For longtime fans of Dexys Midnight Runners, or just Dexys, as Kevin Rowland's band has mostly been known since 2003, the band was always so much more than "Come On Eileen." That wonderful piece of the 1980s was a gem in its time, but not truly indicative of the music the group made.
Dexys offered musical depth and soul, not one-time folk/dancehall accidents. Listening to the band's catalog is an experience of high-end quality, worthy of being heard time and again.
That doesn't change with the band's most recent release, Love. Music lovers who haven't heard much from Dexys other than their seminal single from the 1980s might be surprised by the sound, but longtime fans of the group should be satisfied.
Dexys Midnight Runners produce another gem with Love
The record begins with "My Life in England Pt. 1," a track with a singalong chorus that has more than a twinge of disco involved. One can shuffle their feet, and the song will likely force them to.
"You've Got the Love" follows in the same theme sonically, and doesn't hold up quite as well as the opening track. The vocals are too prominent in the mix, and the constant "you"s get a bit stagnant by a minute in. Love is a well-made album, but this song is skippable unless you have an adoration for the theme to Love Boat.
The third track, "Once a Man, Twice a Child," has a subtle groove that is somewhat ironic for a ballad. That makes the entire song work, and while Rowland's voice isn't as strong as it once was, just wait for the high note midway through.
"I Want to Be Holding You Next Christmas" has a vocal track that might remind some of Jarvis Cocker's more speak-sing tracks. That isn't a bad thing, and the musical underlay is quite beautiful. Again, the only thing wrong with the record overall is that the vocals are simply too dominant in the mix.
Tim Buckley's "Strange Feelin'" gets a rendition, and Rowland's voice is less oppressive. Instead, the jazz-tinged track is one of the real winners from the lovely album because the production is better. Not to be unclear, as there are no raw edges to the sound, but Andrew Watt might have been a good choice to engineer Love.
"It's Over Now" is an upbeat gem that should be played multiple times, while the song that follows, "Old Love," is more of a slow-burn drone. The two tracks work well in the flow of the record, especially as the finale, "My Life in England Pt. 2," is a banger of a jam and a fabulous way to close an album that is stronger at the end than it is at the beginning.
Overall, Love is a worthy buy. That holds whether one has been a fan of Dexys Midnight Runners since the early 1980s or has just started listening to the catalog.
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