Rollicking, rousing, and riotous, Wild Planet soars on vocal efforts put forth by the delightfully campy chanteuses Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson, whose innocent girly tonalities wonderfully match up with Fred Schneider’s effeminate deliveries and manic presentations. While the sheer exuberance and giddy nature of the music tends to make them an afterthought, the trio’s harmonies are utterly amazing. Add in Ricky Wilson’s propulsive beach-bound guitar riffs, random squealing synthesizers, and a surfeit of danceable rhythms, and you have nothing less than a 1980s masterpiece that, due to its optimistic vibes and buoyant grooves, only gets better with time.
As for clever humor and quirky character? Everywhere. Mentions of an icebox, fruit punch, and surprise greetings kick off the defining “Party Out of Bounds.” “Private Idaho” is an instant mix-tape essential, sent up with declamatory refrains and insouciant beats. Not to be outdone, theB-52’s tackle the subject of devilish possession on the witty “Devil In My Car” and get hysterical on “Strobe Light,” surely the finest tune ever written about making love in the shadow of a pulsating illumination device. Schneider is on fire, embracing his sexuality while pushing his mates to new limits. There’s no serious matter here; Wild Planet is all about celebrating, and few records do a better job of capturing such a mood.
Tracklist:
1. "Party Out of Bounds" – 3:21
2. "Dirty Back Road" (R. Wilson, Robert Waldrop) – 3:21
3. "Runnin' Around" – 3:09
4. "Give Me Back My Man" (Schneider, R. Wilson, Strickland, C. Wilson) – 4:00
5. "Private Idaho" – 3:35
6. "Devil in My Car" (Schneider, R. Wilson, C. Wilson, Pierson) – 4:28
7. "Quiche Lorraine" (Schneider, Strickland, R. Wilson) – 3:58
8. "Strobe Light" (Schneider, Strickland, R. Wilson) – 3:59
9. "53 Miles West of Venus" (Schneider, R. Wilson, C. Wilson, Pierson) – 4:53
