Arc Of A Diver

Editorial Note: I’ll be doing a preemptive review before listening and a second, post-listen, review of this record. Pre-Listen Review: Oh, jeesus - a Steve Winwood record from 1980. That’s like drinking milk 12 years after the sell-by date. Post-Listen Review: Refer to Pre-Listen Review.

I did not enjoy this cut-rate, Peter Gabriel knockoff, Casio keyboard, yacht rock turd of an album. The opening track, "When You See A Chance" is considered Winwood's best work and, friends, I gotta be honest. That's not a compliment. It's bad. The drum sounds are cartoonishly fake and the synths are bad even for the time. I tried really hard to find something good here but, the more I listened, the more frustrated I became that THIS is what Winwood decided to do with his solo career. So much talent just... gone to waste.

1001 albums to hear before you die.. I feel like death is preferable to listening to this again

I can go for this type of 80s cheese sometimes. I have no particular nostalgia for this album but I was familiar with the lead track. Some of the choices of synth tones are a bit cringey at times. Where I start to have a real problem is on "slowdown sundown" - it sort of breaks the sound he had going for this folksier/rootsier thing and it sounds really out of place. I like "Spanish Dancer" alright but it is mixed so weirdly with those hyper prominent synth notes that it's kinda off putting. "Night Train" probably works best for me overall? By the time it got to the last track I just wanted it to be over (and it's not a long album). I like some individual tracks by him but I can't hang with it for a whole album. 2.5 down to 2.

Traffic pleasantly surprised me. This... this is horrible. Tepid arrangements and ugly synth pads make this yet another embarrassing entry in this shoddy list.

straight heat 🔥 set my ears on fire from the first ten seconds 10/10

Spotify lists Steve Winwood as a 'slick upscale mainstay of adult pop' which makes me feel like a real square because my dad would definitely make fun of me for liking this album. This is 'normcore' in the sense that this album is so normal and palatable that you have to go out of your way to feel anything about it, but this album makes me feel like a mid 80s yuppie in the best sense.

Guy is good. Cant deny it.

A fine album that finds Winwood with a new confidence thanks to his writing partnerships. The result is a strong group of songs in which Winwood plays all the instruments. Highlights include the title track, the catchy While You See a Chance, and the soaring album closer, Dust.

Big fan of Winwood. Not his best album but a classic of the 80s.

Just great, soulful pop music, nicely done. "When You See a Chance" is the obvious classic track here, worth the price of admission just for this song. "Arc of a Diver" and "Slowdown Sundown" are lovely as well. Nothing on here I didn't like. "Second-Hand Woman" was probably the weakest song overall. Yes, the top-of-the-line-for-1980 synthesizers are admittedly a bit dated. But it's forgivable thanks in large measure to Steve Winwood himself. You can't shortcut his talent as a vocalist with a machine, that lovely soulful and timeless voice. Bonus star for the fact that Winwood plays all the instruments on this album, and adeptly so. Fave Songs: While You See a Chance, Arc of a Diver, Dust, Slowdown Sundown, Spanish Dancer

Winwood going synth would have seemed very odd in 1980, but in league with his blue-eyed soul songwriting chops the whole package works very well.

Terrible right out of the gate. I hope the rest of the album isn't this bad. Yep. This is rough.

nah, not for me - figure this guy only had "higher love" and then there's a whole album without it on there, worries me that the other album will be in here too

wow that opening synth riff is STRONG. Sets a rad 80's tone right away. Obvious he and Phil Collins worked together from that track alone, and the rest of the album only solidifies that bond. It is disappointing that it trails off into mediocrity at the end. Looking at the Side A and B divisions, I'd give side A a 5 for fun synthy pop, and side B a 2.5. The whole thing gets a 4 because of what it almost was, but I'm left feeling disappointed.

Good, but was it really outstanding? I'm not convinced, but I'll probably give it another whirl sometime.

"Whoa. Hang on. It's all good. I got a Steve Winwood CD in my car. I'll go grab that." - Dennis Reynolds (IASIP)

- Only knowledge of Steve Winwood before this was Higher Love or Dennis from Always Sunny - Boring 80s pop - Wouldn't listen to it again

started out pretty fun, got kinda boring later tho

Most excellent indeed

loved it

80's GOODNESS. Not a bad song on the album dude. Absolutely grooving the whole time.

excellent

FANTASTIC

I just really love the energy of Steve Winwood's voice, throughout this album and all of his music

Really appreciated this y'day. Great music. A slightly generous 5

In 1986 I fell in love with Steve Winwood’s Back in the High Life. I played the heck out of that album. After several months I then bought Arc of a Diver. I fell in love with this album too, although it always ran a close second to the later release. One of the unexpected pleasures of this project has been the opportunities to revisit albums I already know with fresh ears. I really can’t remember the last time I listened to this album, but it could have easily been 20 years ago. It’s pretty cool to hear this moment where a seasoned artist re-launched his career… a solid foundation for Winwood becoming 80s musical royalty. Back in the day Steve Winwood was just an 80s star… I had no idea that I was witnessing a really impressive reinvention. I just loved the music. Although I still prefer Back in the High Life, I’m still very enthusiastic that this terrific album made it on this list!

For better or worse, the '80s (and the '70s) had a lot of cheesy music. This genre of 'dad's playlist during a roadtrip' or 'uncle hitting the karaoke machine' might be my favorite. Steve Winwood does the grown-up soul-pop-rock hybrid really well, and even with the synths it doesn't feel gimmicky. Outdated maybe, but still a great listen. Plus, he has a great voice. I am giving everyone who worked on this record a massive side eye for creating a song like Second Hand Woman though, which just made me roll my eyes at how prehistoric it was. That aside though, I can't lie that this was banger after banger. Standout tracks are While You See a Chance and Arc of a Diver.

Great! I really enjoyed this album.

Amazing

banger!! i like the synths. favorite songs: secondhand woman, night train

Really hooks you in from the first song and doesn't let up. Such a great album and will have on repeat for a while.

Love this album - both when it came out and to relisten today

Great album and very nostalgic for me. Have recently got on vinyl. Great Tunes : arc of a diver, spanish dancer and while you see a chance which presaged Valerie on his next album

Great album, great mixing, good to leave it on and listen for any occasions.

Classic

A great chill album!

Wonderful!

Such a fun album. Second-Hand Woman is amazing. While You See a Chance is fantastic. Slowdown Sundown is a song I could picture my parents listening to in the living room when I was young young. Last few songs on the first disc kind of fall off but I will be coming back to Steve Winwood often. He has the added bonus of really reminding me of my parents' music. A nostalgia that will continue to tug at my heart.

Really groovy and exciting. 5 stars.

I think I was in the perfect mood for this. I know a few of them anyway. My favourite Winwood song is Valerie, on his next album - so good that he is consistent. Second-Hand Woman, While You See A Chance, Night Train, and Spanish Dancer stood out. Thanks Steve.

Very 80’s, but an absolutely delightful listen.

A classic

A classic

I really liked this one! In the vein of Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, etc. Made some good endorphins. :)

Love this album have not listened to it in years

Incredible album of all the best songs, my reaction: https://images.app.goo.gl/bXxv3s3uRng8CrSY9 [surfer man tahiti paris 2024 olympics]

Average reviewer on this site: The guy from Traffic released an extremely plastic sounding yacht rock album 🙄 Me, a paragon of taste: The guy from Traffic released an extremely plastic sounding yacht rock album 😍 Four stars.

I don't usually give 5 stars to an album I heard for the first time, but today it happened, once again, that immediate connection that music gives me from time to time (I've been very lucky, because here on this site, this has happened a few times ) and it reminds me of the principles of everything: why I started listening to the albums on this site, why I listen and make music every day and why I love music so much. I feel really lucky! I already knew Steve because of Higher Love, but after this album today, I will definitely get to know his work in more depth!

3 listens, got better with each one. All instruments played by Steve. Would have been really cool to hear in 1980. Its sonic texture is dated and closely linked with 80s new wave, but ahead of the curve and easy listening.

So 80s it hurts my teeth. Some great tunes on here. More impressive when you find out her played every instrument himself. A few songs last a little longer than they should, and we could've skipped "Dust" all together. Also, "Spanish Dancer" legitimately sounds like a song from the Spyro soundtrack. Favorite tracks: "When You See a Chance", "Spanish Dancer"

3.5 stars for me.

I can feel the blues influences, however it also differentiates itself. An inspiring person and an inspiring album

solo artist. great mix of vocals, synths, drums. Really like the songs While you see a chance, arc of a diver, spanish dancer. Created in the artist's home.

Would listen to more of Steve Winwood

Enjoy the sound of his music

Loved this! Great songs, awesome music, cool vocals. Super solid. 4.3

Parecido a Phil Collins. Un poco folk también. Le daré un 4.

Synthy, 80s soundtrack feel opening. But good melodies.

Тупа чил. В начале оттолкнуло архаичными синтами, но потом ухо попривыкло. Вступительная While You See A Chance как раз самой балдёжной предстала. Если вдуматься, то альбом состоит из достаточно примитивной и не особо оригинальной музыки своего времени. Но работает то складно. Тем боле этот звук 80-ых ныне развития особого не получил, так что спустя тридцарик лет кажется вполне интересным. Если в целом ценить эстетику. Я то в своё время Journey гонял, вот там схожая атмосфера. Ну и всё же фальшью не веет, звучит то искренне. В общем, Батя одобряэ.

Asd

good

ha estado guapo la verdad me ha gustado bastante chill

Enjoyed this album more than expected. The first song has a unique start. Arc of a diver is a great song. All of the songs are better than they should be and the instrumentals pair well with winwoods singing style. 7.7/10

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Good album. Impressive he played all the instruments on the album. I agree with the reviews not a 5. Its between 3.2 and 4.1.

Nothing else on the album nears the peak of "while you see a chance", but the album is largely enjoyable and though i'd skip second-hand woman if listening to it, and songs like night train find a great groove.

I don’t like pop

So many songs I liked in the 80's and I never actually learned the name of the person.

This album brought me joy in a 1 hour commute drive

Pretty good cheese rock

Jammin' 80s pop. Can't ever go wrong with that.

Nice album, great runtime and good mix of songs and instruments

Solid album with a very unique rock sound incorporating lots of piano and synth. Massive respect to him for playing every part on the album.

solid sound, got better with more listens.

Interesting opener - until the vocals kick in, it sounds like the opening credits for an Eighventies sports show. It's also worth noting that I have a bit of a bias towards Brummie musicians... So this is unlikely to be entirely objective! Arc of a Diver has some strong Steely Dan vibes - and that's a good thing. The rest of the album washed over me as I worked. I am surprised at how poppy this is, given that my perception of Steve Winwood was more of a blues/rock/prog artist. More shocking is that it is good (but not great) pop. I had always assumed that Higher Love and Valerie were exceptions in his career, but it turns out he is actually a very talented pop writer - somewhere between Phil Collins and Donald Fagen. A surprisingly good album!

I liked it. 👍

Very nice album. Great vibe. Funky tunes. Liked the first couple tracks the most

Lovely album

Sounds like Phill Collins. Enjoyed, nice and chill. Easy listening

A little psychedelic and synthy, but actually overall pretty good.

Unique sound, like someone was consciously trying to do an 80s sound after the 80s were over, sounds pretty influential considering when it was written.

jag tycker om den! men vet inte om jag gör det eftersom han låter som phil collins? oklart, det låter jag vara osagt. men det svänger katten.

I really like this album. Sounds like so many other influences, yet Steve Winwood is somehow so unique.

Great album

I should buy a boat.

Soft rock really isn't my thing but this was much more enjoyable than I expected. Would definitely listen again, though I much prefer Winwood's earlier group work.

fun listen, i got surprised by it and I enjoyed it :)

80s synth cheese, yes I'm game. Got weaker as it went on but still enjoyable

Seems like slightly proggy late 70s pop. Bit of a Phil Collins vibe. Very inoffensive, but not too sickly sweet. Lots of talent, good songwriting and tasteful players. Also, 39min is the perfect runtime for an album I've never heard before. 4/5.

Hey I liked this! Synthy samples with a very 80s feel.

I should buy a boat.

While You See A Chance is a great track Synths are really well orchestrated and the drums are nice too Singing is well done I dont have a ton of bad things to say about this album. I really liked it which I wasnt expecting 7/10

Incredible pop rock with soul notes. I enjoyed more than I admit this album.

Every song is really good, they all seemed well polished. No duds on this album.

i enjoyed this more than i thought i would. it’s not my favorite, but it is catchy and fun!

This was a fun album. The first half was more fun than the second but it was funky and the keyboard synthesizer thing was used really well. It's the most 80s sounding instrument you can get but it sounds great here

This album - and in particular the lead single - will never not transport me to being a little kid / 1980 / good times. No way to remove the nostalgia from any objectivity in this one for me. In saying that, this is a highly melodic album with jazzy twists and turns. Nothing really comes close to matching the opening track "While You See a Chance" which is pretty much melodic softish-rock perfection, although the subsequent "Arc of a Diver" is a left-turn that showcases the best of Steve Winwood (who, incidentally, played all the instruments on this album). After a few ok tracks the album picks up again on the second half with "Spanish Dancer" and "Night Train" - the former stays restrained and the space keeps the tension throughout the song while "Night Train" has a catchy repetitive groove that works well. It's not perfect - I'm not a fan of the album closer "Dust" at all; could have used a better end to this album which overall is enjoyable. In particular I've always enjoyed the sound on this album - nice mix Steve. 7/10 4 stars.

I really like this album; I knew the first song right off the bat but i actually hadn’t heard any others and i thought they were really interesting.

Bravo pour la musique en sah (pas beaucoup plus a dire en particulier mais j'ai bien kiffé la vibe tah 80s et les ptits solos de synthé mama zboui zboui zbouiiiiiii)