OVERVIEW: THE GLAM-GOTH CROSSOVER CRUSADE 🌌💄
The year was 1986, and the gothic underground was fracturing. Enter Gene Loves Jezebel, a band teetering on a razor's edge between subterranean alternative credibility and the bright lights of American stadium rock. Following a critical lineup shake-up—where original guitarist Ian Hudson was replaced by James Stevenson of Generation X—the Aston twins traded their shadowy mystique for stadium ambition. The result was Discover, an explosive masterpiece produced by Gary Lyons (of Queen and Foreigner fame) that either alienated the purists or proved the band had finally wised up.
The 2005 Deluxe Special Edition 2CD reissue by Beggars Banquet (catalog number BBL 2013 CDD) perfectly immortalizes this highly volatile, creative high-water mark. By packaging the newly remastered, punchy 10-track original UK album on CD One alongside a massive 15-track treasure trove of bonus material on CD Two, Beggars Banquet created an essential artifact. It captures a beautifully chaotic moment where twin sibling tension, jagged punk-infused glam, and unapologetic pop architecture collided to create an unforgettable, chart-storming era.
REVIEW: SIREN SONGS AND STADIUM SHADOWS ⚡🦅
CD One explodes out of the gate with an entirely new breed of sonic confidence. From the opening rush of "Heartache", the transformation is undeniable. James Stevenson’s crystalline, heavy guitar hooks lock perfectly with Pete Rizzo's anchoring bass lines, building an expansive launchpad for the Aston brothers’ vocal acrobatics. Gone are the skeletal, lo-fi funeral dirges of their debut; instead, tracks like "Over the Rooftops" and "Kick" bounce with a thunderous, danceable energy that demands smoke machines and flashing stadium lights.
The absolute crown jewel of the record is, without a doubt, the timeless blast of "Desire (Come and Get It)". It remains the band's definitive anthem—a track that distills raw, uninhibited sexual tension and tribal rhythms into a flawless, new-wave pop juggernaut. Yet, despite the sleek hit-making polish of Gary Lyons' production, the band refuses to entirely abandon their eccentric Welsh roots. Darker, dramatic textures still peek through the shimmering pop veneer on atmospheric tracks like "Beyond Doubt" and the folklore-tinged "Maid of Sker".
Sliding CD Two into the player turns the experience into a sweaty, neon-lit alternative club night. The 15 bonus tracks rescue a staggering amount of rare 12-inch remixes, non-album B-sides, and cassette-only gems from the archives. Hearing the epic "Desire (Come and Get It) [Extended Version]" next to the pulsating "Heartache [UK Club Mix]" proves that Gene Loves Jezebel was dominating the late-night dance floors just as much as American college radio.
Rarities like "Sapphire Scavenger", "Deli Babies", and the frantic "Psycho 2" offer a thrilling look at their darker, more experimental cutting-room floor. Ultimately, this 2005 Special Edition reissue of Discover is a mandatory listen for anyone exploring '80s subculture. It stands as a flawless monument to the exact moment Gene Loves Jezebel balanced on the tightrope of dark romanticism and pop stardom, capturing a lightning-in-a-bottle era before sibling rivalries split the vision apart.
Ripped to MP3
CD One: Original Album (Remastered)
The first disc contains the 10 original studio tracks from the 1986 album:
1. Heartache (4:22)
2. Over the Rooftops (3:11)
3. Kick (3:10)
4. A White Horse (3:08)
5. Wait and See (3:26)
6. Desire (Come and Get It) (3:18)
7. Beyond Doubt (4:24)
8. Sweetest Thing (3:11)
9. Maid of Sker (4:23)
10. Brand New Moon (3:45)
CD Two: Bonus Tracks & Rarities
The second disc houses 15 additional tracks, compiling a massive selection of 12" club mixes, B-sides, and rare alternative versions:
1. Desire (Come and Get It) (Extended Version) (5:27)
2. Sapphire Scavenger (3:50)
3. New Horizons (3:40)
4. Message (Original Version) (2:58)
5. Heartache (UK Club Mix) (5:33)
6. Before Doubt (4:59)
7. Suspicion (Original Version) (3:56)
8. Deli Babies (3:03)
9. Vagabond (3:17)
10. Lipstime (3:20)
11. Down to the Water
12. Heartache (Part Two)
13. Sweetest Thing (Extended Version)
14. Psycho 2
15. Sweetest Jezebel
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