REVIEW:JIMMY SOMERVILLE:
Manage the Damage
by Billy Tweedie
Working with cowriter and coproducer Sally Herbert, Somerville has crafted a fine
dance-pop album. There aren't any big surprises lurking within these 11 tracks,
just a batch of tasteful arrangements and nuanced production accompanying
Somerville's unfaltering falsetto. "Something to Live For" opens with a pop-ballad
intro, but soon shifts gears into an uptempo, affirmative dance track tinged with
melancholy. The song's attitude and vibe recall '70s disco classics like
Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive." Manage the Damage's high point is the
masterful pop gem "This Must Be Love," in which Somerville's relaxed
singing is propelled by a trip-hop undertow and then a swooning bridge
blossoms into a lovely chorus that's both dreamy and irresistibly catchy.
The disc's last tune, "Rolling," features floating strings buoyed by a hypnotic
bass line. The accompaniment nicely supports Somerville's vocals on this
well-chosen closer. What can I say, he was the soundtrack of my youth and it's
great having a new album of material. The tracks range from decent to great which
is a better average then the recent Pet Shop Boys album or anything released
by Boy George in the last decade. But Jimmy, hook up with better mixers!
Get to New York and work with new blood! Stop being so English, would ya?!
The superb CD includes several tracks that continue his love/talent for the
disco/dance anthem ("Something to Live For" or "Stone", for example) and
the bellowing of the first track ("Here I Am") is reminiscent of the best of Bronski
Beat. However, what I found best were those tracks where Somerville updates
his sound by successfully delving into more recent styles (dabbling in trip-hop
and techno) such as on the recriminating "Dark Sky" or especially on the melodiously
catchy "This Must Be Love" (great single!). Other favorites are "Someday Soon"
and "Rolling". This is a welcome addition to Somerville's talented career.
What I like just as much as Sommerville's voice is that this album has the sound of
something that won't grow immediately stale, and it's great finding a CD I can listen
to all the way through without skipping tracks. Lush, dramatic and beautiful pop album.
Jimmy's distinctive voice is very strong. Vocal arrangements and lyrics sound more
confident than ever. He has definitely carved out a niche for himself apart from
Bronski Beat and the Communards. Fans of good pop albums will enjoy this release.
On a footnote here Jimmy if you are reading, we met backstage at the Daisy Chain in
London, and I wanna know, did you ever leave that Frank Sinatra look-a-like alone?
©2002 BILLY TWEEDIE
