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(More customer reviews)For 10 years, Eurythmics' fan base has eaten up individual efforts such as Dave Stewart's "Lily Was Here" with Candi Dulfer and Annie Lennox's albums Diva and Medusa. The idea of a Eurythmics reunion seemed far-fetched at best. Stewart had settled in nicely in the United Kingdom as a man behind the scenes, and Lennox was gaining respect among fellow singers and critics as a solo artist. Well enough, this year VH1's artist poll ranked Lennox ninth among the 100 greatest women in rock and roll, higher than such ancestors as Carole King, Patti Smith, Joan Armatrading, Diana Ross and Siouxsie Sioux. That's a lot to place on the shoulders of this Scotswoman. (Later in December, Eurythmics' landmark 1983 video "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" will be broadcast among the top 40 of MTV's Top 100 music videos of all time.)
The announcement of a Eurythmics reunion may have been received with trepidation: why stop the solo progression on either end now? Well, Lennox and Stewart both have said that working together after the 10-year hiatus turned out to be too much fun to forego. The result is a mix of melancholy and fun with sprinkles of environmentalism and love's agony. It's a lot to place into one album, but Peace pulls it off very well.
Critics have been lukewarm about Peace, lauding Lennox's vocal delivery but criticizing Stewart's production value and saying, over all, that this album lacks the drive that was in earlier classics like 1985's Be Yourself Tonight and 1986's Revenge. I can't be sure this is what Eurythmics were driving at with this effort. How, after 10 years off, can Lennox and Stewart expect to have grown and still come up with pure pop? Let's be honest. Their music was never "pure" pop. There were always dark shades of despair, paranoia, seclusion and antipathy in the music that emanated from Lennox and Stewart in the '80s. They may have packed it with soul and some rock and roll, but that doesn't disguise such feelings. So having some Beatles inspiration in songs like "Forever" on the new album I can only construe as diversifying one's sound. The lush strings and lack of "cheesy" synth riffs makes the entire production value incredible, in my opinion.
Some critics say this sounds like a brand new band as opposed to the reliable Eurythmics. But I contend that their spirit is still here. Songs like "I Want it All," "Power to the Meek" and "I Saved the World Today" definitely shine with what we fans would consider a traditional Eurythmics feel. "Peace is Just a Word" is emotional. "Beautiful Child" and "Anything But Strong" are powerful. "I've Tried Everything" and "Lifted" are haunting. The first U.S. single release from the album, "17 Again," is simply awe-inspiring. Lennox's voice seems more provocative and beautiful than ever. It makes you wonder if this woman ever ages.
And, for those of you who still think they've lost "it" over the years, you should've seen the show Dave and Annie did in New York in early November 1999. The revival was intense. And, after all those years growing up feeling isolated as a Eurythmics fan, knowing few people who knew anything of the group's music other than "Sweet Dreams," I felt true solidarity with a crowd that screamed at the slightest hint of an oldie that Annie was about to croon. This band really does live on, and it's better than feeling like I'm 17 again.
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PeaceJapanese edition of the smash new wave duo's 1999 reunion album with 'Beautiful Child' (Live At The Church) added as a bonus track. 12 tunes in all, also including the single 'I Saved The World Today'. 1999 release. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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