REVIEW: Peter Murphy, Wild Birds, 1985-1995: The Best of the
Beggars Banquet Years
- John Davidson
At the very least, you probably know Peter Murphy's tectonic baritone from "Cuts You Up," the atmospheric anthem that had a good run on modern rock radio in 1990 and 1991. Or maybe you're among the recovering Goths who knew him as the enigmatic frontman of Bauhaus in the early 80s. But how many of you knew he had 16 great songs in the 90s? There's the rub. With any "best of" package, the best are ultimately in the eyes of the beholder, and in the case of Wild Birds, 1985-1995: The Best of the Beggars Banquet Years, the eyes are Murphy's - a self-discerning assessment of his solo work that weeds out the weaker compositions and reveals a decade of many good songs.
The Bowie-esque swoon of "Cuts You Up" remains Murphy's strongest moment, and the only other masses-aware track is probably 1992's sort of hit "The Sweetest Drop." From there, you're either a knowledgeable fan or curious onlooker to his signature brooding pipes and love-lost lyrics. "Deep Ocean Vast Sea" is typically elegant, commanding attention with strong images and a booming background that never loses control; "Subway" is a claustrophobic yet not overwhelming street workout; his cover of Pere Ubu's "Final Solution" makes what was once a confrontational song much more approachable; "Strange Kind of Love" is a haunting ballad of sorts. His style could be summed by his moody worldview pitted against an affinity for orchestral grandeur, all propped by dancebeat leanings. Sweepingly romantic at his best, Murphy is a bit overwrought at his worst.
Murphy relapsed in the past few years with Bauhaus, and Wild Birds is allegedly his last stab at the old stuff before he moves on to more original material in the 90s. This collection is a perfect summation of his work and a relevant bookmark to 90s rock before Nirvana came alive. Even more, the guy proves he had more than just one hit.
