Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

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Romeo Void

  • It's a Condition [415, 1981] B
  • Never Say Never [415 EP, 1981] B+

Consumer Guide Reviews:

It's a Condition [415, 1981]
Those who find sex and love in the new bohemia a theme that hits home admire this for its literary value, but only one cut kicks it on back: the opener, "Myself to Myself." Until the likes of "Charred Remains" and "Confrontation" attain an equally hypnotic self-absorption, I'll relegate Debora Iyall's alienation tales to my sociology shelves. B

Never Say Never [415 EP, 1981]
This is no EP, it's a dance twelve-inch with three B sides nobody will remember. And nobody will remember anything about its reason for being except Debora Iyall lashing out with one "I might like you better if we slept together" after another. But that's not the reason they'll remember. They'll remember because of the beat, big drum doubling big guitar, and the sax breaks marking time. Which is quite enough. B+