480 - George Michael - Faith

Just as I don't feel that Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by Smashing Pumpkins is a concept album and yet the title fits a theme that runs through the album, such is my feeling about George Michael's album Faith. The songs on the album explore faith ("Faith," "Hard Day"), who we have faith in ("Father Figure," "I Want Your Sex," and "Look at Your Hands"), misguided faith ("Monkey," "Kissing a Fool," and "Hand to Mouth"), and losing faith ("One More Try" although many of the songs refer to a loss of faith). Frequently, sex is contradictorily depicted as a way lovers explore OR distract themselves from the question of faith. In George's relationship world, the pairs don't seem to be equals, but superiors and inferiors - fathers/babies, teacher/student, preacher/follower.

The album starts with the title track where the protagonist is hoping to have faith in his new lover after being betrayed. This declaration for his need for faith is placed upon a swinging ditty of a song. The mood is slowed down for "Father Figure." Is the protagonist longing for a lover's faith in him or is this a story of incest? Is "But sometimes love can be mistaken for a crime" referring to homosexual sex or incest? I don't know, but the song is damn pretty.

Then comes the song we've been waiting for - "I Want Your Sex (Parts 1 & 2)." It is Part 1 that you'll recognize from the radio (assuming you weren't only exposed to the "I Want Your Woo" radio edit) and has one lover begging the other for faith in him so they can get nasty. I will never understand the addition of Part 2 or "A Last Request (I Want Your Sex Part 3)" at the end of the album. Part 2, in particular, sounds like the cheesiest possible re-imagining of the song as a Tom Jones Las Vegas showcase...in the most awful way one could imagine.

As I listened to the album, I found the songs better than I remembered, but I'm really annoyed with how the tracks are arranged: swingin' "Faith," followed by the somber "Father Figure," then the semi-funky "I Want Your Sex," and switch gears again to the ballad "One More Try." The second half doesn't have the big hits of the first half, but the tone and flow of the songs is a bit more even keeled for me.

Songs I knew I liked: I used to have this on cassette, so I've known and liked many of the songs - "Faith," "Father Figure," and "I Want Your Sex" are the tracks I was eager to hear when I saw this album on the Rolling Stone list.

Songs I didn't know but now like: I was pleasantly reminded of "Kissing a Fool." If you like this track, then you must grab George Michael's next album "Listen Without Prejudice, Vol.I" since that album really embraces the tone of this song.

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: Parts 2 and 3 of "I Want Your Sex" and I still dislike "Monkey."

479 - Richard and Linda Thompson - I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight

Take rock-folk and instead of American country, infuse the music with Celtic influences instead. Now, I say "influences," but the music on I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight are thick with Celtic instrumentation and vocal delivery you expect to hear in an Irish pub.

The album isn't my cup of tea, but the songs are well written, have interesting aspects, and are beautifully sung. While the traditional aspects often get your focus, there are modern elements that pop up occasionally to shake you from passive listening - the guitars on "The Calvary Cross," in particular.

Songs I knew I liked: None

Songs I didn't know but now like: "The Calvary Cross" just blew me away. I love that song so much. The other songs that I only "like" are - "When I Get to the Border," the title track, and "Down Where the Drunkards Roam"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: The last third of the album didn't do much for me. Again, not because the music is bad...just because this isn't a style of music I clamor to listen to.