Early Simple Minds

[Glenn Bruns <bruns@mcc.arpa>]

I've been surprised to see the Simple Minds flames lately; I guess
they're too mainstream for most of you.  More surprising are the
many comments (most recently by Robb Leatherwood) stating that their
early work (notably "New Gold Dreams") was superior to their later
stuff.  

I like most of New Gold Dreams, especially "Somewhere in Summertime",
but the songs seem to lack the coherent, distinct style that
Simple Minds displayed on their following album, "Sparkle in the Rain".
New Gold Dreams contains several synth-based tunes that
sound like NewWave meets ProgressiveRock (i.e., dull and boring).  
The best example is the longish song featuring Herbie Hancock as 
guest noodler.  Compare this to, say, "Up on the Catwalk" on Sparkle 
in the Rain.  The sound, though still quite electronic, is 
organic - it doesn't sound like cliched synth-sounds layered in  
the studio.  If I kept my albums at work, I'd give more examples.

Their new album?  After about 6 listenings I don't think it
has the style or songwriting quality found on Sparkle.

-- 
Glenn Bruns 
MCC, Software Technology Program
arpa: bruns@mcc.arpa     
uucp: ut-sally!im4u!milano!bruns