Is it time to reappraise Billy Idol's "Cyberpunk" album from 1993?

Submitted by rrickitickitavi t3_11x72b7 in Music

I don't think it will ever be regarded as a particularly good album, but freed from expectations of the era it's not that bad. It's actually one of the more interesting albums in his catalog. At the time he got hate from both sides - his longtime audience as well as people who were genuinely interested in the intersection of technology and society. The latter, because he was an obvious opportunist, and the former because they weren't ready for edm and jungle beats. There are more than a few worthwhile moments on the album. It's definitely not the "worst album of all time" as some people claim. The man actually has more than few more forgettable albums.

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1337geezer t1_jd1qvoa wrote

I've always liked it and was surprised that it was hated.

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ford7885 t1_jd1r87s wrote

After this album failed, Billy's reaction was interesting as to the two things he did next. First he grew his hair longer and dreaded it... then he played a reunion show with Generation X.

So from one extreme to the other really. Then he took a couple years off and eventually reunited with Steve Stevens and started making the kind of music that really worked for him again. Well, except for that Sinatra wannabe Christmas album, but that's a whole other story.

I listened to Cyberpunk once and then tried to block it out of my mind forever. I might give it another shot now, for the Hell of it, I guess.

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tour_til_death t1_jd21sys wrote

I remember the first press of the cd came with a 3.5” floppy disc with a game/video or something. It was way before I had a computer, so I never was able to view it.

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Rufus2fist t1_jd2n95c wrote

Replying to ford7885 (#2,287,987)

It’s funny cause his ex band member Tony James had made one of the most 80s cyber punk band ever with Sigue sigue sputnik. And then he reunites with him after he tries and fails at it…in a way.

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