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THE OUTFIELD | It Ain't Over | (Warning Tracks, 1999)
Kiss The Rain / Girl Of Mine / It Ain't Over / Midnight Moves / Dance (The Night Away) / Lay Down / Slow Motion / My Girlfriend's Girlfriend / Talking 'Bout Us / It's A Crime / Chic Lorraine / Out To Lunch
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Their debut "Play Deep", released in 1985, showcased a superb pop flavoured AOR style that apparently proved commercially right at the time as it ended up selling more than 3 million copies.
4 more albums followed, sold approx. 3 millions together, before they packed it in around 1992/93. It should be said though that their last effort "Rockeye" was a brilliant affair, arguably one of their best efforts - if not the best.
Their new effort "It Ain't Over" doesn't really pick up where they left off with "Rockeye". I would rather claim that they have continued along the line of the 2 "new" songs ("It Should Have Been Me" and "Through The Years") from their best of CD "Big Innings" from 1996. A tad more laidback, a little softer compared with sounds off of "Play Deep" and "Rockeye" for instance. By the way that best of CD has got to be one of the best ever made. A superb way to discover their music!
"Girl Of Mine" is a prime example of what The Oufield is; poppy and hookladen melody with a sentimental feel. And of course the high pitched vocals from Tony Lewis is still there.
"Midnight Moves" is another delivery of that high quality hookladen pop. This time also with nice keyboards pasted all over the chorus.
"Dance (The Night Away)" and It's A Crime" are more laidback but nonetheless good. As is the title track and "Lay Down", which is a bit more up tempo.
Although there isn't really anything negatively upsetting about the album, would be the demo sound, the overall feeling never reaches above good. Which by no means is bad, I just expect more from this talented outfit.
This is however not the final offical release, only a limited edition of what to come. According to the official website (www.theoutfield.com) it looks as the official release will feature 10 songs off of this plus another 4-5 newly written songs.
Review by: Stefan