Search - Psychedelic Furs :: Midnight to Midnight

A pop album - but a very good one

trainreader | Montclair, N.J. | 06/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I remember when Bob Mould, the driving force of the punk band Husker Du, formed the band Sugar and released the terrific "Copper Blue." On an interview, he said something like he didn't realize he could write such good pop songs. Well with "Midnight to Midnight," the Psychedelic Furs, continuing the trend started on some portions of their prior album "Mirror Moves," can clearly make the same claim. I don't know why the members of the band, in their pictures on the album, all look like they're on their way to some seedy all-male disco (hey - there's nothing wrong with that!), but "Midnight to Midnight" with its shimmering melodies and songs about love and heartbreak, is a very good album from start to finish.



As in "Mirror Moves," the best song on this album is probably the first track -- "Heartbreak Beat" with its slow build-up and uplifting chorus (can anyone sing a phrase like "And it feels like love" as convincingly as Richard Butler?). The title track is also quite excellent ("love is no law, love is no crime" -- huh?), and "Shock," "Shadow In My Heart," and "All of the Law" are other stand-outs.



One quibble I have is that in these later albums, Butler doesn't appear to put in too much of an effort lyrically. Early albums contained more obscure themes, whereas here, the lyrics seem to be an after-thought. In any event, I thoroughly enjoy "Midnight to Midnight," and like the band's subsequent, somewhat darker album, "Book of Days," even more."

Good album

Analog | Planet Earth | 02/13/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"From what I gather of P.F. fans, there are two kinds, the ones that like this album, and don't really like the rest, and the ones that hate this album and love the rest. I guess I am one that likes this album, but I do like the rest also, just not quite as much. I can understand why some fans dislike this album, it is their most polished and slick recording. Even the band admits this and considers it a fault. I guess mainly why I like it though is due mostly to the nostalgic value. Heartbreak Beat, Angels Don't Cry and All Of the Law remind me of some of the best times of my life, when I was a kid. I own quite a few albums by the Furs, including Talk, Talk, Talk, which most hardcore fans would admit is their best album, but I still like Midnight better. I like Butler's voice on this recording, it sounds a lot less harsh, much more listenable. I won't say emotional, because all of his vocals were that, but his voice is so smooth on Midnight. Plus it has such a classic, great 80's sound. I am also a fan of Love Spit Love, and this album reminds me most of that. I think everyone has heard Heartbreak Beat at one point in time, it was such a huge hit, so I would recommend buying this album if you like that song. For everyone else, it's going to be hit or miss, so listen before you buy it."