Quote:
Originally Posted by aleuzzi
I agree. This is a major reason why I prefer ITM to the 1984 record. On ITM, she sounds relaxed and laid back, even when the occasional song is hard-driving and “up”. The arrangements are occasionally a little static (non-narrative David once said) but the sound is bright, breezy, and spacious.
The 1984 has great highlights (One in a Million, Ask Anybody, and Smile I Live For are top tier) but overall the slick cliches in the production and the three non-Christine songs on side 2 drag the album into middle-of-the-road territory. About half the album really hits. The other half is, to me, forgettable. By comparison, I can listen to ITM straight through…
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I agree with every word of this. In 1984 I was taken aback how country her solo album sounded in parts. Songs like I'm So Excited, I'm The One, and even Love Will Show Us How has a little country sound. Her letting others write and perform with her impacted the sound. It grew on me and I liked the unconventionality of a woman who started out with the blues, rock and pop had this sound.
However looking back, I wish she would have had someone force her to do the solo album herself. It just needed a few punches of power here and there. Its a fantastic album and on par with ITM but ITM is a better listen through in its entirety. Both are great albums and Chris never had any bad songs so its a really tough choice.