The Album Club: "Jordan: the Comeback" by Prefab Sprout
 

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Take your places, book your seat now! It's time for another Trollheart album!

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Vote, review, discuss, rate, comment, trash and destroy here.

Where’s the one I missed due to Fascist Frowny?

I remember the NME ****ing all over their pages about this band. I never bought any of their records but I had a fair amount of their material hidden on poorly marked mix tapes I would make when visiting anybody with a stereo and a record collection back then. I recognized a few of these songs. I think the critics thought this might be a guiding force through the 90’s but instead it’s more of a culmination of 80s pop culture. Honestly, this record is really subtle and would take more time than I’m willing to invest to appreciate. I didn’t really get it the first time either. I voted liked it. I know it’s good but I never really developed an appreciation for it so that’s on me.

Prefab Sprout occupy territory similar to that of Scritti Politti: high concept minded, emphasis on clever lyrics, state-of-the-art (for the time) production and led by wunderkinds with singular visions (in this case, priest-turned-popstar Paddy McAloon). Jordan: The Comback is uneven, but a lot of fun at its best moments.

I'm pretty familiar with this album, having revisited it periodically over the years, and despite McAloon's at times Brian Wilson-esque grasp of pop genius, this isn't a super accessible record either. Thomas Dolby's synths and approach to the tonal feel overall has a clinical, impersonal emphasis, but his meticulous approach elevates the best songs ('Looking For Atlantis', the title track, 'Machine Gun Ibiza', 'The Ice Maiden') and makes even the cloyest romanticism tolerable ('All The World Loves Lovers', 'One Of The Broken'). That said, the production is a love it or hate it affair (sampled horn synths in all their glory).

This is one of those albums where some trimming would have benefited things, but when you want to explore a mutltitude of different ideas (such as American identity, the nature of celebrity and religion, etc) you are bound to meander a bit. And it's not a bad thing at all.

8.5 out of 10

Great review Ant

I looked up this band and apparently they're sort of poppy prog, or sort of proggy pop. This album seems quite well liked in some circles, but I can't say I've ever heard any mention of neither the album, not the band.

After a couple listens, I'm afraid that what characterizes this album first and foremost to me, is how sweet, soft and sentimental it is. It's got absolutely all edges filed off entirely and comes off as saccarine and naive as an Enya record. In particular the vocalist strengthens this expression, with his soft, breaty crooning - as if he's perpetually stuck in lullaby mode.

There's some musical variety on this album for sure, but I can't help but be reminded of several bands that I don't like. Genesis, Steely Dan, Phil Collins... There's this smoothed out sophistication to everything, where it's so overly determined to be pleasant and soothing that there's hardly any expressive power to these songs. I feel like the album is trying to put me to sleep, all the will slowly waving it's hand as if to assure me that it means no harm.

The ballads are where the album fares the worst, with "We Let the Stars Go" in particular being just too much syrup for one pancake.

"Carnival 2000" has a more fun musical arrangement than any other song on the album, but it's still got this quality to it where it's just all a bit too starry eyed. The singer pretty much ensures that I would never be able to fully get on board with any of these songs.

Everything is super nicely recorded and performed, but I don't think I'll be able to listen to this again without a pack of 10 insulin injection pens at hand.

I voted "disliked it".

So sorry Troll, I really tried.

MicShaz, no problem. I'm used to people crapping on my albums now. I am a little surprised you thought it was all so poppy and nice, as from what I know of them, Prefab weren't seen that way, though in fairness their singles were all pretty much vacuous and poppy on the surface (remember "The King of Rock and Roll"? No? Here's a reminder. Who could forget a video where lifesize hot dogs dance with frogs beside a pool? :laughing:)

But there's a lot of political intent in McAloon's lyrics, if you listen. I'll elaborate on this in my own review later. But not to worry: I didn't like your last rec and anyway, we're all putting our albums out here with the understanding that they may be trashed. Two people have liked this one so far, so that's better than I could have hoped for, even if everyone else ends up hating it.

It's all in the way they sound. The textures of everything come off as so soft, bright, cute and sunny that I've got a hard time appreciating it. I recognize that the songwriting is generally very well done, but the sonic experience of the album as a whole really does rub me the wrong way.

I don't remember if I've literally trashed every pick of yours so far, but it's possible. No wait, I did like that Nick Cave album! I just remembered that.
But I disliked the Divine Comedy. Win some, lose some :laughing:

I had pretty much the same reaction to this album as I did to "The Blurred Crusade" by The Church, so I'll re-post my review for that one (with a couple of edits.)