Search - 10cc :: How Dare You!

Clever and talented pop writing

B. E Jackson | Pennsylvania | 02/19/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"YES! 10cc brought back the humor, sophisticated songwriting, and clever lyrics of the first two albums! I have the belief that the Original Soundtrack was a slight... not necessarily a mistake, but just a slightly weak effort thanks to a couple songs.



How DARE You! is such a solid listening experience from beginning to end, and I'm happy 10cc delivered with a classic.



The title song is an instrumental. An odd choice to open the album with a song like this, but by THIS point, oddness is something that just comes with the territory whenever anyone mentions 10cc. It's a rather fantastic instrumental too, and it takes a few close listens to appreciate.



"Lazy Ways" kind of reminds me of... me, haha. Actually the vocals feel a bit like Paul McCartney in spots, and even some Eletric Light Orchestra in other areas (such as the middle instrumental part, which is great). These lyrics are really great and actually make the vocal melody better when you pay attention to them.



The NEXT song is why I love 10cc so much- "I Wanna Rule the World" is the weirdest song ever, haha. I hear too many musical ideas for my brain to comprehend all of them at once! A song like this definitely takes at least four or five listens to fully understand. I hear vocals that resemble Paul Simon one moment, and the Bee Gees a quick moment later! This is seriously a great example of clever songwriting.



"I'm Mandy, Fly Me" was the big hit, but come to think of it, I've *never* heard classic rock radio play it ever. Not even once. This song feels serious but I don't think it's meant to be. Clever humor perhaps? Sort of like "I'm Not in Love" sounds serious but who knows if it really was meant to be taken seriously or not. Anyway, the vocal melody is terrific once again.



"Iceberg" is exactly like "I Wanna Rule the World" in that there must be at LEAST 20 different amazing things about the song that absolutely rule. The lyrics about being an orphan, and being in trouble ever since being in a basket on the freeway cracks me up every time. What an underrated band and album.



Looking for a break with a normal pop song? "Art for Art's Sake" fits the bill there. You will love that chorus because it's immediately memorable. I don't know what to make of the rest of the album. "Rock 'n Roll Lullaby" is just... weird, haha. Talking about the sandman coming to get you, but played like an old fashioned ballad. It's cool.



10cc really delivered with this underrated classic. Awesome band, awesome songs, awesome albums- 10cc should be talked about among the very best pop bands of the 70's."