Music Review: Dead or Alive: Unbreakable
(The Fragile Remixes)
Written by: Kage Alan

Album Rating: B

        I was totally excited last year while shopping in Japan when I found a new Dead Or Alive CD called "Fragile." It turned out that it was partially new
material and partially old material redone, but at least there was new
material.  DOA seem to be doing that an awful lot lately.  Their previous
outing, "Nukleopatra," had an older track redone as well and they even remade an entire album ("Nude") before that.

Well, I suppose that the group isn't entirely to blame since it looks as if
they had nothing to do with this release.  The Japanese seem to be the
biggest fans of them these days, so leave it to them to come up with another
remix album.  "Unbreakable" features remixes from the "Fragile" album and
also some of their earlier songs redone.

The track listing is as follows: "Turn Around And Count 2 Ten (Y&Co. "B"
Mix)," "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record) (Zi Zone Mix)," "My Heart Goes Bang (Love Machine Remix)," "Something In My House (Deadend Of Eurasia Mix)," "Hit And Run Lover (Ventura Mix)," "It's It A Pity (Bustard Remix)," "I Paralyze (B4 Za Beat Remix)," "Blue Christmas (P.K.G. Remix)," "Lover Come Back To Me (Earthquake Remix)" and "Just What I Always Wanted (R.M. Hyper Techno Mix),"

While having such long and unique mix names, they sound somewhat alike in the execution.  This is very much a club CD where the songs are somewhat
recognizable, but turned into something with a hyperbeat.  A couple of tracks
do stand out, like "Hit And Run Lover" and "Lover Come Back To Me," but this isn't a disc that you will pick favorites out and listen specifically to.   
It's more of something to put in and listen to while throwing a party or
doing some housework.

Oddly enough, it's rumored that lead singer Pete Burns hates this album.  I
can't blame him, but he needs to read what it means.  If fans are want to
hear something new from the group, he ought to give them what they want,
otherwise projects like this can crop up without the group's permission and
do nothing but annoy them and make the record company money in their name.

Considering the price tag of $30 or more for this import, I would really only
recommend the CD for devoted fans who desire to own all Dead Or Alive
releases.  Anyone else might just be bored or annoyed with hearing the
umpteenth version of "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)." The grumbling from fans around the world about this release just screams for new material.  
Let's hope it happens before a remix album is released covering the existing
remixes.

Kage holds degrees in Creative Writing, as well as Film & Video. He has been featured in a Life Journey Tele-Course, published poems in several national anthologies, been a contributor to The Third Coast Magazine and written several novels. kage@modamag.com