Dramarama: Cinéma Vérité...Plus 1985 + Box Office Bomb 1987 + Stuck In Wonderamaland 1989

 

Dramarama is an American, New Jersey–based alternative rock/power pop band, who later moved to

Los Angeles. The band was formed in New Jersey in 1982 and disbanded in 1994. The band formally reunited in 2003 following an appearance on VH1's Bands Reunited.
                              

Blending hard rock wallop, alternative rock smarts, power pop songcraft, and punk rock urgency, Dramarama was a band who seemed on the verge of a major commercial breakthrough several times

during their 11-year career. Puzzlingly, it never arrived, though the band developed a potent following in their native New Jersey as well as the West Coast; their almost-hit, "Anything Anything (I'll Give You)," was cited by L.A.'s KROQ-FM, arguably America's most influential alternative rock outlet, as the most requested song in the station's history. Formed in Wayne, NJ, by vocalist and songwriter John Easdale in 1983,  Dramarama self-released a single and a five-song EP before a French label commissioned a full-length album from the band, which recycled material from both previous releases.
                     

In 1984, keyboard player Ted Ellenis and drummer Ken Moutenot (replacing Machuga) joined the band and Dramarama released their first EP Comedy, a self-funded, five-track debut that garnered both critical and unexpected cult praise in France. Moutenot was replaced by Jesse Farbman, who left the

group after the band's third album to pursue mind/body purity and to obtain "philosophical and spiritual awareness". Dramarama issued its first full-length release, 1985's Cinéma Vérité on France's New Rose Records. It was re-released in the U.S. after receiving airplay on KROQ-FM radio from influential Los Angeles disc jockey Rodney Bingenheimer (who at first thought the band was French). Bingenheimer alerted Posh Boy Records at New Rose, which approvedRobbie Fields' contacting the band directly in New Jersey.
                              

The group relocated to California in time for their second LP, Box Office Bomb, which earned enthusiastic reviews but not significantly greater sales. As the band was completing their fourth studio album, Vinyl, in 1991, Chameleon Records went bankrupt, and as the band scrambled to come up with

the cash to finish the project, the elusive major-label deal finally materialized when Elektra picked up the project. However, while the success of Nirvana in 1991 would seemingly have broken open radio for bands as adventurous as Dramarama, their sound was too far from grunge to capitalize on the new openness, and the band's 1993 album, Hi-Fi Sci-Fi, failed to make an impact outside the band's devoted cult following.
                          

Dramarama called it a day after a farewell show at Asbury Park's the Stone Pony in 1994; four years

later, John Easdale returned to the music business with a solo album. The group was featured on the popular VH1 reality series Bands Reunited in 2004, prompting the collective--minus bassist Chris Carter--to reform around material originally intended for an Easdale solo record. Dramarama relased Everybody Dies in 2005.

DRAMARAMA - CINEMA VERITE 1985

                                      

Probably the greatest rock release from 1985 that almost no one has ever heard, Cinema Verite is a simply fantastic album. Blending everything from British Invasion panache and glam influences to punk energy and back again, its cult legend was established by L.A. DJ legend Rodney Bingenheimer.

He played "Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)" to death on his show and created a sizeable following for the New Jersey band in Southern California. It's no surprise why: "Anything, Anything" simply smokes, a rave-up for the modern day that starts with a blasting riff before hitting a high-speed punch that doesn't stop, while singer John Easdale details the highs and lows of a relationship with a breathless yowl. There's much more to Cinema Verite than that song, though, as even a casual listen demonstrates. Guitarists Mr. E Boy and Peter Wood distill the kick of performers like Keith Richards, Mick Ronson, and Mott the Hoople-era Mick Ralphs into a hot-wired combination, while rhythm section Chris Carter (bass) and Jesse (drums) hit the beat with heart and talent. Add in keyboardist Theothorous Athanasious Ellenis for final flair and the results are jaw dropping. "Scenario," for instance, is the greatest song the Psychedelic Furs never wrote, with a chugging beat, cut-to-the-chase solos, and Easdale's delicious

Dylan-into-Ian Hunter-via-Bowie vocals creating the definition of energetic melancholia. Speaking of Bowie, there's a fantastic cover of his "Candidate," the freaked-out psychosis fully intact, not to mention a nicely dissipated take on the Velvet Underground's "Femme Fatale." Add in everything from the anguished kick of "Questions?" and the building explosion of "Some Crazy Dame" to the concluding elegance of "Emerald City," and this isn't a cult classic, but classic, period. Rhino's welcome reissue in 1995 tacked on eight bonus tracks, including demo takes and sparer, nervous early singles, and two extensive essays celebrating both the band and this wonderful record.
by Ned Raggett.

Dramarama – Cinéma Vérité...Plus
Label: Rhino Records – R2-71928
Format:    CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: US
Released: 1995
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Pop Rock

TRAXS

01. Visiting The Zoo    4:03
02. Questions?    3:16
03. Scenario    4:18
04. Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)    3:25
05. Femme Fatale   3:17
(Backing Vocals – Butch Jusin, Mark Merrenger, Nick Celeste
Drums – Ron Machuga/Piano – Muddy Shoes/Written-By – Lou Reed)
06. Candidate  (Written-By – David Bowie)   3:19
07. Some Crazy Dame    3:48
08. Etc.    3:53
09. Transformation  (Drums – Ken Moutenot)   3:26
10. All I Want  (Drums – Ken Moutenot)   2:26
11. Emerald City    3:02

BONUS SELECTIONS       
    
12. Punishment (Original Unedited Demo)    5:50
13. Some Crazy Dame (Demo)    3:44
14. Etc. (Early Solo Demo)    3:38
15. Want Her To Stay (Demo)    4:00
16. Pretend (Demo)    2:07
17. You Drive Me  (Written-By – Chris Carter, John Easdale, Mark Englert)   2:51
18. A Fine Example    2:10
19. If Looks Could Kill (Demo)    2:58

NOTES

Bass – Chris Carter
Drums – Jesse
Guitar – Mr. E. Boy, Peter Wood
Keyboards – Theothorous Athanasious Ellenis
Producer – Chris Carter, John Easdale
Remastered By – Bill Inglot, Geoff Sykes
Vocals – John Easdale
Written-By – John Easdale

MP3 @ 320 Size: 130 MB
Flac  Size: 446 MB

DRAMARAMA - BOX OFFICE BOMB 1987

                                       

Blessed and cursed with the cult classic "Anything, Anything (I'll Give You)" -- it became the group's calling card, though many music fans never took the time to look beyond that one song -- the band moved to Southern California and created its inspired follow-up to Cinema Verite. Tongue firmly in

cheek regarding the title, Box Office Bomb still lived up to its name as it didn't create as much of a buzz as Dramarama's debut, keeping the group's West Coast following more than happy while unfortunately never doing much elsewhere in the world. Regrettably so, for Box Office Bomb is another strong blast of energetic classic rock-via-punk treats that shows the band still in outrageously good form. Lyrically reflecting the group's transplantation to Hollywood's environs in more ways than one, including the album's slamming lead single "It's Still Warm," an unsure, uneasy reflection on their new locale and the cost it incurred, musically Box Office Bomb otherwise stayed true to its roots. Once or twice the band sounded like it wanted to aim for huge venues -- the brilliant opener "Steve and Edie" sounds like what would happen if U2's guitar pyrotechnics were transferred to a less full-of-itself outfit

-- and a few songs sound like semi-retreads of Cinema Verite tracks. For the most part, though, this is intelligent but never pretentious red-blooded rock that avoids gravelly rootsiness in favor of flash and style, worth every note. Standouts include the clearly Stooges-inspired "Spare Change" and the smart ghost-of-Blondie rush of "Out in the Rain." Rhino's reissue of the album is the equal to its similar revival of Cinema Verite; besides more entertaining liner notes, six bonus tracks appear, including a great demo take on the later Stuck in Wonderamaland standout "Last Cigarette" and a solid cover of the New York Dolls' "Private World."
by Ned Raggett.

Dramarama – Box Office Bomb Plus... The Best Of Cinema Verité
Label: Questionmark Records – QM009CD
Format:    CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1987
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative, Indie

TRAXS

01. Steve & Edie    5:01
02. New Dream    3:25
03. Whenever I'm With Her    3:03
04. Spare Change    3:11
05. 400 Blows    3:47
06. Pumpin' (My Heart)    3:13
07. It's Still Warm    3:48
08. Out In The Rain    4:07
09. Baby Rhino's Eye    4:55
10. Worse Than Being By Myself    5:22
11. Modesty Personified    3:56

BONUS TRACKS

12. Anything Anything (I'll Give You)    3:44
13. Scenario    4:14
14. Questions?    3:12
15. Visiting The Zoo    3:55
16. Candidate    3:18
17. Some Crazy Dame    3:48
18. Emerald City    3:00

NOTES

Bass Guitar – Chris Carter
Drums – Jesse
Guitar – Mr. E Boy, Peter Wood
Keyboards – Theothorous Athanasious Ellenis
Vocals – John Easdale

MP3 @ 320 Size: 161 MB
Flac  Size: 420 MB

DRAMARAMA - STUCK IN WONDERAMALAND 1989

                              

Continuing its regret-tinged look at the life of the almost-famous in L.A., Dramarama on its third album continued polishing its abilities at both straight-ahead rock and gentler affairs on Stuck in Wonderamaland. Beginning and, in a brief acoustic reprise, concluding with the title track, a wistful strum with some prime feedback burn added in the midsection, the band happily turned firmly away from the bad-glam-addled idiocies of late-'80s Sunset Strip sleaze to keep pursuing its own muse. The

sly choice of a cover song, Mott the Hoople's bitter, knowing demolition of the rock dream "I Wish I Was Your Mother," betrays the emotional sucker punch prevalent throughout. With no changes outside of the departure of keyboardist Ellenis, adequately replaced here and there by Tommy T, also tackling guitar as needed, the group still kicks with a sharp energy even at its calmest moments. Easdale's signature semi-rasp if anything became even more emotive with time, while the guitar team of Wood and Mr. E Boy remained able to tackle full-on riffing to softer shades with aplomb. Carter's bass work here is some of his best, warm and flowing, while drummer Jesse similarly does the business. The great "Last Cigarette" continues the Dramarama tradition of strong lead singles, hitting and ripping with the prime energy of early New York glam/punk and even earlier rave-ups without sounding dated in the

least. Then there's "70s TV," which makes the addiction to such a seeming pit of hell downright cool. When the group tries for calmer material, it does so in ways that make the then-prevalent "power ballad" trend look like the weak cheese it was. "Fireplace, Pool and Air Conditioning" hits a lovely slow burn that sounds like an updated Love if Tom Waits was the lyricist, while "Try" simply shimmers with a gorgeous acoustic/electric combination, a lovely eternal sunset.
by Ned Raggett.

Dramarama – Stuck In Wonderamaland
Label: Chameleon Records – D2-74822
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: Apr 12, 1989
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock, Pop Rock

TRAXS

01. Wonderamaland    4:08
02. No Regrets    3:53
03. Fireplace, Pool, & Air Conditioning    4:20
04. Lullabye    3:18
05. It's Hardly Enough    2:33
06. Last Cigarette    4:55
07. 70's TV    3:27
08. Try    3:22
09. Would You Like    3:01
10. I Wish I Was Your Mother  (Written-By – Ian Hunter)   3:32
11. Pumps On A Hill    0:50
12. Stuck In Wonderamaland    1:05

NOTES

Acoustic Guitar – John Easdale, Peter Wood, Tommy T
Backing Vocals – Tommy T
Bass – Chris Carter
Drums – Jesse
Electric Guitar – John Easdale, Peter Wood
Executive Producer – Steve Rennie
Guitar – Mr. E Boy
Harmonica – Tommy T
Keyboards – Tommy T
Mandolin – Mr. E Boy
Percussion – Jesse
Piano – Steve Goldstein
Producer – Chris Carter, John Easdale, Val Garay
Saxophone – Jerry Peterson
Strings – Mr. E Boy
Vocals – John Easdale
Written-By – John Easdale

MP3 @ 320 Size: 91 MB
Flac  Size: 290 MB 

Dramarama - "The Best Of" on Urban Aspirines HERE