A hidden gem from Mike and the Mechanics
Christopher L. Parker | Greenville, SC USA | 06/07/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Now my Mike and the Mechanics collection is complete with this album... I held of on buying this one as I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it turned out to be... I was pleasantly surprised and have found myself listening to it repeatedly. I purchased this based on the Hits album and have found that my favorite songs are those that are not on the Hits album, especially Track 5 "The Way You Look At Me" Track 9 "Let's Pretend It Didn't Happen" and my favorite on the album (and one of my favorite Mechanics songs now) Track 10 "Before (The Next Heartache Falls)" - an amazing song that builds and is very energetic, with a great beat.
This album is a must for any Mechanics fan and by anyone that appreciates highly technical music that is slickly produced and with amazing vocals by the late Paul Yound and the groovin' Paul Carrack (whom I am collecting all his stuff now)."
M & M Best
damonous | Willoughby, OH USA | 09/14/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Just happened to see the 2004 Mike + The Mechanics + Paul Carrack concert on TV in HD today, and it caused me to dig back into my CD archives. Mostly, because I needed to hear the Paul Young tracks with original vocals again. No offense to Carrack's attempt to cover, but Young really had some strong, passionate vocals in his time. And, never was it more evident than on this album.
I am in agreement with several here that I was perplexed at the time this was released in 1991 that it wasn't a huge hit album. But, if I recall, this was the time when 80's bands were starting to be given the 'cold shoulder' by the record industry (I'm sure that sounds unbelievable to those fascinated with the 80's revival in the 2000's) in favor of 'Alternative Rock' (which itself was an oxymoron, since it was really what mainstream record companies were promoting at every turn). So, although certainly Mike Rutherford's "main band", Genesis, had some great success around this time; they were also "sure money" to the record execs. Mike + The Mechanics was not.
Certainly, nothing in this album wouldn't have proved to be a smash hit, were it to have been released 5 years earlier. It's a shame, because I believe on tracks like "Word of Mouth", "Everybody Gets a Second Chance", "Stop Baby" and "Before (The Next Heartache Falls)" --they really hit their stride with excellent production, lyrics, and music.
Unlike "The Living Years" album which was a bit of a downer thematically & musically for me, or "Beggar on a Beach of Gold" which was terribly uneven and musically obtuse -even bizarre at times; the "Word of Mouth" gives great rock when it wants to ("Get Up" & the title track), and lets out some refined passion & lyrics for the rest. Throughout it all, melody is a key constant ingredient ... the most since their first album, and less prone to meander into odd rhythms.
In all, "Word of Mouth" is an outstanding pop album. And, if you really love the 80's (not just the radio 'hits' that are endlessly replayed these days), and are interested in this band, you owe it to yourself to check it out."
One of My Faves...
Thomas W. Boehling | 01/06/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Some really good, original, adult contemporary pop here. The songs are melodic, catchy and diverse. Excellent musically - it gets much play still."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1