Nothing Stunning or Returning...

Review Score: (4/10)
After waiting for quite a few years for a new ABC album I am greatly disappointed in the "new"sound. Albeit no music group can stay the same forever;I understand ABC cannot sound like it did back in '82 with their brand of Motown-Brit soul, lush use of strings and rhythms that echoed the closing of the disco era. However, where ABC should have gone forward, it's as though they went back in time with regards to using other former rock pop bands' sound or material. A few tracks towards the end of the disc border on re-hashed Roxy Music material a la Love Is the Drug era (the wailing sax and rock). Tracks 2,5, and 7 are indestinguishable with the heavy laden dose of electro-pop,techno-guitar sound that many techno groups used in the early '90s...The end result is watered down remnants of what otherwise should have been more sophisticated pop-soul from ABC with an up-to-date sound.

Fry's vocals are still powerful and soulful as ever. But, I think that's where the problem lies; His vocal style is not suitable for dry-ordinary, pop-rock music.It's like placing a melo-dramatic Broadway stage actor onto the set of a regular t.v. drama series(the fish out of water cliche).It's also similar to singer Tom Jones performing a humble and low-key Christian song in the middle of a Las Vegas lounge act.You get the picture...

Another version of this import contains extra tracks.No thanks. Not if they sound like the rest of this so-called comeback...

Pass...

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