Private Eyes (1981) was in many ways Daryl Hall & John Oates' Tusk. Inspired by British new wave and post-punk, they concocted an uneven but compelling mix of thrashy pop and sublime proto-electro (the endlessly sampled global chart-topper "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)"). H2O (1982), meanwhile, saw them undecided as to whether they wanted to be a Proper Band or the missing link between The Everly Brothers and the Pet Shop Boys. The fine singles "Maneater" and "One On One" point to the latter, but mention should also be made of two of Hall's finest white soul vocal performances on the closing "At Tension" and "Go Solo".
Private Eyes (1981) was in many ways Daryl Hall & John Oates’ Tusk. Inspired by British new wave and post-punk, they concocted an uneven but compelling mix of thrashy pop and sublime proto-electro (the endlessly sampled global chart-topper “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)”). H2O (1982), meanwhile, saw them undecided as to whether they wanted to be a Proper Band or the missing link between The Everly Brothers and the Pet Shop Boys. The fine singles “Maneater” and “One On One” point to the latter, but mention should also be made of two of Hall’s finest white soul vocal performances on the closing “At Tension” and “Go Solo”.
