Elly Roberts reviews
Simply Red: Simplified
Distributed by
simplyred.com
- Released: October 2005
- Rating: 2/10
When I flicked over the CD packaging, I couldn't believe my eyes.,
New album? It's a swizz. Simplified? I'm mortified.
Presented as a NEW album, Hucknall seems to be running out of creative juices: fans won't be
impressed with this one. Tampering with the past can be dodgy business and
that's the case here as he 're-works' songs that DIDN'T NEED re-working :
that's better left for the stage.
Since Stars, there have been some equally
dodgy moments for Simply Red's forever changing line-ups in the studio.
Exceptions are made for their awesome live shows and Mick's amazing voice.
Home was nearly a return to form and the future looked promising for an
even better follow-up. It hasn't happened.
We're lead in by the mucho-mucho
classy Latino fuelled single Perfect Love (out October 10) with
complimentary vocals by Havana-based songstress Danae. The Cuban flavour
continues on a conga-acoustic guitar driven Something Got Me Started, with
little 'real' reworking of his dance classic - the pace is virtually the
same, also found on More. Holding Back The Years is totally pointless, the
original is still a classic and should have been left that way.
Slipping into Sinatra mode, Hucknall delivers a lack-lustre A Song For You
by Leon Russell, with further pointlessness on Your Mirror, Fairground, For
Your Babies and Sad Old Red (the sax solo is rip-roaringly brilliant though).
Smile, the only other new song, is romantically interesting, though the
voice seems uncharacteristically huskier. By the time it reaches Ev'ry
Time... it's time to pull the plug. Sad old red!
Pointless, pointless, pointless: however much he tries to justify it.
Weblink:
Simply Red.com
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.