Angelic Alex sounds simply beautiful 1 STATE Edition

• Published in: Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia : 1931)
• Main Author: Lauren McMenemy, Patrick McDonald, Jon Hart, Dan Lato, Chris Hackett, Sheryl-Lee Kerr
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Adelaide, S. Aust Nationwide News Pty Ltd 04.10.2001
• Subjects: Carey, Mariah; Lloyd, Alex; Sayer, Leo
• ISSN: 1039-4192

Not so for [ALEX LLOYD]. The follow-up to 1999's Black the Sun has Lloyd back with a vengeance, bigger and better than ever. While its predecessor was a melancholy, somewhat electronic album, Watching Angels Mend is more upbeat, happier, a bit rootsy and is guaranteed to get Lloyd a wider audience. Proof that all that glitters ain't necessarily gold, this sees [MARIAH CAREY]'s (pictured) magic finally lose its sparkle. Most of it feels like a '70s-'80s retro album, thanks in no small part to producers Jam & Lewis, of Janet Jackson fame. They throw in a rehash of their old band the Time's Didn't Mean to Turn You On, complete with keyboard sounds circa-1984, Control-era arrangements and Prince- like guitars. In other acts of funk resurrection, Rick Superfreak James adds a smooth groove to All My Life, while Cameo's throbbing Word Up-style rhythm is the only redeeming feature of the failed single Loverboy. The 13 songs on this album are mostly a delicate balance of diamond-cut riffs, pop injection and Shirley Manson's textured voice. With variety aplenty, styles range from the boppy Can't Cry These Tears to slow ballads Cup of Coffee and Drive You Home. But it's the plethora of polished pop rock, with standouts Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go), Untouchable, Androgyny and Til The Day I Die which give the album its sharp, uplifting edge. It is only the whiny pop rock melody featured in Shut Your Mouth which offers a glimpse of the Garbage of old.