Cosmic Thing

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Nirvana made a lot of things irrelevant when Nevermind was released in 1991. Among the most unfortunate casualties caught inside the blast radius were the B-52's. Just two years prior, they had released their very first mainstream breakthrough album, Cosmic Thing. This album was featherweight, sun-kissed, playfully pansexual and, most importantly, danceable. Tracks like "Love Shack" and "Roam" reminded us there could be fun without responsibility. Alternately kitschy and lazy (I still insist that "Deadbeat Club" was a slacker anthem long before Beck's "Loser"), Cosmic Thing took the B-52's signature Trekkie-camp sensibility and slowed it down just enough to click on MTV and portable radios wonderfully. And let's be honest, anyway: would you rather road-trip to Kurt's sad refrain of "Well, whatever, nevermind" or Fred Schneider belting out, "The whole shack shimmies!!" at the top of his lungs? On second thought, don't answer that. --Todd Levin --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Average customer rating:

Lazy Days

"Sit on the Porch and Swing"

Deadbeat Club

Great music, but can't import into iTunes

Only 45 reviews for "Cosmic Thing?"

Cosmic Thing
The B-52's
Manufacturer: Reprise / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002LGY
Release Date: 1989-06-06

Tracks:

Cosmic Thing
Dry County
Deadbeat Club
Love Shack
Junebug
Roam
Bushfire
Channel Z
Topaz
Follow Your Bliss

Amazon.com

Nirvana made a lot of things irrelevant when Nevermind was released in 1991. Among the most unfortunate casualties caught inside the blast radius were the B-52's. Just two years prior, they had released their very first mainstream breakthrough album, Cosmic Thing. This album was featherweight, sun-kissed, playfully pansexual and, most importantly, danceable. Tracks like "Love Shack" and "Roam" reminded us there could be fun without responsibility. Alternately kitschy and lazy (I still insist that "Deadbeat Club" was a slacker anthem long before Beck's "Loser"), Cosmic Thing took the B-52's signature Trekkie-camp sensibility and slowed it down just enough to click on MTV and portable radios wonderfully. And let's be honest, anyway: would you rather road-trip to Kurt's sad refrain of "Well, whatever, nevermind" or Fred Schneider belting out, "The whole shack shimmies!!" at the top of his lungs? On second thought, don't answer that. --Todd Levin

Customer Reviews:

Lazy Days.......2006-11-22

This is an essential must have album from the '80's for your "spring collection." I have always loved the hamonies of Cindy and Kate, handfuls of honey in cups I must say and for all the craziness in all of us the "I-Am- really singing - Fred Schnider" I am sure I spelt his last name wrong.

The album starts with a full powered tune to get you in the mood - "Cosmic Thing" with Fred snarling about the "genuine faux pearl ring" he might get you if you shake your "Honey buns" Mid into the album we hear the radio friendly "Love Shack" and "Roam" and ends on a slower song "Follow Your Bliss" which is an instramental with Kate and bass player Sara Lee humming and awing.

A must have for die Hard B-52's fans. For those who love the power house Cindy tunes you'll love her singing in "Deadbeat Club" and "Love Shack." For the Kate fans you can follow her in "Bushfire" and " Junebug"

All the songs are great but my most favs are: "Deadbeat Club" "Topaz" and "Dry County"

So go grab this album and B-Happy! (stupid joke) :P

"Sit on the Porch and Swing".......2006-11-20

"Cosmic Thing" is The B-52s best known record, originally released in 1989, containing the hits "Love Shack", "Roam", "Channel Z", and "Deadbeat Club". I'm pretty sure "Bushfire" got some airplay back in the day too (at least here in Australia, anyway). It's colourful 1980s pop, and every track is fun and full of personality. I'm not in a B-52s mood all the time, but when I am, I can listen to the tracks on "Cosmic Thing" over and over. Being a kid in the late 1980s/early 1990s, the music of this album has a lot of memories for me attached to it (along with Phil Collins, John Farnham, etc) which helps too.

There's a lot more production and effects on this album than say, on the B-52s first, self-titled album, (which is more bare and minimal). It all adds to the catchiness and poppiness of the tracks, I think. There's a lot to like about this album. I love the harmonies between Kate and Cindy (the female vocalists) on "Deadbeat Club", "Roam" and especially on "Topaz", and their "go, go, go!" chant toward the end of "Junebug" is so energetic its infectious. Fred Schneider, the male vocalist, is a lot of fun as well, helping to make the famous "Love Shack" as catchy as it is. He's a character, he really is. The instruments are played pretty well, and their instrumental "Follow Your Bliss", though fairly simple, has just as much personality as any other of their songs.

A pretty good slice of 1980s pop music. A decent one for parties too.

Deadbeat Club.......2006-11-03

Deadbeat Club is my favorite song. I was 27 when it was released.
I'm now 44 and it's still my all time favorite. What a fun song and video!

Great music, but can't import into iTunes.......2006-08-25

The music on this disc is worth at least 4 stars, but the "anti-piracy" features are preventing me from slurping this into iTunes.

Only 45 reviews for "Cosmic Thing?".......2006-08-23

I'm shocked there aren't more reviews of "Cosmic Thing," but I'm happy to see the CD get such rave reviews here. Yes, this is light fare - danceable, quirky and worry-free pop. The CD was one of a few released in 1989 that was a great ending to a lousy decade.

I was excited about buying "Cosmic Thing" when it was first released because: 1. It was on a compact disc and not an album (CDs were still in their infancy in '89), and 2. I really enjoyed the video for "Roam" on MTV (truth be told, I wasn't too crazy about "Love Shack," although I found that a cute novelty song). Once I listened to the entire CD, I loved it (and I still have my original copy all these years later - in great playing condition despite being played numerous times over the years).

I don't know about anyone else but it takes a lot for me to like an entire album/CD. For any consumer to be able to hit "Play" and just let the CD go until it stops is saying a lot for the musician. "Cosmic Thing" passed that test for me (as a 13 year-old in 1989 and today as a 30 year-old).

Besides liking "Roam," I like the far-out lyrics of "June Bug" and I agree with our star reviewer that "Dead Beat Club" was the slacker song before Beck's "Loser" (The B-52's beating Beck by half a decade, although "Dead Beat Club" didn't catch on nearly as much as "Loser!").

I agree with the previous reviewer in that you can't hate this album. There's really nothing to hate - it's not serious, it's just a collection of really good pop songs.

It's refreshing to be able to pop this in the CD player and just be lighthearted for about an hour. - Donna Di Giacomo

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Cosmic Creature Classics

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003FRY
Release Date: 1997-11-25

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