Review
'Dead Man's Party' isn't just another '80s album lost in the neon haze. Oingo Boingo's fifth studio effort, released in 1985, is a wild ride through new wave, rock, and pop that'll make you question if you've stumbled into some bizarre musical carnival. Danny Elfman and Steve Bartek took the production reins, crafting a sound that's as unpredictable as a game of musical chairs in a tornado. The title track and 'Heard Somebody Cry' prove these guys could churn out catchy tunes while still keeping one foot firmly planted in the weird.
But let's talk about 'Weird Science' for a hot second. This spontaneous brain-child of Elfman's for John Hughes' film became their biggest hit, peaking at 45 on the Billboard Hot 100. Ironically, Elfman later wished he could stuff that genie back in the bottle, feeling it overshadowed their other work. The album cover, a Day of the Dead-inspired fever dream, perfectly captures the band's knack for blending the macabre with the danceable. With its gold certification and a hodgepodge of brass, saxophones, and who-knows-what-else, 'Dead Man's Party' is the sound of Oingo Boingo hitting their stride and daring the '80s to keep up. - Lauren
