THE FAIR SEX THIN WALLS PART II COMPILATION ENDLESS RELEASE: NOVEMBER 22, 2004 REVIEW: FEBRUARY 5, 2005

Ah, the early albums of The Fair Sex. This release really takes me back. Back to the days when Myk Jung and the rest of the band were exploding into the public eye via their string of kick ass albums. Of course, I am speaking of "The House of Unkinds", "Oddities", "Demented Forms" and "Bite Release Bite". From 1986 through 1992, The Fair Sex were one of the most potent "rock/darkwave/electronic" acts the world had ever seen.
Now with "Thin Walls - Part II", a whole new generation of listeners can be introduced to this stellar time in the band's career. I'd still suggest tracking down these three albums, as well as the single "Eat Me and More", all of which are represented on this release. The only thing missing would be tracks from the "Bushman" single. Odd that they left that one out.
These songs were in constant play in the clubs which yours truly frequented in the 1980:s and the early part of the 1990:s: "Hanging in Kareyth", "No Excuse", "ATR" - or a personal favourite of mine "The Naked and the Dead". The directness of this era is represented with blaring volume, howling vocals, screaming guitars and unforgiving percussion. I have a lot of fond memories and some hazy recollections of sitting around in squalid, cramped studio apartments downtown with friends, high beyond recognition at 3 am with this band's music wailing away. The smoke-filled space punctuated by the odd flash of a strobe... the clatter of mirrors... youthful excess at it's finest.
Yeah, these works sound a bit primitive by today's standards but no one will ever equal the visceral quality of this band during their heyday. Sometimes campy, sometimes just downright spiteful, The Fair Sex may be worthless when you listen to their new works (and god forbid you like Testify) but do not ever, ever forget where they came from. Or for that matter, how good they used to be.

PETER MARKS