Like Uranium Dynamite4 Out Of 5 Stars
In 1980, the long lamented progressive rock station Starview 92 in Harrisburg/York started playing a great new wave ditty called "Radioactive." As a huge fan of Elvis Costello and The Attractions, I was trying to figure out why I hadn't heard this song on any EC album or B-Side. The answer was simple: the band was from Chicago. Scott Wilk and The Walls released this lost New Wave rave-up in the year of "Armed Forces" and did their utmost to pass him/themselves off as an American Elvis. The cover art screams 80's and the back cover photo of Wilk, wearing goofy glasses with the rest of the band in tight, fishbowl style close-up did nothing to deter the "Armed Forces" allusions. One thing, though. "Scott Wilk and The Walls" was a darn good album.
In addition to the previously mentioned "Radioactive," there was "Suspicion," a pure EC piece of paranoia that also picked up some localized airplay and even had a video made around it. Wilk's keyboards as sophisticated and nervy, there's a dark sense of humor that runs through many of the songs. Joe Jackson even gets a nod on "Instant This, Instant That," and producer Michael Omartian lays down a nifty piano solo on the final song, "Shadow Box Love." Yes, for those of you who follow such things, the same Michael Omartian who the same year delivered Christopher Cross's cheesy debut delivered a production job here worthy of Nick Lowe.
However, Chicago and Central PA must have been Wilk's lone pockets of fandom, as the debut stiffed commercially, and an argument with management and record label left Scott Wilk and The Walls high and dry, even with a large chunk of songs ready for a follow-up. (You can find these for download as "The Lost Session.") For those of us that can't get enough of the prime skinny tie new wave that was embodied by "This Year's Model" or "Look Sharp," "Scott Wilk and The Walls" is an absolute must. I've been waiting for this one myself a long time.
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