Simplified - Simply Red Album Review

Simplified - Simply Red Album Review

Photo:link

Album Review

When I flicked over the CD packaging, I couldn't believe my eyes.

New album? It's a swizz. Simplified? I'm mortified. Presented as a NEW album, Hucknall seems to be running out of creative juices: fans won't be impressed with this one. Tampering with the past can be dodgy business and that's the case here as he 're-works' songs that DIDN'T NEED re-working : that's better left for the stage. Since Stars, there have been some equally dodgy moments for Simply Red's forever changing line-ups in the studio. Exceptions are made for their awesome live shows and Mick's amazing voice. 'Home' was nearly a return to form and the future looked promising for an even better follow-up. It hasn't happened. We're lead in by the mucho-mucho classy Latino fuelled single Perfect Love (out October 10) with complimentary vocals by Havana-based songstress Danae. The Cuban flavour continues on a conga-acoustic guitar driven Something Got Me Started, with little 'real' reworking of his dance classic - the pace is virtually the same, also found on More. Holding Back The Years is totally pointless, the original is still a classic and should have been left that way.

Slipping into Sinatra mode, Hucknall delivers a lack-lustre A Song For You by Leon Russell, with further pointlessness on Your Mirror, Fairground, For Your Babies and Sad Old Red ( the sax solo is rip-roaringly brilliant though ).

Smile, the only other new song, is romantically interesting, though the voice seems uncharacteristically huskier. By the time it reaches Ev'ry Time.... it's time to pull the plug. Sad old red!

Pointless, pointless, pointless : however much he tries to justify it.

Elly Roberts

Gigs

You may also be interested in

Adverts - Advertise here

© 2001 - 2008 AllGigs Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site is subject to our Terms and Conditions.

Site Meter