Urban Verbs

urban verbs

Track Listings

1. Subways

2. Angry Young Men

3. Next Question

4. Frenzy

5. Ring-Ring (My Telephone's Talking)

6. Only One of You

7. Luca Brasi

8. Tina Grey

9. Good Life

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Urban Verbs was a new wave rock group in the vain of Talking Heads. Their lead singer was Roddy Frantz, brother of Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz. They recorded two albums in the 1980's. This self-titled 1980 debut album is now making its worldwide CD debut. Wounded Bird. 2003.

Urban Verbs,Urban Verbs,Wounded Bird Records,New Wave,Pop,Post-Punk,Rock,Rock/Pop

Urban Verbs

Average customer rating:

1980 Neurotic Classic
I'd give it 6 stars if I could.
Next Question- When Will You Get This Classic CD?
One of the Best of the 80's - Severely Under Appreciated
Stuck in My Head!

Urban Verbs
Urban Verbs
Manufacturer: Wounded Bird Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Flying Lizards

ASIN: B0000CNY4Q
Release Date: 2003-10-14

Tracks:

Subways
Angry Young Men
Next Question
Frenzy
Ring-Ring (My Telephone's Talking)
Only One of You
Luca Brasi
Tina Grey
Good Life

Album Description

Urban Verbs was a new wave rock group in the vain of Talking Heads. Their lead singer was Roddy Frantz, brother of Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz. They recorded two albums in the 1980's. This self-titled 1980 debut album is now making its worldwide CD debut. Wounded Bird. 2003.

Customer Reviews:

1980 Neurotic Classic.......2007-02-01

Masters of the 'pent-up frustration' song, I always loved this album--a very promising debut. The biting lyrics are great fun too. My favorite line: "You'll arrive with your scotch and your problems.." A good twitchy, cerebral, sarcastic, dancey album from the post punk/new wave era.

I'd give it 6 stars if I could........2006-08-05

It's rare to attend an concert and have magic happen, so I was overjoyed when I first heard the Urban Verbs' complex music and intelligent lyrics at the U MD Student Union in 1979. I went to many of their local shows in the DC area, and bought their two albums. This is the first and, in my opinion, the better of the two. My favorite tracks are "The Angry Young Men" and "Tina Grey." I'm delighted to see it available again on CD.

If there were any justice in the world, the Verbs would have enjoyed long music careers. Sadly, they broke up after only a few years. At least we have this CD, though it's a shame they never recorded one of my favorite songs, "Pensive People."

Next Question- When Will You Get This Classic CD?.......2006-08-04

Back when I was a new wave punk my brother and I used to go see the Urban Verbs perform in a little dive in Washington D.C. called the Atlantis that was later renamed the 9:30 Club which is still around though in a different physical space. We'd see them every chance we got because the Verbs always put on a great show and this CD manages to capture most of their magic. I loved the Talking Heads and found out that Verbs vocalist Roddy Frantz was the brother of Heads drummer Chris. There's definitely a hint of David Byrne's quirky delivery in Roddy's wonderfully dramatic singing but at the same time Roddy does have a unique voice and he had a truly unforgettable stage presence. It would have been interesting to hear what producer/ambient god/music theorist Brian Eno did with the Verbs' sound but it's nicely produced just the same. Roddy frequently saw me in the small audience and at one point asked if I'd be interested in funding the recording of their album but I was just a lowly (and frequently broke) bank teller at the time. To this day I don't why he asked me this but I assume he was drawn to my strange appearance (see my profile page)...

My choice tracks on this CD are the frantic "Subways", the theatrical "Next Question", the energetic and humourous "Ring-Ring (My Telephone's Talking)", the slyly romantic "Only One of You", the moody and atmospheric "Tina Grey" and the wickedly satiric ode to L.A.,"Good Life". You owe it to yourself to check out this very cool artifact of the 80's.

One of the Best of the 80's - Severely Under Appreciated.......2006-05-16

The Urban Verbs were a DC based group with connections to the Talking Heads through Chris Frantz. The sound of this album at times mirrors the alienated frenzy of the Talking Heads' "More Songs About Buildings and Food" or "Talking Heads: 77". The Urban Verbs add a strong droning element to many of their songs, with synthesizers looping sounds a la Philip Glass. A very potent musical mix to which is added some exceptional new wave lyrics.

I haven't listened to this album through in years, but I have all its songs on my Ipod and every time one comes on I stop and listen. Outstanding songs off the album are "Next Question" (great lyrics - "If this is love, I was born a survivor" and "Is this love, or just a feeling"), "Ring-Ring (My Telephone'S Talking), "Only One of You" and "Subways". If you are a fan of the Talking Heads or good new wave music/early 80's, pick this album up. You won't regret it.

Stuck in My Head!.......2004-10-16

It's been 20+ years since I listened to this album and still, every so often, one of these songs will spontaneously enter my head and stay all day. This is truly one of the best and most
influential song collections of the '80s. The UVs certainly never got the attention they so well deserved. I too could listen to this collection over and over for the rest of my life and never get tired of it. It's completely excellent.
-PJ

Rock Music:

Rock Music

rock music