Artist: Mike and the Mechanics
Title: The Road
Genre: Pop / Rock
Release Date: 8th April 2011
Label: Sony Music
Album Review
Probably best known for their excellent cover of the B. A. Robertson classic 'Living Years', MIKE AND THE MECHANICS resurface some 26 years since their inception to offer us 'The Road', a collaboration between Mike Rutherford of GENESIS fame, Andrew Roachford (ROACHFORD) and Tim Howar Canadian front man of VAN TRAMP.
Kicking off with some EAGLES like slippery guitar riffs, it's noticeable that this is very well mastered from the off. The tune is pleasant enough and the lyrics easily decipherable as the song which titled the album meanders it's way. 'Reach out' is next and for me is a far better track, with disembodied vocals and a plaintiveness to it that I really like. 'Try to save me' is a nice offering, again erring on the sad side with unexpected melodies and a nice build up which reminds me slightly of UNHEILIG for a second. It's certainly true that there are no two songs on this album anything alike and multi inspirations rattle through your head as you listen with 'Background noise' sounding like a cross between BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and AHA (and in a wholly good way too)!
'I don't do love' harks straight back to the 80's with synth backdrops to wailing pianos and vocals, but it's nice actually, tight and harmonic and one for a sad rainy Saturday night. I'm beginning to be surprised at how much I like this album and 'Heaven doesn't care' seals the sad deal on it. 'It only hurts for a while' is a good enough song but not the strongest on the album by a long way while 'Walking on Water' is full of noise inspired percussion and ambient guitars with good solid vocals. 'Hunt you down' is really not to my taste at all though being way too jolly after all the preceeding misery and indulgent with it's Hammond organ sounds but ' Oh no' is a good recovery, all 80's and synth. 'You can be the rock' finishes the album nicely even if the lyrics aren't terribly deep. All in all it's a good album if your a fan of the band or if you remember the 80's fondly and it's nice to know that the legendary Mike Rutherford is still alive and well and kicking it like it matters.
Tracklist
01. The Road – 4:20
02. Reach Out (Touch The Sun) – 4:03
03. Try To Save Me – 3:47
04. Background Noise – 4:15
05. I Don’t Do Love – 4:34
06. Heaven Doesn’t Care – 3:37
07. It Only Hurts For A While – 4:09
08. Walking On Water – 3:41
09. Hunt You Down – 3:44
10.Oh No – 4:17
11.You Can Be The Rock - 5:17
Line-up
Mike Rutherford – Guitar, Bass, Programming
Andrew Roachford – Lead & Backing Vocals, Wurlitzer
Tim Howar – Lead & Backing Vocals
Gary Wallis – Drums
Anthony Drennan – Guitar
Luke Juby – Keyboards
Website
http://www.mike-and-the-mechanics.co.uk / http://www.myspace.com/matmsurrey
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 9
Total: 8.5 / 10
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