[.ca] Correct Use Of Soap

The Correct Use of Music:
There are arguments over which is the best Magazine album: Real Life, Correct Use of Soap and some even go with Secondhand Daylight. The only reason that CUOS is the best is that it was the group's third album, and the result of three years of working together and perfecting the unique sound on 1978's Real Life. CUOS does sound more commercial than its predecessors but it was simply the evolution of Magazine's sound. Bizarrely, it is their most uplifting album, but under the layers of bouncy pop sensibility (there's even a Sly and the Family Stone cover!) lurks the tortured soul of Howard Devoto, which was especially tortured by the death of his father at the time of its recording. Songs like "I'm A Party" and "Song From Under the Floorboards" revel in sardonic self-pity and hatred while "I Want To Burn Again", the obligatory break-up track, is a depressing-cause-it's-true piece that even veers into the edge of a love ballad, albeit Howard Devoto style. Are you brave enough to correctly use the soap? You can dance to this record but you can also cry to it...maybe at the same time...how many do you have like THAT in your collection?

THE GENIUS OF DEVOTO:
This third album by the legendary band Magazine is generally considered more accessible than Real Life or Second Hand Daylight. There's something almost classical in the arrangements and the playing although the music still has the punk edge, especially on songs like Because You're Frightened and Model Worker. You Never Knew Me with Laura Teresa's atmospheric backing vocals is particularly graceful and moving. Ever the poet, Devoto rhymes 'philadelphia' with 'healthier' on the song of that title. I Want To Be Burn Again has its eerie moments and the arrangement, especially the swirling cascading synths, reminds me of what Peter Murphy would do later in the eighties. The Sly Stone cover Thank You (Fallettin Be Mice Elf Agin) could probably be termed 'plastic funk' by analogy with David Bowie's plastic soul on Young Americans. But the highlight of the album for me remains the weird atmospheric Song From Under The Floorboards, an awesome number with mysterious hypnotic appeal. To me, it's on a par with Devoto's strange masterpiece called Rubbish on the Luxuria album. Devoto is a man of many talents but unfortunately not prolific enough. This album is therefore to be treasured.

Progressive music at it's finest:
I have heard few bands contrive any album that is as progressive and dynamic as Magazine's "the correct use of soap". A true "non pop" alternitive musical achievement, with haunting lyrics, and obtuse chording. Somthing for people with an open mind for fresh music. It'll keep you hopping.

I feel guilty.:
Look at the VH1 top 100 most important albums of all time. Look at the Rolling Stone and Spin lists of the same things. I even suffer from it myself. I gave that Blithe album a five stars out of five...but this really deserves the five. Maybe six stars. Its impossible to count anymore. Did someone mention the words: "god band"?

I don't quite see the genius...:
This album is pretty okay. Beyond that, I don't know what all the fuss is. I think Wire is a much better band. I think Pavement is better, Spoon is better and a lot of bands they get compared to are much better. I understand that Magazine was probably first to inspire the others, but they all manage to do it better, mainly because they don't get so melodramatic. The lyrics on CUOS are wishy-washy, bland and contrived. The instruments are so watered down and tinkly that it makes me feel like I'm listening to a soundtrack for a fairytale. People attempt to call this punk rock? I don't get it. What exactly is it that makes this so seminal? It's so basic that it's boring. And if that's the exact reason why it's supposed to be so stellar (it's stark minimalism) I think there is many bands and albums out there that do it better. I honestly think reviewers have to be a little bit more careful with their stars.

• Because You're Frightened
• Model Worker
• I'm a Party
• You Never Knew Me
• Philadelphia
• I Want to Burn Again
• Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
• Sweetheart Contract
• Stuck
• Song from Under the Floorboards