“Real To Real Cacophony” by Simple Minds - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1979Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s

TJR says

Just 7 months on from their debut, the second long-player from the Glasgow five-piece arrived in November, 1979, once again produced by John Leckie for Bruce Findlay's Edinburgh-based Zoom Records label. They remain: Jim Kerr (vocals), Charles Burchill (guitar, violin, saxophone), Derek Forbes (bass), Brian McGee (drums, percussion) and Mick MacNeil (keyboards). A concerted effort is made to develop their own trademark sound, but I'm not convinced that's achieved, and Jim Kerr's vocals lack character and strength, perhaps not helped by being too low down in the mix. What I would say is that it's a more cohesive effort than the debut, and places them firmly in the forward-looking camp alongside Devo, Japan, XTC, Ultravox et al. It's a move which had to be made to ensure survival, even if I myself don't enjoy it as much as the debut.

The Jukebox Rebel
09–Sep–2016

Tracklist
A1 [02:47] 4.7.png Simple Minds - Real To Real (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) New Wave
A2 [02:21] 4.6.png Simple Minds - Naked Eye (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) New Wave
A3 [02:53] 5.7.png Simple Minds - Citizen (Dance Of Youth) (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) New Wave
A4 [02:49] 5.6.png Simple Minds - Carnival (Shelter In A Suitcase) (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) New Wave
A5 [04:13] 6.2.png Simple Minds - Factory (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) New Wave
A6 [01:40] 4.1.png Simple Minds - Cacophony (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) Post-Punk
A7 [03:20] 5.0.png Simple Minds - Veldt (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) Avant-Garde
B1 [05:29] 6.4.png Simple Minds - Premonition (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) New Wave
B2 [04:11] 6.5.png Simple Minds - Changeling (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) New Wave
B3 [02:27] 4.3.png Simple Minds - Film Theme (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) Electronica
B4 [05:05] 6.1.png Simple Minds - Calling Your Name (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) New Wave
B5 [03:31] 5.2.png Simple Minds - Scar (Jim Kerr, Charlie Burchill, Derek Forbes, Brian McGee, Mick MacNeil) New Wave

© The Jukebox Rebel 2005-2020 All Rights Reserved