Search - John Waite :: No Brakes

Good start... now howzabout the rest of his catalog?

Willem Admiraal | 02/09/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If one added "Change" from IGNITION, "Every Step of the Way" and maybe "Just Like Lovers" from MASK OF SMILES, and "These Times are Hard for Lovers" from ROVER'S RETURN to this album the perfect John Waite solo compilation would exist. Forget the dull TEMPLE BAR or catatonic WHEN YOU WERE MINE. NO BRAKES is one of the lost gems of rock 'n roll. Overwhelmed by the 800 lb. gorilla that is "Missing You" are several incredible tracks, like the follow-up, albeit lesser, hits "Tears" and "Dark Side of the Sun" and the "Missing You" B-side, "For Your Love", all of them passionate rockers, a side of Mr. Waite's musical personality sorely missing lately. The man used to rock. One may quibble a bit with the oblique quality of several lyrics, but that didn't keep "Missing You" from it's place in pop history. Now if only someone would reissue the rest of his catalog before his fan base forgets why they wore out his cassettes in the first place. Especially since the Babys albums are due for reissue in a few weeks (2/01)."

One of the greatest

Willem Admiraal | 12/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I think that No Brakes is one of the best albums of John Waite. It is full of energy and emotion. People that like "Missing you" should listen to the album before buying it. The rest of the songs have a little more energy...."

Guilty pleasure? Bad album? Something in-between?

11/21/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I had heard of John Waite and had heard some of his music prior to "Missing You," but I never thought about purchasing any of his albums before. When "Missing You" was released I just had to have it. Unfortunately, I could not find a 45 of the song (it was sold out everywhere I went) - so I decided to bite the bullet and purchase the "No Brakes" album ot get the song, something that I never did because I had (still do) the "I-must-like-at-least-two-songs" rule before I bought any album. Anyway, I rush home and play the album and I was unpleasantly floored by the album. The order of the songs on the album didn't make any sense! The bombastic "Saturday Night" then you immediately hear "Missing You"?! The lyrics on "Dreamtime/Shake It Up" and "Euroshima" cause inadvertent laughter. The other hits off the album "Restless Heart" and "Tears" barely registered with me. "Love Collusion" must have been written as an afterthought. Trying to place the needle just right on the album to hear a song you do like - in order to avoid hearing the end of a previously bad song was a nightmare! Eventually, I just stopped playing the album. Strangely enough, I have come back to the album and have found myself enjoying the loopiness of the album, the wackiness of some of the lyrics and the simple sweetness of the hits. I enjoy John Waite's voice and he has written good songs, but I still have to say that this album overall doesn't showcase either of these talents very well. Yet, I still plan to purchase the CD so that I can try to figure out what he was thinking when he put this album together."