Close to the Bone
Tom Tom Club · 1983
37 min · 8 tracks · new wave
A vibrant blend of new wave grooves and quirky art-pop sensibilities that captures the playful essence of the early '80s.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Pleasure of Love — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its infectious rhythm and playful lyrics about romantic joy, embodying the band's signature charm.
-
→
Bamboo Town — Combining a catchy melody with Caribbean-inspired beats, this track highlights the band's ability to fuse various influences while remaining accessible.
-
→
The Man With the 4‐Way Hips — With its funky bassline and whimsical lyrics, this song exemplifies the group's knack for creating danceable tracks that tell vivid stories.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends catchy hooks with experimental sounds, maintaining a playful essence while exploring varied tempos.
What we noticed
- Several tracks feature prominent bass lines and syncopated rhythms, creating a danceable quality that is consistent throughout.
- The final two tracks slow down the tempo, introducing more introspective themes and contrasting with the earlier energy.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- playful rhythms for dancing
- short bursts of vibrant energy
- catchy hooks for sing-alongs
- light-hearted tunes with quirkiness
Maybe skip if you
- prefer serious, introspective music
- want lengthy, immersive albums
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1983, Close to the Bone was Tom Tom Club's second album, following their successful self-titled debut. At this point in their career, the band was building on their newfound fame from hits like 'Genius of Love' and expanding their eclectic sound while maintaining a playful, danceable vibe.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Talking Heads· The B-52's· Devo
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Pleasure of Love 6:28
- 2 On the Line Again 4:56
- 3 This Is a Foxy World 3:35
- 4 Bamboo Town 3:55
- 5 The Man With the 4‐Way Hips 5:47
- 6 Measure Up 5:03
- 7 Never Took a Penny 3:31
- 8 Atsababy! (Life Is Great) 3:58
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.