Popdose - Latest Comments in Blatant Pop Attempts: Ministry, “With Sympathy”

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:32:14 -0000

Believe it or not, this one is getting re-issued with 3 bonus tracks on August 12, 2008 by American Beat Records. The extras: extended mix of "I Wanted To Tell Her", a remix of "Revenge", and the unreleased track "A Walk In The Park".

Fri, 16 May 2008 21:36:47 -0000

Funny ... I heard that Al made this album with his boyfriend and the time and when they split he had such bad feelings about the whole thing that he disowned it. Too bad 'cause it'll always be my favorite Ministry album. lol

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:04:10 -0000

i've got that if you want. email me powerslave_666 at yahoo

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:59:09 -0000

Ah, here's an album that will never be reissued, so long as Uncle Al has anything to do with it. Keep in mind when he whines about this record that he recorded "Halloween" and "Nature of Love" just after this, so he was a synthpopper at heart without the record company's help.

There are tons of outtakes floating around the internets for the album that was supposed to follow this ("I See Red", "Same Old Madness" etc) that suggest he would have gone in a more Fad Gadget-y direction...but Twitch is spectacular, and I like most of Ministry's stuff even after they went metal (but see below...).

American's weren't very good at making synthpop in the early 80s, and this is one of the better 'murican takes on the genre...You're dead-on right that the first two cuts sorta point to later Ministry--"Here We Go" points in this direction too, especially the attempt at mixing pop and politics-- but there's some decent popcraft too..."Say You're Sorry" is a cool breakup ballad, "She's Got a Cause" as well.

Actually, we may see this reissued--I think even Al thinks Filth Pig is the most embarrassing thing he's done...my god that's a bad record.

Thu, 15 May 2008 10:55:51 -0000

"Turned his back" is putting it mildly. According to a number of not-necessarily-reliable sources (like http://en.wikipedia.org/wik... ), Jourgensen has referred to With Sympathy as "An abortion of an album".

Wed, 14 May 2008 21:23:31 -0000

Holy cow, I would love to hear that Dead cover. Anyone?

Wed, 14 May 2008 20:30:39 -0000

I love this album. WLIR played Effigy, Work For Love and Revenge all the time.
This is seriously overdue for a remastered expanded release

Wed, 14 May 2008 19:40:43 -0000

Maybe Al's "Buck Satan" country music moniker will rise from the ashes of Ministry. The closest we ever got was their stunning, acoustic, harmony-filled take on the Dead's "Friend of the Devil" on the first Bridge School Benefit Album. But you gotta hand it to him - the first four proper Ministry records (and the 12" singles collection) are among the best albums to ever throttle the genre.

Wed, 14 May 2008 15:40:10 -0000

Still my wife's favorite Ministry record. "Jesus Built My Hotrod" doesn't exactly speak to her the way "Work for Love" does.

Please, please, please tell me a future installment of this column will be Underworld's Underneath the Radar.

Wed, 14 May 2008 14:54:31 -0000

With the benefit of hindsight, this music almost seems Weird Al-ish, doesn't it?

Wed, 14 May 2008 14:23:23 -0000

I used to DJ back in New York and I spun a lot of older synth-pop. Whenever I would play "Revenge," people would go nuts! I know Al has turned his back on this era of the band but synth-pop fans love that song.