Mike + the Mechanics - The Living Years

A few tracks at a time...

Four stars? Yes. I enjoy the first two tracks so much that this album, because of them alone, deserves four stars. tracks 3 - 10? Individually they're all good in their own way, but one after another? They feel like inspirational self-esteem buinding pieces. The kind you'd workout to in an 80's film before going and giving you're long time bully his comeuppance. One after another? I'd have to be one step from jumping to need this entire album all at once. I would recommend this album...a few tracks at a time. June 30, 2008

A True Classic

"The Living Years" is probably the best Mike & the Mechanics album, thanks mostly to the title track. For years, I've known the song but could never figure out who the band was until I read a few reviews here on [...] and then I went ahead and got it. After a complete listen of the album, I can say this is one the best albums of all time.

Of course, the self- titled "Living Years" is the standout, the soft rock song sung by Paul Carrack with that unforgettable choir that comes in during the chorus. Carrack also contributes to the "Sledgehammer"-like "Don't", "Nobody Knows," and the dark yet powerful song "Why me?" Good news if you're a Paul Young fan, because he does much more of the singing on this album. From "Nobody's Perfect" to "Beautiful Day," each song is hard-edged rock (compared to the first album) and demonstrates the talent of Paul Young. "Poor Boy Down" "Blame" and "Black and Blue" are some of the best songs ever made. If you like 80's music or just adult contemporary in general, these songs will make your day. From beginning to end, I enjoyed this album and have no negatives to say about it.

In addition to "The Living Years," I recommend their first self-titled debut, "Beggar on a Beach of Gold" and "Word of Mouth." Try them all and you just might surprised what you're missing. "The Living Years" is a must-have for every fan of music.

The "Mad Mind" has spoken. June 4, 2008

great for easy listening

i love this cd and i listen to it almost everyday the lyrics of the music on this cd are meant to inspire without being to preachy and it acomplishes just that. October 11, 2007

The Living Years...and Eternal Living

Mike Rutherford and Paul Young will forever live with their touching tribute song, "The Living Years."

The beautiful vocal harmonies, the lyrics blend in with your soul (At least it did mine), and it made me realize how special living with the people you care about really is. You have to appreciate the people you care about when you have the chance, and I have to say, thanks to this song, I am a better man.
I appreciate my loved ones, more so now than ever before, and whenever I play "The Living Years", it will always make me glad I stumbled onto this song when listening to Casey Kasum's top 40.

October 14, 2006

Good rock album from them

I think that Mike and the Mechanics did a better job on this album from 1988 than their 1985 debut. The other one sounded like Genesis-lite, something Phil Collins could have done. But this album is meatier in the rock themes and rhythms. Living Years went to No. 1, perhaps one of the most emotional songs from the '80s as Paul Carrack sings about his late father. But I want to defend the album's first single, Nobody's Perfect. I can't BELIEVE that nobody caught on with that single, and it only peaked at No. 66 in the Hot 100 in 1988. It's very unique with its sound effects on the keyboards and a strong emphasis on the music. Maybe nobody was ready for that kind of song, but the band was ahead of its time. But the album wins on all fronts in the musicianship and Mike Rutherford should be commended for this solid pop effort of his side band outside of Genesis. They released an album in 2005, 20 years after their debut, so forget their being on VH-1's One Hit Wonders show-- they're still rocking! June 26, 2006

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