Gary Numan - New Anger (Metal Rhythm album) | Electric Friends Podcast

First released: 10th Jul 2023
"They say that I'm all over, I don't know..."
In 1988, #GaryNuman released his first album under the IRS Records label, and despite good reviews and an improvement on previous albums, Metal Rhythm didn't get him back in the charts.
Taking on a Robert Palmer-style hard rock meets electronic album, the LP featured the lead single 'New Anger', about his irritation over his critics at the time.
This episode delves into the making of the album, how it was made and how Gary feels about it now.
Clips used:
Gary Numan - New Anger
Gary Numan - Devious
Gary Numan - This is Emotion
Gary Numan - Respect
Gary Numan - Voix
Gary Numan - I Don't Believe
Gary Numan - Children
Gary Numan - Creatures
Gary Numan - Cold Metal Rhythm
Gary Numan - (R)Evolution (audiobook)

[@edwardcrabtree4824]

This is the first album I bought by Numan and the one that got me interested in his music. I loved the combination of raw confessional with peppy energy. It felt sort of ' grown up' but still.made you want to fling yourself about. The time is now right for a thorough re- evaluation of Numan' s supposefly ill -advised ' middle period'.

[@SadBnnuy]

Its his best IRS album I think. Its such a fun sound

[@skinmech4851]

It’s his last album I can listen to all the way through. What’s interesting is Gary promoted this album in interviews after release and a few years later saying it’s the first album since Telekon where he feels he’s made an album he loved without listening to opinions and record label influences. This album was recorded and completed before he signed to IRS. The song Voix is all about not listening to opinions and you can tell he’s got emotion on this album unlike his half hearted industrial dross of late. It’s no splinter for sure because it’s listenable and not a bunch of tired NIN tracks with no melody or passion. Also the album didn’t sell that poorly just not on first week of release as it sold eventually approx 33,500 units in the UK just slightly more than Outland a few years later. Also just a slight correction the Skin Mechanic video released in 1990 was in fact from the skin mechanic tour in 1989 and not the metal rhythm tour.

[@ArtyFishal]

The Skin Mechanic video was from the Skin Mechanic tour but the Skin Mechanic album and cassette were from the Metal Rhythm tour. Confused? I always was 😂

[@scatton61]

There are few tracks on this album that I like Voix, Respect, Don't call my name, and perhaps the one I like most is called America

[@escaton74]

Voix def should've been the lead single with a serious 12" version !

[@keiththripp7531]

I’ve followed Gary for 40 years and I’ve always appreciated his music even if he did go off the boil slightly.

[@ArtyFishal]

If you've got an original UK Metal Rhythm CD, take a look at the back cover barcode. 'Newman' FFS!! 😂

[@numan6959]

"It's no Splinter" 😆 Come on, the songwriting is far better on Metal Rhythm and it has variation and musicianship on it. Splinter is one-track, soulless digital garbage.

[@ArtyFishal]

I always thought that New Anger was the weakest track on the whole album. Terrible choice for first single. The b-side 'I Dont Believe' was much better 👍

[@roguemoon4599]

New Anger is terrible, its a poor rip off of addicted to love crossed with stock aiken and waterman sampled horns, the vocals though are terrible. Best track on the record is Hunger with voix and the title track coming a close second.

[@kristoferjuztin2406]

Yeah it’s a horrible album. Poor Gary lost his way for a while.