Pop Art is the debut studio album by the English pop rock band Transvision Vamp. It was released in October 1988 and features the band's first top ten hit "I Want Your Love". The album reached No. 4 in the UK, and peaked at No. 13 in Australia, where it was the 25th highest-selling album of 1989.
Critical reception
NME reviewer Stuart Bailie stated that Transvision Vamp "write some very assured singalongs, and have a smart sense of melody", but was disappointed by Pop Art, finding that it lacked the "haughty thrust" of the band's debut single "Revolution Baby". In Number One, Patsy Kensit called the group "a band known more for their big mouths than their music" and commented, "what a shame after all their rantings they have come up with a package that is so astoundingly average." The magazine later listed Pop Art – alongside the album Fearless by Kensit's band Eighth Wonder, in a section titled "Silly Blondes" – as one of the year's "stinkers". The Philadelphia Inquirers Tom Moon concluded that "every lyric shoots for free-associative significance, and eventually all it adds up to is a glossy empty set."
Robert Christgau was more complimentary in The Village Voice, suggesting that Transvision Vamp had been criticised for simply "wearing their inauthenticity on their sleeves", while advising them to improve their "command of trash – better riffs are available for hijacking."
Track listing All tracks written by Nick Christian Sayer, except where noted.
Personnel Transvision Vamp Wendy James – vocals Nick Christian Sayer – guitar Dave Parsons – bass, backing vocals Tex Axile – keyboards, sequencer Pol Burton - drums
Additional musicians Matthew Seligman – bass Phil Smith – saxophone D. Manic B'Man – keyboards and programming Adam Peters – electric and acoustic cellos Nick Marsh, China Blue, Carol and Karen – backing vocals
Production Duncan Bridgeman – production Zeus B. Held – mixing and additional production Adam Moseley – recording engineer Philip Bagenal – mix engineer Peter Ashworth - photography
Charts + Chart performance for Pop ArtChart (1988)PeakpositionAustralian Albums (ARIA)13New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)50Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)25Swiss Albums (Swiss Hitparade)20UK Albums (OCC)4US Billboard 200115
Certifications
References
External links