Jane Wiedlin - Fur

WAY COOL ALBUM

I am a die hard fan of Jane Wiedlin.This album is one of her best recordings. December 28, 2004

Furry sophomore effort surpasses debut

Belinda Carlisle was clearly having a success in remaking herself following the dissolution of the Go-Go's. Bandmate Jane Wiedlin, who had left to pursue a solo career, did not get the same recognition, but in Fur, she got her only Top Ten solo hit, a cute pop keyboard and drum machine number called "Rush Hour", using the dynamics of a traffic jam as an analogy to the emotional rush one feels. There's a decent guitar solo midsong. Fur, the album which is it on, had Wiedlin leaving IRS Records, home of the Go-Go's, and signing on with EMI, and it is an extremely underrated album.

"Inside A Dream" was another single which features catchy pop hooks and how living in one's dream is a relief when one loses control in a world of many problems. But there's another side to that when she says that one must work and sweat until that dream comes true. A standout cut.

"One Heart One Way" shows Wiedlin as a tried and true romantic, singing about a love that exists in fairy tales and books, "not selfish love but true love," and the person who embodies that ideal.

"Homeboy" is a heavy 80's disco beat and is a humorous song about her warning off a girl against her man, the titled homeboy of the song. She does get a bit aggressive when she says "And if you care about your health/keep your sticky fingers to yourself."

The melancholy "The End Of Love" has a haunting feel like Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" about two people together, but holding themselves apart. This was the B-side of "Rush Hour."

"Lover's Night" with its horn sections and keyboards is a celebratory dance number, a winner at any party.

The title track boasts a funky R&B sound and is a condemnation against wearing fur, making Wiedlin one of the few artists to do so in the 80's. She is a revised materialist, saying "I'm not saying money can't buy you love/but you can prove you want me without spilling blood." And, as is more or less apparent today, "Fur coats on people are history."

"Give!" has the same cute pop sound like "Rush Hour" and tries to coax someone out of his shell, "an island I don't understand." Being tough is only half the equation, "now you've gotta learn to be tender too" she adds sagely. A standout cut.

The industrial drum sounds of "Song Of The Factory," the B-side of "Inside A Dream", co-written with the Art of Noise's Bob Wooley, has Wiedlin sporting some floating airy vocals reminiscent of Kate Bush. Interesting trivia: one, this is Jane's favourite song from the album. two, the Morse code message one can barely hear amid the drum sounds spells out "f--k off, Shep." Apparently producer Stephen Hague had an ongoing feud with dance remixer and producer Shep Pettibone. And as both she and Hague were vegetarians, they clicked well.

"Whatever It Takes" shows Jane isn't super as a balladeer, but has sweet overtones in her voice.

Among the backing vocalists is Simon Climie, who as one half of the British duo Climie Fisher, made it big in the UK with "Love Changes Everything." Well, Fur just goes to show that Belinda Carlisle wasn't the only Go-Go who went-went far-far. So did Jane, only not enough people were listening. And dig that cute album cover with the bunny. December 24, 2003

Buy it if you want to become a JW fan.

Fur is, along with "Kissproof World", the most representative and brilliant work from Jane Wiedlin. Containing masterpieces of pop like "Rush Hour", "Inside a dream", "Give!" and the exquisite "Whatever it takes", Fur is a must for any good pop lover. It's such a pity JW didn't take all the attention she deserved. She's a really talented songwriter and player. My advice: buy it, even if you don't like the Go-Go's. It's worth every cent. You'll love it, and soon will understand what I'm saying. September 23, 2003

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