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Show .11 !'. J 11 III I.I.I .1BI IIIIJI1 chi& tt if (BapipaMite aumdl my if. & jj One man croons, the other one broods RtVaul Car rack may be the most-hear- d I U unknown rock singer in the world. He U was the vocalist on a number of major hits in the United States and his native England, but none of these recordings has been under his own name. Remember the propulsive "How Long" by Ace in 1974, or the bouncy "Tempted" by Squeeze in 1981, or the eerie "Silent Running" by Mike and the Mechanics last year? All those tunes featured the soulful voice of Paul Carrack. Unfortunately none made Carrack a household name. And neither have his solo d efforts the "Nightbird" from 1980 and 1982's "Suburban Voodoo," persoul to haps the finest album of blue-eyebe issued in this decade. Now, however, Carrack means to do something about his unjust anonymity with his third album, One Good Reason (Chrysalis). To begin with, Carrack has updated his Motown-isapproach to pop. "One Good Reason" is definitely a high-tecrecording, awash with synthesizers for both melodies and sweetening. Perhaps this is the influence of the album's producer, Christopher Neil, who produced Mike and the Mechanics. For the most part, the electronics work well with Carrack's rough-edgesinging. For example, the first single from the album, "Don't Shed a Tear," uses a snappy tempo and a slightly dirty arrangement for this song about a soured relationship. Sneers Carrack, "Don't shed a tear for me My life won't end without you Long as the night will be The sun will rise without you." At times the glossiness takes away the edge that has given Carrack's music emotional power in the past. The synthesized "strings" heard on "When You Walk in the Room" distract from Carrack's soulful crooning. Where Carrack's last LP, "Suburban Voodoo," had all the heart of the Temptations at their best, "One Good Reason," with its stylings, sounds a lot like Phil Collins. Still very enjoyable, but not quite as compelling. Perhaps this is the price a journeyman must pay to become a star. After all, record companies haven't been rushing to put out Carrack's solo records, and he's had to work in other people's bands. (Recently, he's been singing the Pink Floyd hit "Money" as Roger Waters's tour.) But part of don't get the wrong impression. "One Good hard-to-fin- d h h d state-of-the-a- Reason" is a very entertaining, if somewhat pasteurized, record. Enjoy it. Then check out "Suburban Voodoo." It's the real deal. Ron Givens first song on Paul Kelly the Messengers' Gossip is "Last Train to Such a voice: Carrack tries to sing his way to fame the first thing and Heaven," you think is, this is a mistake a gloomy chant that's strongly reminiscent closes with "Randwick Bells," a haunting of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready," story of a young couple who nurse romantic one of the most incandescently joyful soul dreams in the worst of times, you'll feel like songs ever put on wax. Right, you tell youryou've taken a long, exhausting, thought-provokindoom-struck Aussie self, another journey. pop band, and you reach for the tone arm. But hold on. Kelly is a lyricist of serious intent, and "Last Train to Heaven" grows on you, an his songs sometimes call to mind the earair of determination pushing out of the nestness of U2's Bono Vox. But he's much more of a rock and roller than Vox musidroning melody like flowers through a concrete sidewalk. Keep listening. "Before the cally, the Messengers sound like U2 might if Old Man Died" sets a creepy lyric about a they would only lighten up a little. "Gossip" man with a murderous hatred for his dead is this year 's best proof that purpose and pop father against chiming guitars and airy savvy needn't be incompatible in rock and harmonies. It sounds like the toughest roll. It's strong, smart and serious, and it rocks besides. One more thing: with 15 thing the Hollies never recorded. Some17 on the CD version it's good on tracks here. Keep listening thing's going through 13 more finely etched songs of honest value, too. What more could you ask? Bill Barol hope and misery. By the time the record in g rt ex-Flo- 44 NEWSWEEKON CAMPUS Strong, smart and serious and it rocks: Paul Kelly (center) and the Messengers OCTOBER 1987 |
