love is a wonderful color

CD reiusse of The Associates' third album, Sulk, 1982. Trouserpress pans it for all sorts of reasons (tinny production, self-consciousness, dramatic posing), but there's nothing wrong with pretentiousness or over-the-topness for me. Or tinny production, as long as the melodies are this strange and interesting. Billy Mackenzie's vocal flailing and histrionics are grrrreeat.


Associates - It's Better This Way
Associates - Party Fears Two

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zed

The Associates' first album Affectionate Punch from 1980.

The Associates - Amused as Always
The Associates - Transport to Central

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When you're a boy

you're hot. Released in 1979 as a publicity stunt, shortly before the original David Bowie version. Billy Mackenzie does it better.

The Associates - Boys Keep Swinging