Search - Spandau Ballet :: Diamond

A Classic

W. Heape | Atlanta, GA United States | 01/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was never interested in the radio-friendly version of Spandau Ballet. "True" is a great pop song for those who like pop. It belongs to the "most played on easy listening stations" genre for sure. What Spandau Ballet accomplished prior to "True" is what interests me most. "Diamond" is their greatest achievement in my opinion. It's what the band set out to do ultimately. On "Diamond" Spandau brought together the sounds of electro-pop and the New Wave/New Romantic movement with their strong love and interest for American funk/soul. I appreciate it when a band has a vision and acts on it. Unfortunately, their later efforts got watered down in the interest of radio play. For those who love songs like "True" and "Gold", these earlier works may not be for you. On the other hand, if your only knowledge of Spandau Ballet is the later work, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the earlier. Fans of bands like Gang Of Four, The Cure, Style Council, etc. will most likely enjoy "Diamond". Fans of the current 80s sound (bands like Interpol, !!!, Radio 4, Hot Hot Heat, etc.) will like it as well."

Supercool

C.M. Johnigan | San Francisco, CA USA | 07/24/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Not quite as good as 1983's True or 1986's Through the Barricades, but still worth hearing for the ice-cold machine funk of when they were still the world's biggest cult band. The standout tracks are Chant No. 1, Instinction, and Coffee Club."