THOMAS DOLBY

THOMAS DOLBY
ALIENS ATE MY BUICK (1988)
320 KBPS

It will probably come as no surprise that 'Aliens Ate My Buick' is essencially Thomas Dolby's funk album. Dolby had after all just come off some mid 80's sessions with George Clinton on his Some of My Best Jokes Are Friends album and for this Dolby baught in his band (including a small horn section) and worked his great songcraft around some powerful late 80's style grooves-all infused with Dolby's unique sense of style and humor.Some are wacky funk such as the "Hot Sauce" and the slamming "May The Cube Be With You",both featuring Clinton.But....it's not finished there. Dolby bring throws down his own funky groove with the deep "Pulp Culture",which jests about just what it says.He begins this album with a style that counterpoints the funk tunes on this;oddball swing jazz with the bouncy shuffle of "The Key To Her Ferrari" and the brooding,quircky "The Ability To Swing".There are really no ballads on this album-the closest thing being the slower crawling reggae style of "My Brain Is Like A Sieve".One highpoint on this album a lot of people will talk about is the amazing "Budepest By Blimp",which wraps slow noir jazz,light Manhattan Transfer-like funk-pop along with some of the lyrics from a Hungarian aria. All of the songs on this album are intersperced with with electronic sound samples including bits of dialog and jokes that luckily sync up perfectly with the music.This is actually Thomas Dolby's third full lengh album release.And next to his debut The Golden Age of Wireless 'Aliens Ate My Buick' is artistically one of his very best pieces of music.Unlike the too deliberatly uncommercial The Flat Earth this album's songs flow together well and are very clearly defined.And unlike a lot of Brit Funk Dolby manages to merge his wonderful sense of songcrafting into these grooves without fail,as well as flaunt some of his musical ambitions along the way without alienating the listener.So 'Aliens Ate My Buick' comes highly recommended to those interested in the music of the 1980's and great music in general.

1. The Key To Her Ferrari
2. Airhead
3. Hot Sauce
4. Pulp Culture
5. My Brain Is Like A Sieve
6. The Ability To Swing
7. Budapest By Blimp
8. May The Cube Be With You