keepers - 2
keeper avg .286
Obviously influenced by the ongoing punk explosion that included Radio Birdman, the guitar sounds are cleaned-up considerably, placing the sound of this album right next to contemporaries The Police, especially the slow, bouncy "Dust". Their producers hadn't yet discovered gated reverb and other 80's gimmicks that date the otherwise great 10 to 1 record, so just hot, intelligent, and energetic guitar work is front and center. Live classic "Powderworks"**** in particular includes all of these ideals, transitioning seamlessly from punchy riffs to atmospheric arpeggios. "Used And Abused" and "Run By Night" are straightforward punk, but the rapid-fire verse riffs of "Head Over Heels" channel Devo's keyboard effects, and the floating intro of "Surfing with a Spoon" borrows but reinterprets elements of Dark Side Of The Moon, so there is more going on here than the aussie Clash. "Nothing Lost, Nothing Gained"**** in particular defies categorization, skillfully combining Pink Floyd's jazzy chords and George Harrison's guitar textures. It's a little flabby at 8:30 but the beautiful moments like the towering guitar theme make up for that. Overall not all the writing on the record is the strongest, and Garrett's vocal delivery has been criticized, but that's not so bad it can't be ignored.
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