Oingo Boingo - Boi-ngo

Boingo's Worst - Still Worth A Listen

If you are just getting to know Oingo Boingo, don't start with this album. It was a mid 80's attempt at a more commercial sound. Danny and Company had always used strong instrumental and unusual percussive sounds, including a heavy influence from their horns section. Boingo drew heavily from Danny's life experiences travelling in Africa and performing in Avant Garde street theater, this album, betrayed those roots and went for a synth-pop sound and does not represent the fantastic music that Oingo Boingo is known for.

There are some things worth listening to on this album, but they would all have been better if they had been performed with less synthesizer, more guitar and horns, and lots of drums.

If you are just cutting your teeth on Boingo, but want something that may not be as well known, try "Good For Your Soul" It has a great collection of songs that are unknown except to fans. "Sweat" for example has to be one of the top 10 Boingo Songs Ever. April 22, 2008

Boingo

An exceedingly good album, probably their 3rd best. Do yourself a favour- once you get one album, you'll get the lot! March 9, 2007

Boi

Not a strong album from them. It is still unique in that it is Boingo. February 16, 2007

Sweetest o' Boingo

"Boi-Ngo" was the second album of Oingo Boingo material I bought. The first was the compilation album "Skeletons in the Closet," which can give one a very specific idea of what Boingo's style is. But when I saw this album in stores and bought it without even thinking about it, I was completely enthralled by how much ground Danny Elfman had covered in style. So my ideas of Boingo are based on this album and "Skeletons in the Closet" mostly, because they were the first ones I ever heard. And the first Boingo song I heard was "We Close Our Eyes" which is Track 5 on this album. It hooked me in the first place, so I have a natural affinity for this particular album. However, of all of Boingo's stuff, this is the "sweetest" sounding, if that makes sense enough. The messages are no heavier or lighter than any of Elfman's earlier songs, like "Grey Matter" or "Only a Lad," but they resonate with more of a charm to them. It's unfortunate that present styles of punk and ska and all that has turned people against the cliche 80s sound that Boingo was one of the manufacturerers of.

Track 7 "My Life" is the sweet part of this deal. It really is one of those songs that yanks my heart strings.

Dance-friendly and usually catchy (although "New Generation" isn't really all that catchy), "Boi-Ngo" offers a very specific sound and feeling that you can't get anywhere else. One of my all-time favorites of Boingo, "Elevator Man" is featured Track 3. Listen if you want to enjoy yourself in this life! And might I suggest you really examine the lyrics and see if you can find the hidden meanings I did.

Last of all, Track 9 "Pain" is probably the most musically appealing on this album, very much the familiar sardonic rock from earlier Boingo, but with a matured style. And a great ending to the album! October 15, 2005

Not their best, but...

... but Elfman makes up vocally and lyrically.
Home Again-4.5 out of 5-The only reason I gave this such a great rating is because of the music. The music really sounds good on this song.

Where Do All My Friends Go-4 out of 5-I really love the way this song begins, a capella. Sounds really good. Elfman is a really great singer.

Elevator Man-4.5 out of 5-This one, also, has good music. A good dance song.

New Generation-4 out of 5-This song is good. I really love the chorus. The vocals and the trumpets in it. Great one.

We Close Our Eyes-4.5 out of 5-A suprisingly good song by OB. Really doesn't sound like them, but it's good. I can imagine this song playing over the credits or during a prom scene in an 80's movie.

Not My Slave-4 out of 5-Another good dance song.

My Life-3.5 out of 5-Not my personal favorite off the album(that would be Where Do All My Friends Go), but it's okay.

Outrageous-4 out of 5-Good music. I really like the chorus.

Pain-4 out of 5-Good music. Great vocals by Elfman. The fiddle sounds great.

When I bought this album, I was expecting more from it, because I had gotten Only A Lad first, and was a little disappointed when I listened to it. But, it's still an okay listen. March 19, 2004

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