Critical reception
All About Jazz critic Trevor MacLaren wrote: "Through the anger and aggression Chance made a solid record that had a sound like nothing before or since," describing the album as "a great disc that sounds as original and cutting edge as when it was released."[6] Dean McFarlane of AllMusic stated: "His hybrid of free jazz sax blowing and agitated funk takes the contortions up a notch from the four tracks the band contributed to the Eno-produced No New York compilation."[1] Music critic Robert Christgau stated: "in theory James White's music is better without the words: you get the jagged rhythms and tonic off-harmonies without being distracted by his 'ideas,’” but added that “in fact the music is so (deliberately) stunted it needs a voice for sonic muscle, and James's lyrics do have a certain petty honesty and jerk-off humor."[5]
Track listing
All tracks written by James Chance.
|
1. | "Design to Kill" | 2:48 |
2. | "My Infatuation" | 2:21 |
3. | "I Don't Want to Be Happy" | 3:23 |
4. | "Anesthetic" | 3:54 |
5. | "Contort Yourself" | 4:25 |
6. | "Throw Me Away" | 2:45 |
7. | "Roving Eye" | 3:10 |
8. | "Twice Removed" | 3:05 |
9. | "Bedroom Athlete" | 4:17 |
References
- 1 2 3 McFarlane, Dean. "Buy – James Chance & The Contortions". AllMusic. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
- ↑ Flaherty, Michael (February 3, 1995). "The latest in reissues". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ↑ Peacock, Tim (May 2016). "James Chance & The Contortions, James White & The Blacks – James Chance & The Contortions 'Buy', James White & The Blacks 'Off White'". Record Collector (453). Retrieved August 29, 2017.
- ↑ Pinnock, Tom (May 2016). "James Chance & the Contortions: Buy / James Chance and the Blacks: Off White". Uncut (228): 89.
- 1 2 Christgau, Robert (February 25, 1980). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
- ↑ McLaren, Trevor (February 17, 2005). "James Chance and the Contortions: Buy". All About Jazz. Retrieved September 17, 2013.