The B-52’s – Cosmic Thing (Vinyl LP) * * *

The B-52’s Cosmic Thing on Vinyl LP

Few songs stick in the brain with such lasting power, fond memories, and sing-a-long potential as the B-52’s blissful 1989 smash “Love Shack,” one of the many moments that make the band’s Cosmic Thing such a timeless affair. The group’s melodies were never sharper, its vibes never as carefree, and attitude as joyous as on this multi-platinum affair that stayed on the charts for more than a year. With fellow Top 5 single “Roam” also in its ranks, the B-52’s follow their own instructions here, constructing lively fare assembled from quirky riffs, bizarre albeit smooth harmonies, strident lead vocals, jagged tempos, and infectious choruses. At its heart, Cosmic Thing is a dance-your-ass-off soiree. Leader Fred Schneider delights in kitsch, his delivery combining goofy pronouncements and half-rapped words that speak the co-ed ensemble’s long tradition of originality, flair, campiness, and irreverence. Better still is the band’s embrace of a shinier, funkier sound established by producers Don Was and Nile Rodgers.