Fourth album from the original line-up on the back of a sell-out tour and a Brit lifetime achievement award. Is it worth the fuss? It's sleek, groomed and genetically engineered to within an inch of sonic perfection, but there's very little that's memorable. "(Reach Up For The) Sunrise" and "Want You More!" find the band on familiar territory. Le Bon still has a naff way with lyrics ("Grooving now to X-Ray Spex/Something tells me you're the alien sex") while "Bedroom Toys" finds Le Bon rapping ?not something a 46-year-old father of three should do in public. "Chains" strives for "Come Undone"-style stadium balladry, but there's nothing here that remotely touches "Rio", "Hungry Like The Wolf" or "Girls On Film".
Fourth album from the original line-up on the back of a sell-out tour and a Brit lifetime achievement award. Is it worth the fuss? It’s sleek, groomed and genetically engineered to within an inch of sonic perfection, but there’s very little that’s memorable. “(Reach Up For The) Sunrise” and “Want You More!” find the band on familiar territory. Le Bon still has a naff way with lyrics (“Grooving now to X-Ray Spex/Something tells me you’re the alien sex”) while “Bedroom Toys” finds Le Bon rapping ?not something a 46-year-old father of three should do in public. “Chains” strives for “Come Undone”-style stadium balladry, but there’s nothing here that remotely touches “Rio”, “Hungry Like The Wolf” or “Girls On Film”.
