PARADISE IN DISTRESS

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The eighties and the nineties were not really the best decades for this good band (except ''The Hole''). How will they close the old millennium?

This album is very long (almost seventy minutes) which is considerably more than usual for GE (even in the nineties, their albums clocked at an average 40 to 45 minutes).

This work opens on some negro-spiritual affair ''Paradise In Distress'' which leaves me breathless. What's this??? The first song that is worth a mention is the very good and punchy ''Evil Love Chain'': GE as we all like them. Rocking band with Barry in top form. At least they still know how to write good old rock music. It is not obvious while you listen the syrupy ''Darling'' or ''One Night Without You''.

The band also pursues its inclination for funky-disco beats during ''Take My Hand?'' and later on during the weak ''Déjà Voodoo''. I have never been a fan of these diversions in their repertoire and this particulars one won't change my mind to tell you the truth.

As usual as well, while GE expands their composition, we often get a better song. It is fortunately the case with ''The Fighter''. A fine and emotional vocal intro and an upbeat main section (featuring even some obvious keys!). The whole is very melodic and should be consider as the highlight from this ''Paradise?''.

Under these circumstances, the rock ballad ''Whisper In A Crowd'' can also be considered as above average, even if these AOR sounds aren't my cup of tea (same applies to ''Bad news?''.

There is little interesting stuff on this album so far. It would inevitably gained in being shorter. Still, the band has placed one excellent song towards the end of the album (this is a habit of theirs): ''42nd Street'' is another powerful rock tune which sounds from another era, but this sort of song is always welcome!

Actually, the last third of the album is much better and saves this work from the one star rating. There is no musical revolution with ''Fluid Conduction'' but the band signs again a very decent rock track which could please any of their fans. Their melodic work we all appreciate is given a second birth. Nice!

If ever you like ''Dire Straits'', there are good chances that ''Desperately Truing To Be Different'' will please you. Not bad at all I must say: it is kicking, rocking very well. I told you: the closing parts of this album deserve a listen (Gambler's Blues'' also deserves a mention and is actually more a heavy rock song than a blues one).

There are too many weak songs to make this a good album. Two stars is my rating (let's call it five out of ten).