briefs

Rip It Up, Issue 46, 1 May 1981, Page 16

briefs

The Soft Boys Underwater Moonlight (RTC) This lot have failed to move from their confused 'Anglepoise Lamp' indifference of '7B. Led by Robyn Hitchcock they try on all the styles musically and as Such the sor.gs end up as aimless, random pastiches of 'dirty' rock; whatever that is. Avoid. GK Loverboy (CBS) ' ' Tim Finn told me in America Enz were promised T Got You' could be moved from place 50 up to (the all-important) place 30 if SIOO,OOO was handed over to the right people. Enz, vigorously, declined the offer, and 'I Got You' stayed where it was. . Loverboy, who play utterly routine . it's-worked-before-so-let's-do-it-again American heavy metal, sound as. though they had their SIOO,OOO. ready .even before they bought the guitars. RC Roger Taylor Fun In Space (Elektra) The Queen drummer can write a nifty tune, and he's certainly versatile stylistically, but what you get on this largely self-played solo is basically what you would expect ten songs,' maybe two . of which would squeeze their way onto a Queen record. Production-wise,-like Queen, this sounds as though it was poured from a tube. RC.

The Cretones - Snap! Snap! (Planet) The Cretones were unfortunately associated with Ronstadt's forgettable Mad Love album, a fact which drove people away from their actually quite reasonable Thin Red Line debut. Album two mines similar hook-pop sources, dry- . ing up a little on Side Two; but hitting you effectively at the start of Side One. RC Diana Ross . To Love Again (Motown) A compilation album of MOR pop written and produced by Michael Masser. If you've heard ''Theme from Mahogany" (which is included here), you'll get the picture: lush but uninspired arrangements and confessional "My Way"-type . lyrics. Black music for Barry Manilow fans. AD Various Artists Cash Cows (Virgin) Thirteen tracks from the Virgin vaults, unrelated, and generally superior examples of the artists'- work. Magazine ('Permafrost') and PIL ('Attack') have offerings from their live albums, The Ruts contribute their last single before Malcolm Owen joined The Long Methadone Queue In The Sky ('West One' one of their finest recorded moments), Fingerprintz are Motors-like on their best song, so far, 'Yes Eyes', XTC are represented by 'Respectable Street', Gillian are bloody awful, and 'Dirty Blue Gene' will hopefully turn more punters on to Captain Beefheart's excellent Radar Station album. RC