Search - Stevie Wonder :: In Square Circle

Part Time Lover

Josephll | CET | 12/14/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In 1985 Stevie Wonder came back with his first studio album in 5 years to most fans excitement. Wonder had taken the 80's by storm and scored more hits then ever but his creativity had subsided to give room for pure Pop instead of Soul. Considering that this album came out in 1985 it's not that strange that some of the songs rely on synthesizers and drum machines which sound rather dated today but "In Square Circle" is considerable better then the soundtrack album he made two years ealier for the film "The Woman In Red" and some of the songs here are simply outstanding. Here you find the catchy uptempo "Part Time Lover" a huge hit that topped the billboard charts and is one of his alltime best. For alot of people this was probably the first exposure to Stevie Wonder's greatness. If you listen closely to the end of the verse, you can hear Luther Vandross's humming. Second song "I Love You Too Much" is another great number, a love song where Wondeer prove he still got it. Other good songs are the South African influnced "It's Wrong (Apartheid)" with African chants and drums which deal about the obvious thing stated in the title. A brilliant ballad called "Overjoyed" that could have been released today probably takes the price as the best song. It's about finding that special one and to feel "Overjoyed" by that experience and hoping that the other person feel the same about you. "Wherabouts" may not have the catchyness but it's lyrics are wonderful about a man trying to capture the moments in the past where everything was working fine for him with love and happyness. Two funky numbers with "Go Home" that was a #10 hit and good for the dancefloor and "Land of La la" which probably got a double meanming when it talks about finding fame and success in LA and then sings land of La LA in the hook which stand for something else. The last three songs, "Strangers in the Shore Of Love", "Never In The Sun" are quite forgettable midtempo/lovesongs while "Spiriual Walkers" is a synthesizer friendly pop song. As a whole, "In Square Circle" is a good enough purchase with plenty of memorable songs. It's the last good album from Stevie Wonder. In particular "Overjoyed", "I Love You Too Much" and "Wherabouts" are hidden gems that proved that Wonder still had it. There isn't that much more to say other then if you like most of his music you're gonna like this one aswell even if it's not among his better albums."

This is a great album

Jason R. Ridenour | Bay Point, CA (YAY AREA) | 10/16/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""In Square Circle" was the first Stevie Wonder album that I had heard. This album does not compare to his 70's output (i.e. Innervisions, Songs In The Key of Life, hence the four star rating), but this is a great album in its own right. I see this album as the bridge between the 70s Stevie and the Stevie of today. This album definitely sounds like it was made in the 1980s (it does sound dated), but Stevie was still writing beautiful songs. In my opinion, "It's Wrong (Apartheid)" is his best protest song (better than "Dark 'n Lovely" from Characters and "Happy Birthday" from Hotter than July) that Stevie has ever done.



Ranking the songs

1. Part Time Lover (10/10)- one of Stevie's best songs

2. I Love You Too Much (8/10)-an OK song,but sounds like filler to me

3. Whereabouts (10/10)-a very underrated song

4. Stranger on the Shore Of Love (7/10)-probably the weakest cut on the album

5. Never in Your Sun (9/10)-Stevie gets down on the harmonica

6. Spiritual Walkers (8/10)-great beat, but that's about it

7. Land of La La (8/10)-see above

8. Go Home (9/10)-Should have been a bigger hit

9. Overjoyed (10/10)-One of Stevie's best ballads, in the same vein as "Lately"

10. It's Wrong (Apartheid) (20/10)-a great way to end the album, and the album's best song."