Envy is the debut album by Ambitious Lovers.[6][7] It was released in 1984 through E.G. Records.[4] The album marked the first entry in what, at one point, was supposed to be a seven-album series on the seven deadly sins.[5]
| Envy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1984 | |||
| Recorded | BC Studio, Brooklyn, NY | |||
| Genre | New wave | |||
| Length | 32:46 | |||
| Label | E.G. | |||
| Producer | Arto Lindsay, M. E. Miller and Peter Scherer[1] | |||
| Ambitious Lovers chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| Robert Christgau | A[3] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | [5] |
Production
editArto Lindsay, who grew up in Brazil, incorporates on the album many elements of that country's heritage.[8] Most of the music was written by keyboardist Peter Scherer.[9]
Critical reception
editTrouser Press wrote that "Lindsay’s words are tantalizingly oblique, but there’s nothing oblique about his record’s lusty cry for recognition."[10] Maximum Rocknroll called the album "slick and subdued," writing that Lindsey is "one of the few improv dudes who can make you laugh."[11] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide called it "shocking in its juxtapositions."[1]
John Leland of Spin called it, "the most generous and appealing work Lindsay has ever done. He brings his formerly anti-pop trademarks — demented, chicken-scratch guitar, fragmented lyrics, idiosyncratic compositions, choppy rhythms — intact into a contemporary pop format."[12]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Cross Your Legs" | Lindsay, Miller, Scherer | 5:05 |
| 2. | "Trouble Maker" | Lindsay, Miller, Scherer | 2:25 |
| 3. | "Pagode Americano" | Fernandes, Nogueira, Silva | 2:12 |
| 4. | "Nothing's Monstered" | Lindsay, Miller, Moss | 1:00 |
| 5. | "Crowning Roar" | Lindsay, Miller | 1:00 |
| 6. | "Too Many Mansions" | Lindsay, Miller, Scherer | 3:52 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Let's Be Adult" | Lindsay, Scherer | 4:18 |
| 2. | "Venus Lost Her Shirt" | Fernandes, Lindsay, Miller, Nogueira, Scherer, Silva | 1:55 |
| 3. | "My Competition" | Lindsay, Miller | 0:45 |
| 4. | "Badú" | Nogueira, Silva, Silva | 1:06 |
| 5. | "Dora" | Caymmi | 2:55 |
| 6. | "Beberibe" | Lindsay, Nogueira | 1:00 |
| 7. | "Locus Coruleus" | Fier, Lindsay, Scherer | 5:06 |
Sampling
editThe hook in "Let's Be Adult" is also in the song "Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)" by Groove Armada.
Personnel
edit- Ambitious Lovers
- Arto Lindsay – vocals, guitar, production
- Peter Scherer – Yamaha DX7, Synclavier, synthesizer bass, sampling, production
- Additional musicians and production
- Martin Bisi – mixing, recording
- Reinaldo Fernandes – vocals, repinique
- Mark E. Miller – Oberheim DMX, Tom-toms, backing vocals, production
- Robert Musso – mastering
- David Moss - Voice
- Toni Nogueira – surdo, timpani
- Claudio Silva – pandeiro
- Jorge Silva – repinique
- Seth Tillett – art direction
- Howie Weinberg – mastering
References
edit- ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 24.
- ^ Dougan, John. "Envy". AllMusic. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ Christgau, Robert. "Arto Lindsay/Ambitious Lovers". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 249.
- ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 13.
- ^ "Ambitious Lovers | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. February 18, 2003. ISBN 9781858284576 – via Google Books.
- ^ Spins. SPIN Media LLC. June 18, 1985. ISBN 9780674443181 – via Google Books.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Christgau, Robert (February 18, 1998). Grown Up All Wrong: 75 Great Rock and Pop Artists from Vaudeville to Techno. Harvard University Press. ISBN 9780674443181 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Arto Lindsey". Trouser Press. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "Envy LP".
- ^ John Leland (June 1985). "Spins". Spin. No. 2. p. 31.