Is there any particular reason this CD is SOOOO DAMNED expensive now, aside from being out of print? My sister loves early Ministry along with the pet shop boys and depeche mode (is there a difference?) and I’ve been trying to find her all of the back catalogue on CD’s for christmas; all of them have been easy enough to find for pretty cheap but damn it, that WITH SYMPATHY CD runs Minimum 20 bucks! I remember passing it up several times about 6 years ago (for like 12 bucks) just cause I knew I wasn’t in to the sound but now trying to find it is impossible! so long rant summed up: Can anybody give me a beed on where to find that damn CD for a normal price (under 20 bucks Shipping included) I’ve been all over the net, even to out of the country stores and NOTHING maybe I’m missing somewhere?? 30-70 bucks from amazon MY ASS!!! ()() thanks in advance
Late,
grmpysmrf
Along with a ridiculous “buy it now” price of $75, eBay has 3 other copies of it for under ten. And it looks like Amazon.de has copies of With Sympathy or Work For Love. I didn’t do the translation, or the money conversion though.
Yeah, I tried the whole ebay thing starting with the opening at 9.99 and then refused to pay anymore than 20.00 and of course was out bid and lost to 20.50 Bastards!!!
Late,
grmpysmrf
I’ve been into this record a lot lately. Seriously. I think it’s really damn good, even if it wasn’t labeled as “Ministry”.
Any other artists to check out similar to a sound and catchiness that this record has? I’ve heard a lot of DM and Pet Shop Boys references, but what would be an ALBUM by another artist similar to this? I love With Sympathy a lot… lately I’ve dug “Say You’re Sorry”.
Any other artists to check out similar to a sound and catchiness that this record has? I’ve heard a lot of DM and Pet Shop Boys references, but what would be an ALBUM by another artist similar to this? I love With Sympathy a lot… lately I’ve dug “Say You’re Sorry”.
One album that reminds me of With Sympathy is the self-titled album by Scary Thieves from 1984. The lyrics are trite, the vocals cheesy, but the music is solid synthpop-rock. Some of the keyboard stabs and guitar hooks remind me of WS. It might be hard to track down (my mp3s are from vinyl), so let me know if you need a hook-up.
1002
Nigga, please.
Get your little sister a dollhouse instead of this queerbeer coaster of a disc.
NO! WAIT! I take it back…heh, heh…
Go ahead and get it. Wait till you open the jewel case and see the b/w photo of the two gay farm boys inside… Yikes!!! - uncontrollable laughter will seize you instantly! I have it on tape - bought it at 1/2 price books for a buck. it’s yers if you let me cum over and trim your ass beard…we ca listen to Twitch if you want - I’m Hiv +, like art films, cats, antiques, and flowers. Basically your typical granny-fag.
Well, in all fairness, the first Depeche Mode album (Speak’n Spell) is really DM’s only straight-up “poppy” Synth-pop album. By the time of A Broken Frame (2nd album) things started getting darker. If you get S’S by ALL means seek out the UK version. It has several extra cuts not on the US version including the superb “I Sometimes Wish I Were Dead”, “Shout” and “Ice Machine”
As far as other bands/groups/artists, the pickings are rather slim. Yes, I think that With Sympathy ranks THAT highly in the “synth pop” canon. Can anyone else think of an artist other than Al that has released three albums in a row that can arguably be called “genre-defining”? (I speak of WS, Twitch, LORAH).
Naked Eyes probably come the closest of any “name” acts to equaling the WS-era Ministry, but they didn’t have the funk/post-punk edge the Al & Stevo did (but some of their drumming is similar to Stevo’s). Naked Eyes probably compare best with some of the “lighter” songs on WS such as the final three songs on the album (“Say You’re Sorry” etc).
More than anyone else, I can HIGHLY recommend all of the earlier works of Fad Gadget (aka Frank Tovey-RIP). Frank alone could match Al’s combination of new-wave/post-punk/synth-pop all while managing to sneer & make a bit of social commentary. Fireside Favourites & Incontinent as well as the recent 2-disc Best Of are my recommendations. And you DO know that Al covered “Ricky’s Hand”
Other artists/bands to at least check out are the first two PSB albums, Gary Numan’s Pleasure Principle & Replicas albums, Everything by the Human League up through Dare!, and Soft Cell’s Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret. If you are still feeling the need for more homoerotic sleeze then check out the first two Dead or Alive albums.
For one of the dew decidedly American takes (in addition to Al, of course) on that whole “era” look at Information Society’s albums (though they were more late 80’s), especially their debut & “Hack”. Imagine if Al hadn’t had his punk background, was apolitical and fancied himself a cyberpunk…
Howard Jones, ABC, John Foxx, Kajagoogoo, Talk Talk and Yaz also have some good material but I’d leave that until you’ve explored some of the artists mentioned above. Most of these artists lack the “funky” stylings of WS. Finally, When in Rome and Images in Vogue are some more obscure groups with at least a handful of catchy songs. IIV is also notable for being Cevin Key & Dave Ogilvie’s first group.
Most of these artists lack the “funky” stylings of WS.
I spent some time hanging with the band back in those early, funky days. A lot of the funk influence came from the post-punk dance clubs and gay clubs in Chicago in the early 80’s. I think it’s mentioned someplace on this site that Ministry actually covered Jimmy Ross’ “First True Love Affair” at one point early on. I remember too that the band really liked the way that the early 80’s GAP Band hits like “Burn Rubber” and “You Dropped a Bomb On Me” sounded. Among the other early influences of the band were England’s ‘Japan’ and New York’s ‘Material’ especially stuff from the album “Memory Serves”.
Al, after all, worked in a record shop during the genesis of the band and I’m sure he was exposed to a lot of disco-funk. It was the ‘in’ thing in the clubs in Chicago at the time.
wempathy;
Lucky indeed you are to have gotten to be “of age” in those years…the late 70s/early 80s were the crossroads of SO many different (often disparate) styles of music & genres that some amazing boundary-hopping was possible. Look at the hiphop slant on Blondie or even some of AL’s material.
Anyway, I’d love to see a sincere interview (on this site!?!) with Al where he’d stop trying to be the 666-shootin’ hellbilly metal god and talk frankly about his more…esoteric past. Specifically, his post-punk, funk, and, yes, disco/pop influences.
Anyway, I’d love to see a sincere interview (on this site!?!) with Al where he’d stop trying to be the 666-shootin’ hellbilly metal god and talk frankly about his more…esoteric past. Specifically, his post-punk, funk, and, yes, disco/pop influences.
seconded
Ha ha, Kajagoogoo! Wow, that just made me feel old. I’ve GOT to get my turntable fixed!
Al (or Alain) specifically cited the group, Chic, as a major influence prior to the “With Sympathy” release. The live drumming of Tony Thompson and guitar licks of Nile Rodgers on “Le Freak” are not too far from the drum and guitar work on “Work for Love”.
I also hear a lot of Soft Cell and DM’s “A Broken Frame” similarities on “With Sympathy”, but Stevo’s live drumming is what gives WS a different edge.
The live concept of Ministry in 1982-1983 was really ahead of its time. Having 3 keyboardists, 1 drummer, and 1 lead vocalist/guitarist on stage was very unconventional (at the time). Only DM would be able to pull off this kind of unorthodox rock show line-up and actually fill up an arena or stadium in the years to come.
Yes, a full scope interview with Al (and Stevo) 20+ years later is long overdue. None of this stuff should be taboo at this point.
BTW, Soft Cell’s “Sex Dwarf” is MY choice for the #1 sleaze/camp classic of the 80’s. I’d LOVE to see REVCO cover that one before Al hangs it up.
wempathy;
Lucky indeed you are to have gotten to be “of age” in those years…the late 70s/early 80s…
Lucky? That’s just a nice way of telling me I’m old.[;)]
It was a great time to be young, absolutely. It was without a doubt, the best period for music in my life. Even an iconic institution like Wax Trax! had to constantly change to keep up with the times. But enough pining.
1983 was a banner year for good music - WS, Cocteau Twins, Christian Death, Bauhaus, Metallica’s “Kill 'Em All” (I apologize), Suicidal Tendencies, Pink Floyd’s “The Final Cut,” Minor Threat, and Front 242 was recording. Soft Cell were around, along with Throbbing Gristle, Whitehouse, Cabaret Voltaire, Depeche Mode, Dead Kennedys, Peter Gabriel, The Police, Talking Heads, Duran Duran, The Human League, The Thompson Twins, Cyndi Lauper (my first crush on a celebrity)…I think that “Mickey” song came out in '83 (Oh, Mickey, you’re so fine!), Van Halen’s “1984” came out in '83, along with The Clash and Adam Ant. Oh, yeah, there was Naked Eyes, Kajagoogoo, and New Order.
I am sure I’m missing another dozen or so, but I give up. I can’t think of more than three albums a year I’ve “had to have” since around this time, when I was snatching up everything I could get my hands on that sounded different (“New Wave” was still kinda…British, at that point.) Damn good year.