10 OUT OF 10

At this time of their career, 10CC won't produce any sublime albums nor songs. But this album is definitely better than "Look Hear". That's obvious.

The duet Stewart - Gouldman reviving forces and writing catchy and pleasant songs again. Needless to say that the same great vocal harmonies are present on this album. Each song holds them. Their reagge-ish style being also present (but this is the case since "Bloody Tourists"). "Overdraft In Overdrive" is here to sustain this fact.

The beatles-esque sound could not be forgotten of course. The best one in this genre is probably "Don't Turn Me Away". No wonder that McCartney asked Stewart to collaborate on some of his works. "Memories" is another one of these. Some reggae flavour can also be noticed during the last minute. A bit strange a combination though.But the band remains on the good track with "Notell Hotel". A truly "10CC" song.

The duo is even writing a great satiric song. Same sort of five minutes "rock opera" like in the good old days. A vitriolic critic of this type of social class. Mixing some French words (always classy) in this serious attack : "Les nouveaux riches, when they très fatigué they fly, off to the sunshine, they set jet away, they don't get a kick, they don't get a buzz man, they talk in circles, they not for us".

I would just say that this does not only apply to "les nouveaux riches". The whole bunch of jet-setters are described in here.

It is amazing how these two guys managed to pursue with their so typical song writing (don't forget that these two wrote "I'm Not In Love"). This album has of course NOTHING to do with prog. Related or not. No wonder that this album (or this band in general) did get so little reviews on a prog site to which they don't belong. But I like them an awful lot.

"Ten Out Of Ten" is a good pop album with great vocal arrangements and powerful melodies. That's what you'll get. Just name it! : "Action Man In Motown Suit" another good pop / melodic song. "Listen With Your Eyes" : just another jewel of a melody (OK, on the mellow side). And the closing "Survivor" is only just behind.

Don't expect anything else than a good pop album.. You won't get it. The band is just" producing another good album. Remember, this was released in 1981.

This is of course not worth "Ten Out Of Ten" but still three stars is my rating.

This album is a step up from the dismal "Look Hear?". Eric Stewart and Graham Gouldman have dumped their entire band, and have brought in only Andrew Gold on keyboard, percussion and some backing vocals. And the album is somewhat of a success.

The 10CC sound is back to a point. The guitar and keyboard sounds are very familiar, although I do get somewhat bored with the reliance on reggae rhythms (something they have used as a crutch since their success with the song Dreadlock Holiday).

Lyrically, the album is better than the previous one, as well. There are puns ("I got a message from my broker. he said he broker than me"), self depreciating humor ("I started with nothing, and worked my way down"), and even a steamy vignette (No tell Motel).

This album is by no means up to par with the records they made before the band split, but it shows that Stewart and Gouldman still had some life left.