Tenement Year

I would have to rank this album as both one of the best, and one of the most accessable, Pere Ubu have ever produced. From the opening of "Something's Gotta Give", to the closing notes of "We Have The Technology", the original release was masterful. The addition of the bonus tracks (13-17) is a nice touch. The live versions of "Miss You" and "We Have The Technology" feature the keyboards of Eric Drew Feldman, a side man, colloborator, and producer of the first order. But at heart, it is the original 12 tracks as released in 1988 that really matter.The band, was it's peak and played with finesse. Listen closely to the guitar work, for example, in "Tall To Me", or, again, in "Say Goodbye". Allen Ravenstein is excellent throughout, with just the right touch. I know nothing about the analog synthesizer he played, and few bands have used synthesizers like this! In the sixties there was a band called The United States Of America, which employed synthesized music, and of course, Lothar And The Hand People, with the theremin. But whatever the instrument is, he plays it with control, and at times, takes a lead role, at others, providing a backdrop of abstract sound.And above all, this album rocks. Pere Ubu perfectly balance garage rock, pop, and avant garde in this recording, and the result is, well amazing.There are few albums I would list as among the best of all time, but this would definitely be on that list, if I actually made one.

After '81 break-up,various members spun off into different projects (Home And Garden,etc.).Mr. Thomas released some very interesting and creative solo albums,exploring new ways to express himself in mostly "non-Rock" configurations.Everyone learned a lot in the time of seperation,and brought new attitudes to the "re-union" (with new guitarist/old friend Jim Jones on guitar0. Breath of fresh air! Ubu amazed then,and continues to this day,with different contributors.

Stellar re-master of Ubu's triumphant return to form from 1988. Bonus tracks are good also. The only niggling thing separating this from absolute perfection was that the (quite different) single mix of "We have the Technology" isn't on it. Strange since the two other tracks fron that single ("Postman Drove a Caddy" and "The B-Side") are.The sound quality is amazing. You can tell this was a labour of love.

The single best album of 1988, yes, the greatest album of 1988: Pere Ubu's 'The Tenement Year'. A magnificent, irresistibly tuneful experiment, with shards of Allen Ravenstine's synth splintering the sound, making it all the more powerfully arresting. If they're avant-garage, then be astounded by the sound on the 2007 reissue that is as brilliant, in clarity terms as you'll find anywhere on anything. And in the case of this album, there's actually reason for clarity, with so much going on. If free jazz and punk are miles and miles apart, then you have this album as a single unimpeachable pop interface between the two. The extras that come with the reissue aren't up to much, but when peak Pere Ubu sound like they are in the next room, if only your next room was a fully equipped studio, then the clarity that is part of the package is enough.

The Tenement Year of Pere Ubu is a great CD, enjoyable for all those who like this kind of music. It is special. Great deal!

I remember seeing Pere Ubu on their UK tour promoting this album after a long absence. What a joy it was to hear about the reissues. In "Sounds" review of the year (1987 I think), it commented on the fantastic Camberwick Green style guitar solo in "We have the Technology". What a recommendation!

Wie lässt es sich erklären, dass Pere Ubu im Jahre 1988, nach einigen vergleichsweise schwachen Alben, ein so hervorragendes Werk wie ,The Tenement Year' gelang?Nun, eine mögliche, aber wahrscheinlich zu einfache, Erklärung könnte in zwei Worten gegeben werden: Chris Cutler. Der legendäre Schlagzeuger der ebenso legendären Henry Cow, Langzeitfan der Ubus, rührt nämlich zusammen mit Scott Krauss die Trommeln auf vorliegendem Werk.Sein kreativer Impetus scheint die Band zu neuem Enthusiasmus angestachelt zu haben, denn so frisch und voller Drive klangen Pere Ubu nur selten. Da ist zunächst die Perkussion selbst: Cutler und Krauss duellieren sich mit Rhythmus und Gegenrhythmus, füllen die Songs mit dichten Schlagzeugkaskaden. So gründlich wurden die Möglichkeiten eines gedoppelten Schlagzeugs, zumindest, so weit es die Rockmusik betrifft, nicht allzu oft ausgelotet.Die übrigen Musiker bedienen sich lässig bei Surf-Rock, Garage-Punk, Reggae und einigem mehr. Avant-Garage eben. Selbstverständlich darf auch Allen Ravenstine wieder seinen Synthesizer quälen: Es zirpt und zischt wie (mangels eines besseren Vergleichs) ein seziertes Mobiltelephon in seinen letzten Zuckungen.Dabei werden die beklemmenden, düsteren Aspekte des Ubu-Sounds, die u.a. auf ,Dub Housing' stark präsent waren, vollends von der fröhlichen Schrägheit übermannt, was manchem als Verlust erscheinen mag.Soweit es jedoch mich betrifft, ist ,Tenement Year' einer der Höhepunkte in Pere Ubus umfangreicher Diskographie.