Ministry ‎– With Sympathy

Now I know Al said it a hundred times that he didn't want to be tied to this record and the record company made him do this "atrocity" but I love the hell outta it. I like Depeche Mode and New Order so thats probably why I found great pleasure in this cheesy classic. I also love "Twitch", "The Land Of Rape and Honey" and Revco's "Big Sexy land" so I'm no creempuff. But this album is so catchy and reminds me of my youth. Al it's ok you may think it sucks but deep down inside you know you like it :)

With Sympathy has always had mixed reviews from fans and the Ministry camp. Despite what fans of the later Ministry era think, Al is not ashamed of this album because it is pop or new wave, but rather is frustrated with the end result. Tracks from this time period are similar in style and themes, but the final album is quite different than what Al intended. The first four songs: "Effigy", "Revenge", "Work for Love" and I Wanted to Tell Her (formerly the instrumental "Primental" from Cold Life) are all tracks that existed before his signing to Arista Records. The live versions from 82-83 are longer and darker. Musically, they were not changed for the album, but were shortened and lightened into "poppy" versions. Session musicians appeared on several tracks on the album, which stepped on Al's musicianship. Another track, "She's Got A Cause" was altered at the demand of the label, insisting that lyrics be changed as they were quite explicit. Over a dozen of tracks existed at this time, but most were turned down by the label. The track "Same Old Madness" existed as a video prior to release, but did not appear on the final album. The label demanded new tracks to be written to compliment the already over produced 5 tracks. "Say You're Sorry" and "Should Have Known Better" came into play. These tracks are good tracks, but would have never existed prior. The other two "Here We Go" and "What He Say" are very reminiscent of the later Wax Trax singles, and are direct puns to the label and business. What is very interesting is that the label changed the name of the lp and renamed "Here We Go" to "Do the Etawa" for the Euro releases, maybe as a pun back at Al. Those 2 tracks are the only tracks Al approves. The live shows play the original versions of all tracks (pre label interference) plus several dropped tracks and new songs. The material played live is done in the style of the Wax Trax singles and not so much With Sympathy. After researching all of this, it is clear why Al hates the album so much. I just wish he could get the rights to the material and re-record the material as it was originally intended. The 12"s from With Sympathy feature re-recordings and remixes to shed light on what Al wanted the LP to sound like. "I Wanted to Tell Her" was redone entirely for the 12" single. My favorite is "Revenge" and the live version exists on Youtube. I recommend any fan to check it out and compare it to the final album version. Overall, still a great album, but had potential to be much better. Arista should have listened to Al, because his versions were WAY better than theirs, and the album may have done much better.

The songs on Ministry's first record "Cold Life" from 1981 came out before the "With Sympathy" LP whose new-wave sound Al claims he was forced into by his record label. On the "Cold Life" EP (titled "I"m Falling" in some countries) "I'm Falling" is edgey, but "Cold Life" wouldn't be out of place on "With Sympathy" and "Primental" is an instrumental version of "I Wanted To Tell Her" from this first LP. Plus those songs were released on Wax Trax! where I understand the artists apparently had complete control over what was released. Plus the unreleased live tracks like "So-So Life" and "Love Change" which are similar to the material here. All of which in my opinion deflates Al's claim that "With Sympathy"'s floppy new-waveyness was not his idea and a corporate record company forcing his hand. I think he's just embarrassed by his new wave beginnings given what Ministry has become and is trying to excuse the band's perhaps less than impressive first album by blaming it on someone else. Who really cares though? For what it is, it's a good album, get over it Al and hardcore Ministry fans.