Envy (Ambitious Lovers album)

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
Released1984 (1984)
RecordedBC Studio, Brooklyn, NY
GenreNew wave
Length32:46
LabelE.G.
ProducerArto Lindsay, M. E. Miller and Peter Scherer[1]
Ambitious Lovers chronology
Envy
(1984)
Greed
(1988)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Robert ChristgauA[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]

Production

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Arto 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

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Trouser 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

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Cross Your Legs"Lindsay, Miller, Scherer5:05
2."Trouble Maker"Lindsay, Miller, Scherer2:25
3."Pagode Americano"Fernandes, Nogueira, Silva2:12
4."Nothing's Monstered"Lindsay, Miller, Moss1:00
5."Crowning Roar"Lindsay, Miller1:00
6."Too Many Mansions"Lindsay, Miller, Scherer3:52
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Let's Be Adult"Lindsay, Scherer4:18
2."Venus Lost Her Shirt"Fernandes, Lindsay, Miller, Nogueira, Scherer, Silva1:55
3."My Competition"Lindsay, Miller0:45
4."Badú"Nogueira, Silva, Silva1:06
5."Dora"Caymmi2:55
6."Beberibe"Lindsay, Nogueira1:00
7."Locus Coruleus"Fier, Lindsay, Scherer5:06

Sampling

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The hook in "Let's Be Adult" is also in the song "Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)" by Groove Armada.

Personnel

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Ambitious Lovers
Additional musicians and production

References

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  1. ^ a b MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 24.
  2. ^ Dougan, John. "Envy". AllMusic. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Arto Lindsay/Ambitious Lovers". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  4. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 249.
  5. ^ a b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 13.
  6. ^ "Ambitious Lovers | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  7. ^ The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. February 18, 2003. ISBN 9781858284576 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ Spins. SPIN Media LLC. June 18, 1985. ISBN 9780674443181 – via Google Books. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Arto Lindsey". Trouser Press. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Envy LP".
  12. ^ John Leland (June 1985). "Spins". Spin. No. 2. p. 31.