| Stepping Out of Line: The Anthology | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | 6 June 2006 | |||
| Genre | rock, post-punk | |||
| Label | Castle | |||
| Au Pairs chronology | ||||
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Stepping Out of Line: The Anthology is a 2006 compilation CD containing every available track recorded by the brief-lived 1980s British post-punk band Au Pairs, described by AllMusic's reviewer as "one of the smartest, sharpest bands of the post-punk era." [1]
The Au Pairs were frequently jarring and dissonant, closely related musically and thematically to other post-punk bands like Mekons or the Gang of Four, [2] but the Au Pairs are unusual in the even division of the band between male and female members and their deep exploration of sexual politics. [3] Sexual roles and conflicts are a recurrent theme through the album. Allegations of rape and torture of Irish women imprisoned in the city of Armagh in Northern Ireland are the subject of the song "Armagh." [4] "Diet" is a strident ode to the repetitive role of the housewife. [5] Social pressures on men, too, are examined: "Come Again" refers to the polite requirement for equal orgasm in a modern, civilised couple. [6]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [7] |
| Blender Magazine |  [8] |
| Stylus Magazine | (A) [9] |
The compilation, like the band, was not universally well received. Though describing its dissonance as "coldly thrill friction," Blender Magazine reviewer Simon Reynolds found the anthology excessive and noted that the "power of dour wears thin," [6] but other reviewers treated the album more generously. Stylus Magazine's Mallory O'Donnell "[s]trongly recommended" the anthology "for all who seek to temper well-grounded ire with emotional fires," [10] and AllMusic's Andy Kellman asserted that "[n]o one could possibly give this band's output too much attention." [1]
Unless otherwise noted, all songs composed by Paul Foad, Peter Hammond, Jane Munro and Lesley Woods.
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The Au Pairs were a British post-punk band that formed in Birmingham in 1978 and continued until 1983. They produced two studio albums and three singles. Their songs were said to have "contempt for the cliches of contemporary sexual politics" and their music has been compared to that of the Gang of Four and the Young Marble Giants. The band was led by Lesley Woods, who was once described as "one of the most striking women in British rock".
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Arcade Fire is an extended play (EP) by the indie rock band Arcade Fire. The EP was recorded in Maine, United States, during the summer of 2002. Arcade Fire was remastered and repackaged for its 2005 re-release by Merge Records for fans after they had "grown obsessed" with the band's debut album, Funeral. It was initially released in 2003 by the band at their shows and website, and then re-released in 2005 by Merge. It received positive reviews from music critics, although some of them noted that it was inferior to their debut album Funeral. Lyrical themes of Arcade Fire consist of parents, suburbia, new love, dread, and drama. The EP's third track, "No Cars Go", was re-recorded for Arcade Fire's second full-length album, Neon Bible. No Cars Go has been played at the majority of live shows since the EP release. Arcade Fire have also played other songs from the EP, live on every tour since, however, it has become less frequent. On their recent tours, they notably played "Headlights Look Like Diamonds" and "Vampire/Forest Fire".
"The Girl Is Mine" is a song recorded by American singer Michael Jackson and English singer and musician Paul McCartney. The track was written and co-produced by Jackson and produced by Quincy Jones. It was released as the first single for Jackson's sixth solo album, Thriller (1982). The song was recorded at Westlake Studios, Los Angeles, from April 14 to 16, 1982. The year before, Jackson and McCartney had recorded "Say Say Say" and "The Man" for the latter's fifth solo album, Pipes of Peace (1983). Although "The Girl Is Mine" was released as a single, Jackson and McCartney never performed the song live.
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Sore Throat were a British crust punk band formed in Huddersfield in 1987. They are known for being one of the earliest exponents of the grindcore subgenre known as "noisecore", as well as for launching the careers of several prominent members of the British heavy metal community.
"Human Nature" is a song performed by American singer Michael Jackson, and the fifth single from his sixth solo album, Thriller. The track was produced by Quincy Jones and performed by members of Toto with Michael Jackson providing vocals. As the song features on the album, Jones provides vocals on the song endlessly.
Nightmare of You is the debut studio album by American rock band Nightmare of You.
Buzzcocks is the seventh studio album by English pop punk band Buzzcocks. It was released on 18 March 2003 by record label Merge in the US and Cherry Red in the UK.
Riot! is the second studio album by American rock band Paramore. It was released in the United States on June 12, 2007, through Fueled by Ramen as a follow-up to their debut album, All We Know Is Falling (2005). The album was produced by David Bendeth and written by band members Hayley Williams and Josh Farro, with Bendeth, and fellow band member Zac Farro co-writing on select tracks. The album explores a "diverse range of styles," while not straying far from the "signature sound" of their debut album, with several critics comparing it to the music of Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne. The cover of the album also resembles the cover artwork of No Doubt's 2001 album Rock Steady.
Playing with a Different Sex is the debut studio album by English post-punk band Au Pairs. It was released in 1981 by Human Records.
Raw Power is an Italian hardcore punk band from Reggio Emilia, formed in 1981 and still active.
"Another Star" is a song written and performed by Stevie Wonder from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. It is the final track on side four of the double LP. The flute player Bobbi Humphrey appears in the last section of the song.
cê is an album by Brazilian singer, songwriter, and guitarist Caetano Veloso. Released on 1 September 2006 on Mercury Records, the album took its title from the colloquial Portuguese word meaning you. It was written with Veloso's band in mind, which was chosen in part by guitarist Pedro Sá. cê received positive critical commentary; several critics specifically noted the album's lyrical focus on human sexuality.
Chelsea is the self-titled debut album by British punk rock band Chelsea. It was recorded during two weeks in early January 1979 and released by Step-Forward Records on 29 June 1979.
In 2008, it was reissued by Captain Oi! with several bonus tracks not included on the original release.
Sense and Sensuality (1982) was the second and last album by British post-punk band Au Pairs. The album reached No. 79 in Britain. No singles were released from the album. The album cover wasn't approved by the band. The lyrics focus on personal and wider political issues, but show a greater range of musical influences, than their first album Playing with a Different Sex.
