Search - Michael Franks :: Skin Dive

Rob Mounsey to the rescue!!!

01/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was blown away by Passionfruit (Rob Mounsey produced all 3: Passionfruit, Skin Dive & The Camera Never Lies) there was no way he could possibly top that one and I was wrong. Skin Dive (1985) was amazingly different but as perfect as Passionfruit. I waited for this one to come out and bought it and taped it and went to Europe for six weeks. I was just getting acclimated to the songs when I took my walks in Berlin and Paris. What an excellent summer and Franks was there with me. What can I say, I fell in love with Skin Dive. I listened to it over and over for years and now have it on CD. Franks has always been there during the great moments in my life with outstanding new music. Thank you Michael Franks, thanks again for being there!"

1985 again

john | texas | 06/26/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"your heart will begin to admire the sensitivity of this breathy singer. you may laugh at the almost cool, half wet, mussed hair, in michael's attempt at fitting in with the hot 80's crowd, displayed through upbeat inclusions of 'let me count the ways', 'don't be shy', and 'queen of the underground'. 'when i give my love to you' is a male/female duet that will make you 'surrender to the fantasy', a pretty, flowing, touching dedication. my favorite is 'now i know why', that sounds like it belongs in a romantic 80's movie, with the line, 'why is your heart resurrected, just when you least expect it', and a tick - tock rhythm like a heartbeat. 'when she is mine' ends the cd with slow, classic romantic jazz: bass, sax, piano, and drum brushes (charming). overall i was impressed with the poetic verbalizations, selection diversity, and sensitive personality of this cd."

Excellent Entry Into Fusion

James Fenos | Columbus, OH United States | 11/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded after a two year break, Michael went head first into electric music. This album is wholly electronic, "Passionfruit." the album before this one, experimented with synths and the like lightly. Michael also experiments with multi-track vocal overdubbing and vocal doubling effects. "Now I Know Why They Call It Falling" is a prime example of Michael's vocal arrangement in the overdubbing vein. Moving away from electric, "When She Is Mine" is a moving jazz ballad surrounding Michael in a full horn section. "You Secret's Safe With Me" was a radio hit, this is the song that helped me discover Michael. Remember the video? It was in heavy rotation on the infant channel VH1. Michael was walking down a rainy street wearing a black trench coat. Not really creative, but it was his first attempt. I'm a huge Brenda Russell fan as well as Michael's, the duet "When I Give My Love To You" is sweet, I've often wondered whose idea it was for Brenda to do all the background vocals. I feel the song would be a bit warmer if Michael had a helping hand harmonizing with her backgrounds, it worked for the Carpenters. "Queen Of The Underground" displays Michael's interesting word choice for lyric, his vocal is run through a vocoder for added effect; the track is almost danceable. The opening track "Read My Lips" is an upbeat tale about secret love..."Don't be Shy" is a song actually built around a synth drum riff. This album overall is more upbeat than anything Michael had recorded to this point. It may mark time as eighties music but it's still thoroughly enjoyable."