Scarlet and other stories --- All About Eve --- 1989 (Mercury)
After the excellent self-titled debut from this band, I was really looking forward to their follow-up, which appeared in 1989, a mere year later. But this is a far different album to the debut. It's far darker, heavier and well, less accessible than “All About Eve” was. Since it's starring in this slot, you can probably work out that I didn't like it.
Unfortunately, for me it was a real disappointment, though it starts out well, with the opener “Road to your soul”, which keeps up the quality and songwriting from the debut.
As indeed does “Dream now”
But then you get “Gold and silver”
Not to mention the title track
Followed quickly by “December”
Now, I know there were personal issues clouding the making of this album, hence its dark tone, but really, this sounds like the band just weren't trying! When you end up with tracks the likes of “Tuesday's child”
“Hard Spaniard”
and the closer, “The pearl fishermen”
you just can't help but be disappointed, when you compare the albums. I'm not saying this is a terrible album, but after the excellent debut it's a huge let-down, and I can really only say I like (or at least, don't hate!) the first two tracks. It's just not what I expected, and I was really sorry I bought it, which doesn't happen very often.
One clear indicator that you're not going to enjoy an album is when your attention starts to wander, songs and tracks slip by unnoticed, and before you know it the album is over, and you haven't really heard it. This is how it was first time I listened to “Scarlet and other stories” --- after the first two tracks I began to slowly and increasingly lose interest, till by the end I really couldn't care. This, sadly, is how I again feel, having listened to the album through again. My opinion has not changed.