the best,like the Stone's "Play With Fire",Barry McGuire's "Eve Of Destruction" and Tommy James&The Shondell's "Mony Mony".Some of this CD's original tunes I thought had something going for them were "Not Giving In","Blue Turns To Red" and "Fly Away".Give it a chance.

As Good ass It Gets.......2005-01-22

This guy+s are a Lot Better Than the Stones and all their Hype . Better than Bowie and all his Weirdness . Hand in Hand with The Who , Floyd and The Beatles , no Doubt ... Just very good musicians playing the Best ... A pleasure 2 listen 2 and play with ...

If this were a perfect world ..........2003-01-02

... then the incredibly rocking, high-energy "Everlasting Flame" were somewhere on top of the charts, the cover version of "Eve of Destruction", having new relevance these days, would be giving food for thought for millions of people, the defiant "Not Givin' In" would be a youth anthem, and the heart-wrenching ballads "Love Keeps Hanging On" and "God Give Me the Strength" were all over the airwaves on this planet.

As this is NO perfect world, not many people will ever come across this album "Rage Before Beauty", and they won't know what they miss. To my mind, this is one of the best 300 rock albums ever made, and remember, they're have been many, many thousands (incidentally, I'd regard the Pretties' "S.F.Sorrow" right there in the all-time top 50). The PTs kick more ... here than all those new hype bands, such as the Strokes, the Vines, or what have you these days. This is the real thing - rock'n'roll played from the heart (or guts), by weathered men who have seen it all, fame and defeat. And, boy, do the kick up a fuss in the process!

Go for it. Hearing is believing. Rock on!

Why stop at Oasis?.......2000-03-21

This disc's working title rips Oasis, but why stop there? The Pretty Things kick sand in the faces of any and all current rock bands--not to mention some of their British contemporaraies who are just as old (Clapton, Stewart) and wimped out long ago. No geezer novelty act, the Pretty Things are gloriously alive, and here they deliver some of the most vibrant and inspired rock music I've ever heard.

they got the reunion thing right this time.......1999-09-21

Answers the question "how good an album can middle aged rockers make that haven't yet been spoiled by success?". Much better than 1980's reunion disaster "Cross Talk". According to the liner notes, some of this record's material dates back to sessions immediately after "Cross Talk". If it takes 18 years to make an album this good, other artists should take note.