Search - Average White Band :: Feel No Fret & More

Indeed Feel No Fret-This Is All Good.

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 09/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Scotland's own Average White Band had been around for eight years at this point.Up until now their career had been marked by peaks and valleys-both huge commercial successes and critical acclaim as well as career slumps and the death of a founding memeber.Still SWB soldiered on and grew up.Seven albums later they came up with 'Feel No Fret' in 1979.With an album cover dressed in sky blue this album stands heavily in contrast to the soft pop and dance music dominating the radio at this point in time-and for AWB indeed the dawn of a new day.

'Feel No Fret' is in fact a fantastic album,in fact maybe among their best.The quality of the songcraft is very high and the music ranges from soulful to funky to breezily sweet.On the title track and "When Will You Be Mine" the bands gifts for a strong groove and a catchy tune are in full swing-both songs have that great Stuart/Gorrie rhythm section working in full swing and splendid vocal arrangements-not to mention being funky to the nines."Please Don't Fall In Love",the bouncy "Atlantic Avenue" and "Ace Of Hearts" look to a gentler state of mind but no less energetic,same goes for th pretty ballad "Too Late To Cry".The album rounds off with the dance oriented "Fire Burning".

It's not surprising at all the despite it's 1979 release that 'Feel No Fret' has nothing what so ever to do with disco.What is a little surprising is that none of the music here particularly sounds like it comes from the late 70's-an era marked by heavy electronics and often slick production.And those are great in the right hands but AWB opted to stick with their classic sound as they had since the beginning.And either in spite or because of this happy musical surprises such as this album were bound to fall from the sky and brighten ones day."