I am sure everyone in this whole wide world had listened to Simple Red’s single Stars when it came out. Guys from Simply Red had a nice career going on at the beginning of the millennium. First they called it off in 2010, and then they reunited in 2015. Their chemistry is strong enough to make them release another album and get some attention due to their old fame. Band Simply Red does not change anything on the new album, except there are some modern tricks here. There are signs of life here, but Simply Red are simply not as alive as they once were.
From the perspective of the style, this is a retro record that relies on Al Green’s opus. Lead singer, Mick Hucknall, has been the only constant over the years. His vocal allows him to sing about beautiful and terrible things equally good. Infatuating rhythms, nice vocal, great play, songs are ok. Everything is made by the rules. Songs are good enough not to irritate you, but they are average enough to be ignored.
Opening track Shine On is like a middle aged woman who wants to dress like a teenage girl. Most of the album is a solid soundtrack for telenovela that has annoying dialogues. The best track on the album is The Old Man and The Beer. With brilliant piano play and Hucknall’s epic vocal, this number calls you to play it again. Another good one is Each Day that shows how Hucknall still has the emotion. The rest of the album is meh. I have spent 30 minutes waiting for something to move me, but I ended up empty handed. It is like when you are tentative to watch a romantic movie because you want to have a pathetic catharsis, but all you get is to roll your eyes.
I am not trying to be shady, but I believe the world would be equally happy If Simple Red did not get reunited.
