| Tender Pervert | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Genre | Synthpop | |||
| Length | 47:57 | |||
| Label | Creation | |||
| Producer | Momus | |||
| Momus chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Tender Pervert | ||||
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Tender Pervert is the third studio album by Scottish musician Momus, released in 1988 on Creation Records.
The album's working title was The Homosexual, [1] due to its homosexual themes (as seen in "The Homosexual", "Love on Ice", and "Bishonen"). Momus was dissuaded by Creation Records founder Alan McGee from naming it as such due to the presumption that Canadian distributor PolyGram would not release an album under that title. The album's frequent references to homosexuality were based on Momus' reaction to homophobic rhetoric in the British media surrounding the AIDS epidemic, suggesting that, "...if gay people are not only dying but being gagged by the government while dying, it's up to straight people to promote homosexuality in their place". The album was also influenced by the themes explored by Serge Gainsbourg in his 1984 album, Love on the Beat , as well as Japanese pop culture and cultural figures such as Yukio Mishima. [2]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [3] |
| NME | 9/10 [4] |
Reviews of the album tended to be positive. Steve Huey of AllMusic called Tender Pervert "the first great Momus album" in a retrospective review, noting that it was the first Momus album to incorporate his trademark use of irony in addition to the synth-pop that would serve as the basis for later albums. [3] Len Brown of Britain's NME noted the album's "intelligent, cutting lyrics". [4] Andy Hurt of Sounds praised Tender Pervert for its "uncomfortable strength and purity", praising Momus for his use of metaphor and autobiography on the album. [5] Christopher Dawes of Melody Maker called Momus's work on Tender Pervert "bold", saying that its "warrior poetry rarely complicated with harmony". [6]
The artwork for Primal Scream's tenth album More Light , designed by Scottish artist Jim Lambie, references the cover design of Tender Pervert by Thomi Wroblewski, which depicts Momus in front of a floral background, raising his index fingers above his head as if to mimic horns. [7] "I Was A Maoist Intellectual" is quoted in Patrik Sampler's novel The Ocean Container. [8]
"The Homosexual" was covered by Kirin J. Callinan on his 2019 album, Return to Center. [9]
All tracks are written by Nicholas Currie (Momus)
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Angels Are Voyeurs" | 2:45 |
| 2. | "Love on Ice" | 3:54 |
| 3. | "I Was a Maoist Intellectual" | 4:34 |
| 4. | "The Homosexual" | 4:44 |
| 5. | "Bishonen" | 7:40 |
| 6. | "A Complete History of Sexual Jealousy (Parts 17 – 24)" | 5:39 |
| 7. | "Ice King" | 4:55 |
| 8. | "In the Sanatorium" | 5:07 |
| 9. | "The Charm of Innocence" | 6:35 |
| 10. | "The Angels Are Voyeurs (Reprise)" | 0:56 |
Credits adapted from liner notes. [10]
Bishōnen is a Japanese term literally meaning "beautiful youth (boy)" and describes an aesthetic that can be found in disparate areas in East Asia: a young man of androgynous beauty. This word originated from the Tang dynasty poem Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup by Du Fu. It has always shown the strongest manifestation in Japanese pop culture, gaining in popularity due to the androgynous glam rock bands of the 1970s, but it has roots in ancient Japanese literature, the androsocial and androerotic ideals of the medieval Chinese imperial court and intellectuals, and Indian aesthetic concepts carried over from Hinduism, imported with Buddhism to China. Today, bishōnen are very popular among girls and women in Japan. Reasons for this social phenomenon may include the unique male and female social relationships found within the genre. Some have theorized that bishōnen provide a non-traditional outlet for gender relations. Moreover, it breaks down stereotypes surrounding feminine male characters. These are often depicted with very strong martial arts abilities, sports talent, high intelligence, dandy fashion, or comedic flair, traits that are usually assigned to the hero/protagonist role.
Creation Records Ltd. was a British independent record label founded in 1983 by Alan McGee, Dick Green, and Joe Foster. Its name came from the 1960s band The Creation, whom McGee greatly admired. The label ceased operations in 1999, although it was revived at one point in 2011 for the release of the compilation album Upside Down.
Nicholas John Currie, more popularly known under the artist name Momus, is a Scottish musician and writer.
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