...MEANWHILE

While this isn't the worst 10CC album, it is certainly the most disappointing. In 1977 Lol Creme and Kevin Godley left the band, to promote their invention the Gizmo (an electric device that imitated a violin bow effect on guitar strings). They recorded the exceptional (and critically panned) "Consequences", followed by "L". Then, like Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman in what was left of 10CC, their output began to run off of the interestingly creative track, and more toward the mundane AC pop. In 1992 Polydor announced that the band had reunited for the recording of "Meanwhile".

Reunited was a bit of false advertising. Godley & Creme are here, but as barely noticable supporting musicians. Both sing backup here and there, and Godley takes the lead on The Stars Didn't Show. But neither has any hand in the songwriting, nor do they play any instruments. Mac Rebenack (Dr. John) has more of a presence, playing piano on three tracks.

Musically, the songs are the same sort of MOR pop blandness that 10CC had been heading toward on their last few albums. There are a handful of decent pop tunes. Woman In Love has an okay melody, although the lyrics are trite. Wonderland is my favorite song on the album, and the one where Godley and Creme's background vocals are the most evident. Welcome To Paradise, the obligatory reggae track and Green Eyed Monster are the closest they get to the humor of the old 10CC, but not very close.