Gary Numan & Tubeway Army Replicas Redux (Expanded 2008 Tour Edition)

Gary Numan & Tubeway Army Replicas Redux (Expanded 2008 Tour Edition)

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By the release of their second album, Replicas, Gary Numan was the undisputed focal point and leader of icy electro-punkers Tubeway Army. And the move proved to be massively successful back home in the U.K., where both the album and the single "Are 'Friends' Electric?" topped the charts. The band had made a conscious effort to streamline the sound heard on its 1978 self-titled debut -- the distorted guitar riffs were played on Moog synthesizers instead, and Numan had perfected his faux-space-age persona. And the paranoia that is very evident in the lyrics and vocals on Numan's next release, The Pleasure Principle, can be detected on Replicas. Another near-perfect album by the band, highlights are many -- "Me! I Disconnect from You," "The Machman," "You Are in My Vision," and one of the most underrated new wave/synth-driven compositions of the whole era, the chilling ballad "Down in the Park." And out of all the Gary Numan/Beggars Banquet reissues, Replicas contains the strongest bonus tracks, such as never heard outtakes from the recording sessions, including "The Crazies," "Only a Downstat," and the B-side to the original "Are 'Friends' Electric?" single, "We Are So Fragile."

Gary Numan Down In The Park The Alternative Anthology

Gary Numan Down In The Park The Alternative Anthology

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The early 21st century has seen a new legion of rock groups emerge, that have obviously studied the electronic/robotic new wave sounds of the late '70s and early '80s. As a result, an appreciation for such artists as Gary Numan has been rekindled. While Numan did issue his share of classic albums (especially 1979's one-two punch, Replicas and Pleasure Principle), many of his subsequent albums were spotty, inconsistent affairs. Which is where a set like the double-disc Down in the Park: The Alternative Anthology comes in handy. Featuring 31 tracks total from throughout Numan's career, there's something for everyone here -- new and old fans a like. However, Numan's early work is still by far his best, as evidenced by such new wave gems as "I Die: You Die," "Down in the Park," and "Cars," as well as tracks that are often overlooked on single-disc Numan collections, tops being "Me! I Disconnect From You." For a more extensive than usual Numan compilation, Down in the Park: The Alternative Anthology is recommended.