Review:

on 2011-05-08 CharlesMartel Said:

After the passage of time since its release, this has turned into a largely forgettable pop album from a largely forgettable britpop outfit. Texas' work very much fits the definition of mid- to late-nineties pop. Like water, it quickly slakes the desires of thirst, but then thirst returns with familiarity and the music just feels the same as the last time you tasted it. The music doesn't grow on you or find a special place in your feelings. It just is. I therefore downgraded my rating on this one because it does not stand the test of time.

Texas had originally started out as a rather undistinguished pop outfit along the lines of many Scottish bands of the early and mid-nineties. But somewhere along the way, indeed in the period immediately leading up to this album being released, something happened to them. Someone seemed to have realised that something could be made of Texas -  money principally, but that actually there was a talent which could be moulded and utilised to achieve a distinct aim, namely pop stardom. Texas were given the full pop-band treatment: a producer was brought in to make the sound slick; Charlene Spiteri was given the image makeover - clothes, hair, make-up the lot - and lo and behold, a new pop act was born.

Now normally I despise these sorts of creations as false and intended solely to provide a means for someone to make a lot of money. Yet in Texas' case I am prepared to make an exception for they still retained a sense of what they had been before and a hint that they were always going to move little from that. The only problem with that was that it was tinged with equal hints that the lure of money and fame would prove too strong for the band to resist.

The truth is that Texas never really decided what they wanted to be. Charlene Spiteri had obvious designs on being a pop star in the Blondie mode, but the rest of the band were always too anonymous to fit that particular bill. As a result, like a Democrat Presidential candidate on a seesaw, Texas flip-flopped around the charts without ever making a substantial and lasting impact. They became a by-word for inconsistency and suffered as a result. After a brief time in the limelight they lost their way and began to fade from view.

OK some of the songs are good - "Halo" and "Black Eyed Boy" being the obvious examples. The guitar work is what stands out though all too often that is not given the free rein it deserves. Texas are best when they move towards rock and away from the lighter, more transient pop. But then they probably feel they could not compete if they did that all the time.

There is one final beef I have with this album. I really hate it when bands put in brief untitled fillers known only by the length of time they last. There are two of them here on this album. Oasis did it too on "What's the Story Morning Glory". It is second only to including irritating unnamed tracks on albums, especially after overly long gaps in between.

So, a once great album now sliding from view. Shame really.
Rating: 5/10