Some bands may take such a special place in the annals of pop music, but thanks to foresight songs from lead singer Danny Elfman, Oingo Boingo has exceeded the limits of any genre he chooses to take.
After years of their most bizarre new wave, this retrospective underscores their poppy, mainstream work, beginning with their sickly good-time anthem “Dead Man’s Party.”
Probably the best song in their catalog, ranging from intense horn work and opening and stop rhythms to Elfman’s affectionate vocals and impressive composition skills, the track utilizes every appealing aspect of his voice
Other highlights include Talking Heads-influenced “Not My Slave,” the bizarre pre-flavored “Sweat,” and the campy creep-out song “No One Lives Forever.”
Without access to the Boingo years of material on A&M Records, the album feels a bit padded, especially when the material is so playful with the bland boi-ngo.