Erasure's best album

Funny how a band best known for their 80s material ends up releasing their masterpiece in the 90s, isn't it? Erasure's "I Say I Say I Say" was a smash in 1994, and deservedly so. It featured some of the best late-period New Wave music ever recorded.



From the chart-topping hit "Always" (with its beautiful analog synth tones), to the frenetic "Run To The Sun", to the soaring soundscapes of "The Man In The Moon" (the second radio single), this CD is pure pop perfection.



Andy Bell's voice has never sounded better (listen to his talent shine on "Take Me Back", for example), and Vince Clarke's keyboard work reached new heights with this release.



This album is required listening for any fan of New Wave or synthpop. Five stars!

My favorite Erasure CD

Although most Erasure fans might consider THE INNOCENTS their favorite CD, I have to chose this one. Why? Mostly because I believe this 1994 release not only captures the duo of Andy Bell and Vince Clark at their artistic/creative peak, but it also is incredibly easy to listen too, even though it navigates through many different styles of music.



From the opening track "Take Me Back" all the way to the soft ending of "Because You're So Sweet", Andy Bell's vocals are superb-full of nuance, sensitivity and energy. I don't think he's ever delivered a better complete vocal performance on one CD (although he has delivered better individual performances on some tracks of other Erasure CDs).



But what makes Andy's vocals shine so, is the intricate, amazing setting that Vince Clark has created for them. Not since his early work with Yaz and Alison Moyet, has Clark found a better match for his style.



Of course, the track "Always" was a top 40 success, but in my view, it's one of the weakest tracks on the CD. My favorites are "So The Story Goes", "Blues Away", "Run To The Sun" and "I Love Saturday".



Never has this duo sounded more free, more engaged and more adventuresome, and the only other Erasure CD that comes close to achieving what this CD does, in my view, is COWBOY.



So, if you are a new Erasure fan, and haven't heard this CD, I highly recommend it. If you are a longtime fan and have never placed this one at the top of your list, I suggest you give it another shot!

The very best Erasure's ever done...

Simply put, this is Erasure's best album to date. The music is not too simple, neither is it too complex. Andy's vocals are at their most melodic, sweeping the listener with styles from pop to falsetto to almost operatic. This album begins with the tender "Take Me Back" and doesn't disappoint from there. There's not one bad song on this record. For the hardcore Erasure fans who want dance music, two of their best dance tracks are on this album: "I Love Saturday" and "Run to the Sun". Also, their most under-rated album cut is on here, "All Through The Years".



While people may say to never judge a book by its cover, it doesn't apply to this record. Even the brilliant album art complements the music on this record. If you like synth pop or if you're interested in checking out Erasure's music, don't pass this one up. It's one of the best albums I've heard.