ACTING VERY STRANGE

When I think to this album and the high number of times I've listened to it I feel guilty respect to GTR. That album, together with Yes Big Generator, Vangelis See You Later and the 80s production of Renaissance are the worst that I own in vinyl. The reason why I've listened to it so much is that I copied it onto a 90 minutes tape and on the other side there was Smallcreep's Day.

It's the auto-reverse that made me listen to it so much times.

The reason why I have bougth it are two: the excellent solo debut of Mike Rutherford and Stewart Copeland at drums and percussions. A strange mix.

Effectively it doesn't start too bad. The title track is a Genesis song on a Police rhythm. Artsy pop, nothing progressive, but quite enjoyable. Too few to say that the album is poor.

The sad moments arrive quickly: "A Day to Remember" is a song to forget. Electropop from the 80s. Mike's vocals are surprisingly good, but the song is full of the "plastic" electronic sounds typical of the epoch. The same sounds that can be found on some songs of Richard Wright's ZEE, but without the composing skill of the former Floyd.

"Maxine" is one of the lowest moments. Like Van Halen's "Jump" in a slow-motion. I know at least one person who likes this song but personally it's one that I'm used to skip.

If "Halfway There" was sung by Sting it could have been a good Police song. Nothing prog, really and the A side is gone.

The funky side of Genesis for a song that could have been on Face Value. Even if Mike tries to sing like Phil Collins it's not the same. More brasses could have saved this pop song.

"Couldn't Get Arrested" is the only song that doesn't sound like anything specific. If put between good tracks it could have been a good filler. Nothing more than this. In addition I find Mike's singing on this song particularly bad.

"I Don't Wanna Know", together with the title track is the best thing of the album. Based on 80s electronic as "A Day To Remember" is at least a sort of Genesis song

Finally a song that could have been a highlight. It seems to be coming from Smallcreep's Day side A, but the final is really too long and boring. I remember that when I have copied it inot a tape for my car stereo tape reader I have cut it out.

It's between 1 and two stars, but I have rated 1 star GTR so I have to use the same measure.