Level 42

Staring at the Sun

By far the least essential release in the Level 42 catalog

Review Score:

(2/10)
I have been a fan of Level 42 for many years...the combination of insanely catchy melodies, spirited performances, amazing musicianship and just plain old great music has always earned my respect and admiration. But this CD is a stink-bomb.

Level 42 has always been known for combining pop sensibilities with strong R&B and jazz influences (Earth, Wind and Fire, AWB and Stanley Clarke are obvious influences), but the music on this CD has a severe lack of....SPARK. Perhaps this is due to the fact that primary songwriters and founding members Boon and Phil Gould left the band before the making of this album. Granted, the late guitarist Alan Murphy and drummer Gary Husband are perfectly capable, if generic musicians. But that seems to be the problem. The chemistry just isn't there on this release, and the results are bland and lifeless. Level 42 has always been known for tricky, complex arrangements and brilliant playing, but none of that is on display here.

Another problem....the SONGS. "Heaven in My Hands" is catchy enough, and the Mike Lindup-penned ballad "Silence" is the albums best song.....but the REST of this stuff! "Man" sounds like bad 70's art-rock, "Two Hearts Collide" is flat and completely void of purpose, and "I Don't Know Why" boasts one of the worst lyrics ever written for an album by a major band ("I don't know why/I love you like I do/but baby I love you/and always I'll be true"....ugh).

Worst of all, Mark King...who over the years was becoming an expressive and effective vocalist...sounds bored as hell here, particularly on "Two Hearts Collide." And Mike Lindup's complimentary falsetto backing vocals are barely used this time around.

Okay..the band lost two key members and probably lost direction along the way. But this album is almost unforgivable....it became a big hit in the U.K., but destroyed their promising careers in the U.S. It would take the band several more years to make another album that would even hold its own against their older material ("Forever Now," which became their final release.) "Staring at the Sun" is a waste of time and talent, and is a bit hard to find now. So be it.

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