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| Walhello -> Knowledge Base -> CDs -> A -> Abc Skyscraping |
| ABC - Skyscraping Band: ABC Tracks: - Stranger Things - Ask a Thousand Times - Skyscraping - Who Can I Turn To? - Rolling Sevens - Only the Best Will Do - Love Is Its Own Reward - Light Years - Seven Day Weekend - Heaven Knows - Far Away Nothing Stunning or Returning... 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... Just Hold My Hand... Skyscraping finds Martin Fry (almost) on his own, since this is really simply a solo album with help from his friends. Glenn Gregory from Heaven 17 e.g. lends a hand giving the sound often a Lush feeling. On too many tracks Martin seems to be trying too hard to give the sound some edge. It is the more relaxed efforts that shine and shine they do in epic proportions. Stranger Things is as catchy a pop tune as they come, yet could be classified as easy listening. The title track, however, is the album's gem. One can listen to it again and again without getting tired of it. With enough marketing ammunition this track could easily become a huge hit appealing to a wide spectrum. Really, the album is worth purchasing for that single song. There are other good songs on the album, but programming the CD is still a must. A big disappointment Having been one of only about eight people on the entire planet to own all of the ABC albums and willingly admit to doing so, I really looked forward to the release of a new ABC album - particularly since their last album, Abracadabra, was easily their best. Unfortunately, with Mark White out of the picture, ABC falls flat. Even the best moment on the album, "Stranger things", sounds stilted and artificial, the equivalent of trying to bake a Cake based solely on a picture of one. Sure, Messrs. Fry and Gregory toss in a few recognizable motifs from ABC past, but this just adds insult upon injury. Save your money. Buy the remastered editions of the first four albums instead. Buy Abc Skyscraping at Amazon.com Buy posters at Allposters.comJamster - the latest ringtones for your phone! |
