Saturday, April 2, 2016

Underrated Classic: Echo & The Bunnymen 'What Are You Going to Do With Your Life?'

During the 1980s Echo & The Bunnymen emerged as one of the best and biggest bands of  the decade. By the time the 90s came, they rode their wave of fame but had to augment many factors with the changing musical landscape. From American grunge to Britpop and the popularity of hip-hop all in the forefront, the British New Wave band recalculated and re-calibrated their musical talents in an era when radio plays and album sales still mattered. By the end of the the Millennium, the band departed with bassist Les Pattinson and then created one of their most overlooked, unique and fascinating records of their career -- What Are You Going to Do With Your Life? Arriving in 1999, the band used session musicians, The London Metropolitan Orchestra and The Fun Lovin' Criminals to add to their sound and end the decade victorious. The album was released to mostly favorable reviews and the bands new sound that went from dark and melancholy to soul and spiritual was a hit with fans. The album was far different than anything Echo & The Bunnymen had done previously and since. It reflected a turning point and also captured the essence of the 90s in nine tracks.