New Wave Outpost Forum

The new Altered Images album has a name… "Mascara Streakz." The band's store in Townsend Music has the album/bundles up for presale

https://alteredimages.tmstor.es/?cur=USD

and the options are as follows:

• Signed CD - £10
• Signed CD/color LP + bonus acoustic EP CD - £40
• Signed color LP - £25
• Signed CD/cassette + bonus acoustic EP CD - £15
• Signed cassette - £7

This is a tentative cover design


The prices on the options are low for the ones without an LP. The LP is at market rate, I guess, though I have no interest there. I will definitely be getting the CD/cass/bonus CD bundle for $20! Even with shipping it's under $35. Cheap for these days. No song titles just yet. The acoustic EP is a few golden oldies by AI. Impressive that all copies are signed by Ms. Grogan. I'm curious as to how it will all sound. I was not convinced but the solo material that surfaced briefly in the mid-80s, but a lot of water has gone under the bridge. It could be like anything, but I suppose it could reflect more of her recent live sound; which I've not heard.

I was impressed that Johnny McElhone of Texas got involved; making the band 3/5 original members along with Clare and Stephen Lironi. The other two members are…Bernard Butler [ex-Suede] and Bobby Bluebell [Bluebells]. So the talent making the music is pretty top drawer! Whether that configuration tours on the album or not is yet to be determined, but it augurs well for the new music.

I relaunch the topic on Altered Images with the 2 clips available on the net and an extract...
I almost forgot what for me is an important event.

Altered Images - Mascara Streakz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgbA7ACpHU8

Altered Images Glitter Ball
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKqdpj2fq-0

Altered Images Red Startles the Sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFV6JZ7rY10

It is only now that I find the album available everywhere...

Well, Johnny McElhone, in spite of the press release on Cooking Vinyl, was nowhere to be seen on "Mascara Streakz." But his absence didn't exactly hurt. I liked the album very much and it's currently my favorite Altered Images album. The songs written and produced with Butler and Hodgens were excellent.

I was greatly underwhelmed with the album. A lot of very samey sounding songs and some of the most bland AOR lyrics. There are some good ones mixed in but I could not view it as a triumphant return. Mediocre at best.

Every other Altered Images album had its weaknesses.Which have changed over 40 years for me in any case! I thought that this one had slightly less of them.