SHOES: Boomerang/Shoes On Ice

Shoes

Boomerang/Shoes On Ice

© 1982 Black Vinyl Records (048621819021) (format: CD-R)

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Originally released in 1982 the 12-song Boomerang showcases their highly polished approach to melodic songwriting and guitar-based production in what has been described as a string of radio-friendly singles.

notes

Boomerang was Shoes 3rd major-label release and demonstrates Shoes knack for creating melodic, guitar-based pop/rock songs. Recorded at Chicago's CRC (Chicago Recording Company) in the spring of 1982 the songs here range from upbeat to moody to lush, vocal landscapes with Shoes' underlying core of guitar riffs and punchy bass lines. The opening track, In Her Shadow was made into an impromptu, "unofficial" video from an appearance on a Madison, Wisconsin television show in response to MTV's request for a new video from the band. MTV also aired a short interview clip of the band recording in the studio on their Music News segment.

reviews

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  • And their beat goes on...
    author: Angel Sieg

    more awesome music from an awesome band i was addicted to in my youth, wore out the LP for these too haha

  • Another good Shoes album
    author: Greg Cleary

    When asked to name their favorite Shoes album, most fans will opt for one of the first two, "Black Vinyl Shoes" or "Present Tense." I am one of the smaller group who have a special fondness for the third album, "Tongue Twister." But I don't know of any fans who prefer that album's follow-up, "Boomerang." That's kind of a shame because "Boomerang" is very much in the same league as the two albums that came before it. Maybe it has suffered by comparison because at this time the band was pretty much in a holding pattern in terms of style. There was nothing radically new here--just a few more keyboards in the mix and lyrics that were slightly more adult, although well within expectations. Every single Shoes album starts with a great song, and this one is no exception, as John Murphy's "In Her Shadow" jumps right out of the gate and sprints to a finish in just over two minutes. The rhythm in this song has a whiplash effect that is irresistible. Gary Klebe's "Curiosity" is a strong follow-up, with its distinctive herky-jerky rhythm, and song #3, Jeff Murphy's "Mayday," is filled with great, crunching guitars. The album settles into the usual pattern, with songwriting duties shared equally, and high quality throughout, with the exception of a couple tunes toward the end ("Bound to be a Reason," "Tested Charms") that aren't as exciting as the rest. Gary Klebe's "The Tube" is an oddity in the Shoes catalogue, as, by my count, it is one of only two songs by them that do not have boy/girl lyrics. (The other one is "Capital Gain" from "Black Vinyl Shoes.") It's a goofy little song about kids watching TV. Thankfully, Klebe was smart enough to keep it lighthearted, and it doesn't stand out too much from the rest of the album. To my ears, "Boomerang" sounds a little more bubblegummy than any of Shoes' other albums, but that's not a bad thing. It was also their last album for a major label, which is probably another reason why it has not received its due; people assume that it was a failure because Elektra dropped them not too long after its release. But "Boomerang" is a worthy addition to any Shoes fan's collection. The CD reissue is nicely packaged, with full lyrics and credits. The six-song "Shoes on Ice" live EP is a generous addition, even though I would rather listen to the studio versions of these songs, which are available elsewhere. The harmonies just aren't quite the same in the live versions, although the band is powerful and the audience is obviously having a blast. I wish I could've been there.

  • Great
    author: Randy Grimes

    Another excellent album pair by The Shoes. Curiosity, Under the Gun, and the Tube are some of the best they've done. The live versions of Cruel You and Hate to Run are interesting variations from the studio versions.

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