thoma@reed.UUCP (Ann Muir Thomas) (10/31/85)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH JIM KERR *** Thanks to everyone who responded to my Simple Minds posting... I have had a chance to listen to some more of their music, including the albums Sons and Fascination, Empires and Dance, Celebrate, and the new one, Once Upon A Time. Since OUAT is the one that netters and others are most likely to find, I'd like to offer a few of my opinions about it. _Once Upon A Time_ is going to be a surprise to all the teenybopper Breakfast Club fans who are expecting replications of "Don't You (Forget About Me)", which those of us who are more enlightened recognize as an atypical Simple Minds song. _OUAT_ is reminiscent of _New Gold Dream_ (my favorite SM album), but not as good. The music is distinctly more commercial; Jim Kerr's vocals are much more emphasized than on the earlier albums, and a lot of the songs have the usual Top 40 "dance" backbeat. The semi-religious themes of _Sparkle in the Rain_ ( cf "Book of Brilliant THings" and "Speed Your Love") are entirely absent. Still, the band has retained its tradition of longish songs, and atypical lyrics patterns. Overall, I'd say that _Once Upon a Time_ is somewhat above average, still a bit innovative, and not a sellout to the Top 40 folks. I am going to see Simple Minds in concert on November 21, and will post a review afterwards... Ann Muir Thomas (ihnp4 OR allegra OR decvax OR uw-beaver)!tektronix!reed!thoma