Stoneage Romeos [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
EMI Reissues the Back Catalogue of Legendary Australian Band the Hoodoo Gurus. Their Astonishing Debut Album 'stoneage Romeos' Now Comes with Includes Three Bonus Tracks, Fold Out Poster and Liner Notes by Lindsay the Doctor Macgougall (Frenzal Rhomb).

Tracks:

(Let's All) Turn On
I Want You Back
Arthur
Death Ship
Dig It Up
My Girl
Zanzibar
Leilani
Tojo
In The Echo Chamber
I Was A Kamikaze Pilot
Bonus Track 1
Bonus Track 2

Album Description

Remastered reissue of the Aussie alternative rocker's 1983 debut album that's unavailable domestically. Includes two bonus tracks, 'Who Do You Love' & 'Be My Guru'. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Highly Underrated!.......2007-07-08

This debut album has so much kick you would be a fool not to own it- that is if you are into this genre. The Hoodoos capture they essence of early 80's punk/alternative, but with their own original Aussie twist. Their music is upbeat and powerful. Its a shame the didnt become more popular! I also recommend Ampology which is packed which more Hoodoo Guru goodness.

Le Hoodoo Guru's if you please.......2007-04-23

I was 18 and these guys were playing the local pubs in my area back when there was a local music scene in Sydney. They were originally called "Le Hoodoo Gurus" but i guess that made them a tad prentitious...???

They played great songs and covers including the best damn version of "Galverston" I ever heard. Anyway I heard "Leilani" and was hooked. It was not really surf music as the band were more paisley psychedelia than anything else, but they could play and they rocked the venues we went to.

The album is a great mix of guitar pop songs from the classic "I want you back" to "My girl" which is actually about a greyhound to "Kamikazee Pilot" which sports the classic line "I was a Kamikazee pilot They gave me a plane but I couldn't fly it".......
Dave Faulkner was the genius behind the band although he was well supported by Brad Shepherd who had the cool and licks to make them a commercial success. They went on to make few more albums and had plenty of local success as well as playing the American college circuit but to me this is still the definitive Gurus album.....

Check this album out as it is a great collection of tunes from one of the best Aussie bands we had back in the 80's.

blast from the past.......2006-02-26

I admit I am turning into one of these older guys who get completey obnoxious when they start simmering about the past....however when it comes to guitar rock, catchy tunes and great lyrics these guys from down under still do it for me1

Great hooks and a lot of humor (and a little pain).......2005-11-20

The Gurus' pound out these songs with booming, tribal-like drums, walls of acoustic guitar chords, massive, anthemic choruses, and Dave Faulkner's strong lead vocals. Underneath this mountain of sound lie the band's catchy tunes, the best of which, "I Want You Back", has enough hooks for a meat locker.

Strongly recommended.

One of the Best Surf Movie Soundstrack ever........2003-01-23

Anyone that grew up surfing in the early 80's will remember the surf movie "Beyond Blazing Boards" and the sounds that went with it. Outside of the song "Wild Child" by The Untouchables this is the movie sound track. I Was A Kamikaze Pilot, was the wipeout segment song and to this day every time I hear it I can see the movie in my head --- OH THE PAIN!

All in all if your like myself and many of my friends that watched this movie every time the surf was flat it will bring back memories just hearing it.

This CD will make you want to get in the water big time.

Tracks:

(Let's All) Turn On
I Want You Back
Arthur
Death Ship
Dig It Up
My Girl
Zanzibar
Leilani
Tojo
In The Echo Chamber
I Was A Kamikaze PilotBonus Tracks
Leilani Pt 2
Be My Guru
Hoodoo You Love (Live)

Album Description

The Hoodoo Gurus 1984 debut is jam full of great garage punk songs with a fat rhythm section and a wall of guitars through a massive echo chamber. Checking off the Flamin Groovies, Ramones, the Stones and T-Rex, their pop masterpiece "I Want You Back" helped to make Stoneage Romeos one of the biggest college radio albums of its era. The remastered deluxe edition features fold-out classic poster/original artwork, and bonus tracks.

Average customer rating:

Great debut album - loaded with hooks - ear CANDY
The Best Australian Album ever
Whoo Doo That Guru?
Have you ever been to Zanzibar?
Jangling guitars from Australian "Green Acres" fans

Stoneage Romeos
The Hoodoo Gurus
Manufacturer: A&M
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Australia & New Zealand | International | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Power Pop | Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000002GGT
Release Date: 1989-10-04

Tracks:

I Want You Back
Tojo
Leilani
Arthur
Dig It Up
(Let's All) Turn On
Death Ship
In The Echo Chamber
Zanzibar
I Was A Kamikaze Pilot
My Girl

Customer Reviews:

Great debut album - loaded with hooks - ear CANDY.......2006-01-12

One of the better debut albums of the 80s that is rarely talked about. The band never sounded like this again. "Stoneage Romeos" is punk, 60s garage rock ('Let's All Turn on'), psycho-billy ('Dig it Up'), 60s pop ('My Girl') and straight ahead rock and roll ('Kamikazee Pilot'). It's as if the band wanted to get all their influences on one record. "Mars Needs Guitars" is still a bit eclectic, but not as fun (or funny). After that, they were almost a straight ahead rock band - much more commercial - for better or for worse. Depends on what you like, I guess.

Comparisons to Adam and the Ants is absolutely ridiculous. Adam Ant was initially influnced by (and part of) 70s punk, that's about it - and then he took it into a different direction. There is very little (if any) 1960s rock influences in his music. Stoneage Romeos reeks of a past era and is essesntially NOT British sounding.

The Best Australian Album ever.......2002-01-10

A big call, but the Hoodoo Gurus deliver. With influences from all the sixties garage psych, punk bands and so much more, the Gurus brought it into the eighties. Not a dud track to be heard, with great guitars, pounding drums, rockin' basslines and best of all, catchy melodies. The album version of Leilani is much better than the single (sans bass player) and I Want You Back just makes you tap your feet and sing along. For those people not in Oz, you would've missed out on some fine music videos, particularly the plastiscene dinosaurs in I Want You Back, as well as the much better original cover. If you only own one Australian album, this is the one (or get a greatest hits compilation if you really must). Following albums were not as good, but just about every single they released was a killer.

Whoo Doo That Guru?.......2001-08-24

I was turned on to this collection upon hearing "I Want You Back" in the late 80's. Being a sucker for 60's throw back tunes, I was intrigued and bought this collection on cassette soon after its release. I was also fortunate enough to catch their associated tour with a show at The Palace in Hollywood. Blew me away!! Every tune on this collection kicks (from rockers such as "Death Ship" to ballads such as "Zanzibar"). The tight rythyms and imaginitive lyrics make this album a classic. I would also add that I was disappointed by this group's subsequent releases. If you can get your hands on this one, buy it!!!

Have you ever been to Zanzibar?.......2001-08-12

The Hoodoo Gurus burst out of the gate with their debut record, a churning guitar classic of B movie tales in exotic settings. (Let's All) Turn On is a lost great single featuring a rolling bass line as Dave Faulkner lists his favorite rock and roll songs. One of my favorite songs of all time is Zanzibar with its mysterious lyrics and faintly Middle Eastern sounding guitar. Another outstanding track is Leilani which is about an unfortunate incident on a South Pacific island. With its thundering drums, faux native chants and blistering guitars, this song is what the Gurus are all about. I have always loved these lyrics--after the hero's girlfriend is sacrificed by being chucked into the volcano, he sits alone on the beach thinking, "At least her death had purpose, my life is a waste"

And lets not forget I Was A Kamikazi Pilot--it has a killer Brad Shepherd riff and is about a poor guy stuck on an island for 40 years, "On an island there aint too much to do, look out for # 1 because I think I see Lee Marvin chasing after you"

Unfortunately this cd is getting harder and harder to find, so kids if you find it buy it. And please dont be misled by any comparisons to Adam Ant. Adam Ant was a gimmicky trend riding poser cashing in on 80's style fashion while the Gurus were a working, first rate rock and roll band playing timeless music they believe in. And Dave, someday I am going to Zanzibar--you can bet on it.

Jangling guitars from Australian "Green Acres" fans.......2001-02-18

I can't recall what brought me to the Hoodoo Gurus, but whatever it was deserves to be thanks, for this CD here contains wonderful gems of jangling but not abrasive guitars, crisp drums, and clever melodies. It's an album of great rock not smothered or choked with production (as in later albums). It's truly an album hard to turn off, because each tune leads to an equally thrilling one.

In 1989 or so I saw them in the Aragon Ballroom (maybe) in Chicago, a good show, but they had produced their best two albums (this and "Mars Needs Guitars") and were in slight decline; I expect they had grown big enough to attract producers who squandered their energy and sound.