Conscious Consumer is the second and final studio album by English punk rock band X-Ray Spex, the first new material recorded by the band in seventeen years. It was recorded in 1995 and released in September of that year by record label Receiver. The album saw the return of saxophonist Lora Logic, sacked from the original incarnation of the band but reconciled with singer Poly Styrene during the 80s,[2] as well as original bassist Paul Dean.

Conscious Consumer
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 28, 1995
Recorded1995
StudioLivingston Studios, Wood Green, London; The Strongroom, Shoreditch, London
GenreNew wavepunk-pop[1]
Length39:09
LabelReceiver Records
ProducerPoly Styrene
X-Ray Spex chronology
Germfree Adolescents
(1978)
Conscious Consumer
(1995)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [1]

The A.V. Club wrote that the album "revived the group's original anti-consumerist stance, but tempered it with Styrene's newfound serenity on songs like 'Prayer for Peace'", while Richie Unterberger of AllMusic echoed similar sentiments.[3]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Poly Styrene, except where noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Cigarettes" 2:48
2."Junk Food Junkie" 3:23
3."Crystal Clear" 4:33
4."India" 3:22
5."Dog in Sweden"
  • Styrene
  • Peter-Paul Hartnett
3:15
6."Hi Chaperone" 2:59
7."Good Time Girl" 3:00
8."Melancholy" 3:53
9."Sophia" 2:50
10."Peace Meal" 2:32
11."Prayer for Peace" 4:00
12."Party" 2:49

Personnel

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X-Ray Spex

with:

  • Peter-Paul Hartnett – Japanese backing vocals and dog howl, photography
  • Andrew Scarth, Gareth Jones, James Thompson, John Mallison, Simon Burwell, Tony Harris - "engineering and sonic architecture"

References

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  1. ^ a b Unterberger, Richie. "Conscious Consumer – X-Ray Spex | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Essential Logic - Lora Logic interview".
  3. ^ O'Neal, Sean (26 April 2011). "R.i.P. Poly Styrene, Leader of X-Ray Spex and Punk Icon • Newswire • The A.V. Club". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
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