Color of Song
4 Out Of 5 Stars
Long known as a songwriter's songwriter, this 1997 compilation
is (thus far) the only collection of Jules Shear's long and quirky career. It contains his many career incarnations (band member of a Dylanesque collective, New Wave Frontman, then Band Frontman, then acoustic bohemian) while spotlighting his eclectic yet literate lyricism. "Horse Of a Different Color" also showcases the hits Shear penned for Cyndi Lauper ("All Through The Night"), the Bangles ("If She Knew What She Wants"), Alison Moyet ("Whispering Your Name") and his single top 40 entry, "Steady" (which he co-wrote with Lauper).It has to be said that Shear isn't the best of vocalists; his reedy, somewhat wavery voice might be what held his short of his own stardom. That voice works best in the 80's format with Jules and The Polar Bears' "Got No Breeding" and "I Give Up." When he folks it up - with Marty Wilson Piper of The Church - he does acoustic mistral pretty well. That makes for the last two songs here from his 1989 IRS album, "The Third Party." Yet no matter what style he explores, Shear's gift for melody and hooks is forefront.
Even on the shoulda-been hits (like the oft covered "If We Never Meet Again"), you get the feeling you've heard the songs and sentiments all your life. "Horse of a Different Color" wraps up in 1989, but Shear has been making consistently delightful, low key albums since. Some of the older efforts have begun appearing digitally - all the Polar Bears material, but sadly, not the Reckless Sleepers or EMI albums. (The Polar Bears are noteworthy for giving the world keyboardist and producer Stephen Hague; New Order and Pet Shop Boys among others.)With luck, you can find a couple of those or maybe we'll eventually see a box set that adequately covers his body of work.
No comments:
Post a Comment