Let Them Eat Bingo
| Let Them Eat Bingo | ||||
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| Studio album by Beats International | ||||
| Released | 1990 | |||
| Label | Go! Beat/Elektra | |||
| Producer | Norman Cook | |||
| Beats International chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Chicago Tribune | |
| Entertainment Weekly | A |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |  |
Let Them Eat Bingo is the debut album by British electronic music band Beats International, released in 1990 on the Go! Beat record label in the UK and Elektra in the US. It includes their UK number one single "Dub Be Good to Me" and the Top 10 hit "Won't Talk About It".
Let Them Eat Bingo spent 15 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at number 17. It went on to receive gold certification. The album peaked at number 63 in Australia on the ARIA chart, and spent 10 weeks in the top 100.
The album features contributions from a host of guest artists including Lindy Layton, Billy Bragg, Double Trouble, and Captain Sensible, and samples many other works, including The Clash's "Guns of Brixton", the SOS Band's "Just Be Good To Me", and samples of Fela Kuti.
The album received a three-star review from the Chicago Tribune, with Robert Tanzilo calling "one of the more refreshing dance records of late" and "a wonderful mess". Greg Sandow, reviewing for Entertainment Weekly, gave it an 'A' rating, saying "There’s nothing wrong with pure pleasure in music, and this album provides it."
Nathaniel Wice, reviewing for Spin, commented on the mixture of styles, saying "Everything is imitation, from rap, house and funk, to blues, gospel, reggae and rock'n'roll: nothing means anything." Melinda Rickelman, reviewing the album for The Crisis, also commented on the mixture of styles, but viewed the album more positively, calling them "fine young beats".New York Magazine commented on the album: "Let Them Eat Bingo combines hip-hop, reggae, rap, punk, and even rebel-yelling to a dance-happy effect."Trouser Press said "At its best, this is clever stuff that, beyond being enjoyable strictly on its own, provocatively recontextualizes its sources and creates an endlessly fascinating cross-cultural weave...At its worst...it's just boring and silly."
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Wikipedia