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Golden Earring - Contraband Audio CD

A fair review of the Golden Earring "Contraband" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Golden Earring reviews here, or go back to the Golden Earring tabs.

Golden Earring Band: Golden Earring
Title: Contraband
Rating:
Release Date: 2001-11-05
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Bombay 2: Sueleen 3: Con Man 4: Mad Love's Comin' 5: Fighting Windmills 6: Faded Jeans 7: Time's Up

Originally Titled-"Mad Loves Coming"

I followed GE from Moontan-to Switch-to Mad Loves Coming. Even Golden Earring fans somehow bypassed this release it seems. Each release was unique in it's own right, but, of course, all had the same common denominator-GE's supurb musicianship; TIGHT and outasight performances with those awesome vocals ; compelling arrangements and outstanding guitarwork especially [a must in the 70's].
Contraband is actually Mad Loves Coming in title, and does not have a loser on any tracks. ONE tune especially, is just plain legendary. What a shame that only a few thousand humans have ever realized the awesomeness of this composition/performance. Con Man captures the essence of Golden Earring's brilliance. This tune grabs you immediately and never lets up. Of special note, this song contains one of the best secondary Bridge pauses EVER. . you know that transition that's really needed to keep the listener enthralled and even more entertained. . that sudden change of pace. THIS CON MAN TUNE ALONE IS WORTH $30. 00. . you can't find it anywhere except on this import CONTRABAND. The other tunes are all outstanding, I enjoy them all.


Classic Golden Earring
It is one of my three favorites along with Moontan and the 1977 Live album. Contraband / Mad Love was the second GE album I heard. The songs Bombay, Mad Love's Comin', Sueleen, Con Man, and Fightin' Windmills are 70s rock gems. The guitar work on this album sound great - especially the opening riffs to Bombay and Mad Love's Comin'. Fightin' Windmills get bonus points for referencing Don Quixote.

Other favorites: Moontan (U. S. version), Live, The Naked Truth, Seven Tears, Grab It for a Second.
.


Their worst album
But my question is: why? Don't get me wrong-I'm a big Golden Earring fan. I must apologize as I realize that this is a much-loved album. But Contraband is, in my opinion, a junker. It only contains 7 songs, and I can honestly say that I don't enjoy a single one. Time's Up is garbage. Fighting Windmills is dull and pointless. Con Man is as weak as a water popsicle, and Mad Love's Coming is extremely overrated. The best song on the album might be Bombay-and that's saying alot, as Bombay is as mediocre as mediocre comes.

I hate to do this to my favorite band, but Contrand is a real dud. Don't waste your money unless you thouroghly enjoy the "Grab It For A Second" and "Switch" albums. In my opinion, the mid-late 70's was GE's big down period. Their 1980 and newer albums I find much more appealing, as I do Barry Hay and George Kooymans' 1987 solo albums, "Solo" and "Victory Of Bad Taste", both of which are rarer than an F5 tornado in LA. You'll have to keep an eye on ebay for those two. If you want QUALITY GE, go for "Bloody Buccaneers", "Millbrook USA", "Cut", "Prisoner Of The Night" "The Last Blast Of The Century" "Moontan" "The Hole" "Keeper Of The Flame" "Seven Tears" "Face It" and "Something Heavy Going Down". I myself am partial to these over "Contraband" "Grab It For A Second" and "Switch".


this flows smoothly...like B.O.C's "agents of fortune"
not a recommended first purchase for the neophyte,but of course essential for the diehard!. i like the different textures this album offers,from "bombay" to "mad love" to "time's up" and everything inbetween is excellent. i like to pair this album with blue oyster cult's "agents of fortune" for some odd reason. another textbook reason on how G. E. knows how to floats outside the realms of hard rock into interesting territory i never get tired of!!!,yet it still can rock pretty well.


Half and Half
Btw, this album was originally released in the US as "Mad Love" and had a different track order and a few different tracks. Like the other 70s GE albums, this one is half really good and half really average. Still I think it is worth it for the good tracks.


You can see a complete list of all Golden Earring discography, or go back to the Golden Earring tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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