Time Review

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(More customer reviews)I don't know if its being the first LP I ever bought has anything to do with it, but I've always cherished *Time* and continue to listen to it with surprising regularity. The arrangements are both more intricate and more atmospheric than those on many other ELO albums, and the loose but present narrative thread (of a man lured to an enticing but ultimately lonely future) has always captivated me. "Ticket to the Moon" embodies more than one kind of longing, and its heart-wrenching beauty has few parallels in pop music.
This fresh edition of the album is superlative in almost every respect. The sound, while still dynamically compressed, is extremely true to the astonishing quality of the original LP, with perhaps greater heft in the bottom end (but not so much as to make it sound overly equalized) and of course no surface noise in the quiet moments!
It probably goes without saying that the new version trumps the original CD, mastered by the great Joe Gastwirt in the late '80s. While timbrally respectable, Gastwirt's version still suffered at the hands of the relatively poor-quality analog-to-digital converters of the day, and for some reason certain song transitions did not originally make it the CD intact (track 5 into 6, track 11 into 12); these are restored on this new edition.
The original CD lacked lyrics and complete liner notes, and these also can be found on the remastered disc. The CD's only failing is in the petty "commentary" from Jeff Lynne, who more often belittles than illuminates his music (the commentary on the new box set, *Flashback*, is little better). At best, Lynne offers insight on the keyboard sounds used in the haunting instrumental, "Another Heart Breaks"; at worst he sounds put out at having to say anything at all: his comment for "The Lights Go Down" is merely "I guess the lights went down." One would think this reissue were being put out under duress!
In any case, if you liked this record or are feeling adventurous and want to hear one of the best albums released in the 1980s, add this to your cart!

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Agent Provacateur Review

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(More customer reviews)Agent Provocateur(1984). Foreigner's fifth studio album.
After the band's pinnacle release of the "4" album in 1981, Foreigner decided to implement more keyboards into their traditional classic rock sound, and came off with Agent Provocateur three years later. While not the huge success that "4" was, it did spawn the band a couple of chart topping classics in the form of "That Was Yesterday" and the famous ballad "I Want To Know What Love Is". The rest of the album measures up very nicely as well. Most fans tend to only look at the softer Foreigner material from the 80's, but the period did also sport numerous rockers. Foreigner is generally a band which critics love to hate, but why is this album still loved by many fans? Let's see:
1) Tooth And Nail- Excellent mid-paced rocker which kicks off the album. Comparable to some of the band's earlier material. 9/10
2) That Was Yesterday- The album's sleeper hit, a very melodic mid-paced semi-ballad, which contains a strong synth melody. Excellent. 10/10
3) I Want To Know What Love Is- Foreigner's very first #1 single. A slow ballad which builds up the background vocals as the chorus draws in. Nicely done. 10/10
4) Growing Up The Hard Way- One of my two favorite rockers off the album. Mostly a synth/rock number, but it's still very underrated in Foreigner's catalogue. 10/10
5) Reaction To Action- My other favorite rocker here. The keyboards take backseat to an all out classic electric guitar anthem. Also very underrated. 10/10
6) Stranger In My Own House- Here's where the album takes a slight downhill turn. This song is slower, but still rocking, similar to what the band Loverboy would do. 8/10
7) Love In Vain- Another mid-paced keyboard driven tune, almost like the track "Growing Up The Hard Way". Very catchy. 9/10
8) Down On Love- This track is more of an optimistic ballad, which stands out a little from some of Foreigner's sad ballads. Not bad. 8/10
9) Two Different Worlds- Yet another ballad, but more mellow like "I Want To Know What Love Is". Good, but not outstanding. 8/10
10) She's Too Tough- The album closes with a faster pop rock track which also sounds like a Loverboy song. Upbeat and catchy. 9/10
Overall, Agent Provocateur is a noteworthy Foreigner album, which gets 4.5 stars. It may not be as hard rocking as some of their earlier 70's albums, but it is still a strong collection of rockers and ballads which offer a bit of variety throughout the disc. If you're just a casual fan getting into Foreigner, I recommend listening to "4" first, and then proceeding onto this album and the others. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Also, check out their 1987 album, Inside Information.

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Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Hi Infidelity Review

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(More customer reviews)"Hi Infidelity" is the quintessential album from REO Speedwagon. This marked the zenith for the band, topping the charts for 15 weeks in 1981 and containing four top 40 singles.
"Keep On Loving You" was the consummate radio friendly power ballad (it was their first #1 song on the charts). It served as a precursor for their mainstream sound that was to follow them into the early half of the decade (They would top the charts one more time in 1984 with "Can't Fight This Feeling" from "Wheels Are Turning" album). In 2000, they assembled a collection of their greatest ballads.
The band had been recording for about a decade when they reached the masses with this album. This album has it share of upbeat rockers. The album opens with the hard driving, "Don't Let Him Go" (#36) as well as the top five "Take It On The Run.(#5)" The track, "In Your Letter" has a retro 1950's feel to it. It also made the pop charts at the time (#14).
"Tough Guys" is one of the most relentless tracks on the album. It rocks from start to finish and interestingly enough, begins with a vocal segment from the television program, "The Little Rascals." (Madonna would employ this technique in her song "White Heat," which included a spoken prologue from James Cagney in her tribute to him on her 1986 album "True Blue.")
"Follow My Heart," "Out Of Season," and "Someone Tonight" also serve as competent, well-crafted tunes. The one track I tend to not enjoy as much is "Shakin' It Loose."(Don't get me wrong-it is not a bad track; it just sounds too generic. It could have been recorded by Styx or Journey or 38 Special!). Nevertheless, there is a continuity to the album and it is absolutely clear why this album graced the charts for well over one year.
The album closes with the highly sentimental "I Wish You Were There," one of my favorite ballads on the collection. (This would be an excellent tune that could wind up on a soundtrack to a love story with a "coming of age" theme to it.)
Digitally remastered, this 20th anniversary collection contains the original artwork (including the classic album cover), and the complete lyrics to all ten songs. "Hi Infidelity" includes a well-balanced mix of hard rocking and mid-tempto ballads. It is an absolute must in any music library whether one is a fan of classic rock or infectious, coherent, pop music.

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Japanese only paper sleeve pressing features all new 2009 remastering. Sony.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Tunnel of Love Review

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(More customer reviews)I remember when this album came out in 1987. It was a surprise since Bruce's Born in the U.S.A. was only released 3 years earlier. This was also a surprise in that Bruce was his most revealing both lyrically and emotionally. The twelve songs about love and relationship still hold up 13 years later. The music holds up just as well. This is mostly a quiet, thoughtful work from the Boss. While Born in the U.S.A. may have been misinterpreted by many, Tunnel of Love hits its mark. Perhaps that's why this sold less than half the amount of records Born in the U.S.A. did. There are the hits "Brilliant Disguise", "Tunnel of Love" and "One Step Up". There are the great non-hits like "I Ain't Got You", "Tougher Than The Rest", "Spare Parts", "Walk Like A Man", "Two Faces" and "Valentine's Day." It's unfortunate that the break up of Bruce's first marriage would lead to such a great album, but for the rest of us, this is his greatest gift. I know Born to Run and Born in the USA and Darkness on the Edge of Town and even Nebraska are fan's picks, but I thought I'd pick one that is just as great but less often mentioned.

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