23-06-2021, 20:24
JOAN ARMATRADING ~ Consequences
This is a second listen. I found myself unreasonably irritated by “Better Life”, the fourth track – sounds as though it belongs on a kiddies record, and not a very good one at that! And I have nothing against kiddies records - can still enjoy some of those – at least the ones that were made in the good old bad old days, lol! I swear some of them were aimed at the parents rather than their progeny over whose heads the humour no doubt flew a mile high.
What Ms Armatrading is lacking in sophistication, she makes up for in enthusiasm but whether that is enough to redeem what is essentially an unapologetically dated pop sound is up to the individual to decide. It’s not for me. Yes, she can still pen a decent tune - there are a couple that are more memorable than others, and yes, she still plays every instrument in sight, but while most of these tracks might’ve worked forty years ago, I just don't know if they do now. She has created some amazing songs in her time, but I’m not convinced any of these would make the cut on a ‘best of’ compilation – even if it were a triple album. It’s a messy release IMHO – and it’s painful to say that. Sorry Joan.
Just had a quick look at some other reviews and yet again, it appears I’m in the minority. Maybe I’m losing it?? Or just becoming increasingly picky. Rolling Stone’s “defiantly upbeat” I can accept but I don't get The Guardian’s “strikingly inventive”, for example. Oh well – there’s always that one customer who’s difficult to please – I guess that would be me then!
This is a second listen. I found myself unreasonably irritated by “Better Life”, the fourth track – sounds as though it belongs on a kiddies record, and not a very good one at that! And I have nothing against kiddies records - can still enjoy some of those – at least the ones that were made in the good old bad old days, lol! I swear some of them were aimed at the parents rather than their progeny over whose heads the humour no doubt flew a mile high.
What Ms Armatrading is lacking in sophistication, she makes up for in enthusiasm but whether that is enough to redeem what is essentially an unapologetically dated pop sound is up to the individual to decide. It’s not for me. Yes, she can still pen a decent tune - there are a couple that are more memorable than others, and yes, she still plays every instrument in sight, but while most of these tracks might’ve worked forty years ago, I just don't know if they do now. She has created some amazing songs in her time, but I’m not convinced any of these would make the cut on a ‘best of’ compilation – even if it were a triple album. It’s a messy release IMHO – and it’s painful to say that. Sorry Joan.
Just had a quick look at some other reviews and yet again, it appears I’m in the minority. Maybe I’m losing it?? Or just becoming increasingly picky. Rolling Stone’s “defiantly upbeat” I can accept but I don't get The Guardian’s “strikingly inventive”, for example. Oh well – there’s always that one customer who’s difficult to please – I guess that would be me then!
"The surest sign that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe is that it has never tried to contact us." ~ Bill Watterson