With the Wild Crowd! (Live In Athens, GA)

iTunes Review

The B-52’s started as a delightful novelty group but turned out to have quite a bit to say. At first glance, their open, party-like atmosphere and retro nods made them seem likely to be one-hit wonders. But the creative genius of Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, and Cindy Wilson ensured that the band would never go away quietly. The B-52’s took their silliness seriously, and songs such as “Private Idaho,” “Mesopotamia,” “Whammy Kiss!,” “Party out of Bounds,” “Roam,” and “Love Shack” beautifully express their universal pop appeal with melodies and grooves that simply never relent. There isn’t a false track here, and by the time the encores (“Planet Claire,” “Rock Lobster”) hit, it’s as if the band were performing these tunes for their first go-round and not more than 30 years on. They haven’t lost their celebratory vibe, and this will surely rank as one great party album.