Orange Juice (3) – Rip It Up

Wonderful album that matured very well. At the time, many critics did not like Orange Juice's shift from the jangly Postcard Records sound to pop, or they were just jealous of their chart success, but the band mixed a variety of styles beautifully here. To me, every track on the album is at least good, some are outstanding, like Rip It Up, Turn Away or Flesh Of My Flesh. On the CD, there is the 7" version of the latter, which is quite different, but I prefer the album version, which has a much better bass line. This album still makes me smile and feel good, after all these years...

I'm shocked when I read now this album was berated by critics when it was released in 1984. Another proof of what sort of frustrated losers (used to) write about music. Anyway, this album is ace from start to finish, it mixes afro-beat with jangle-pop guitars and disco rhythms in such an effortless way that the smile on your face in guaranteed when you spin this LP

"The rest of the album is pale in comparison." I'm only writing this review because of this statement. The title track is great and all, but if you spend time with this album you will recognize the superiority of some of the other tracks on the album. Some of the best offerings on the album aren't sung by Edwyn either. Zeke's "A Million Pleading Faces" in particular is amazing. The only track I really can't stand is "Breakfast Time".

Essential album and 'rip it up' is a big Manchester classic found on numerous Hacienda compilations. The rest of the album is pale in comparison but the sheer balearic brilliance of the title track deserves most of the credit and is heard here in original and best form.