Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Starts with a synthy squelch squelch squelch.
I don't remember hearing this artists name, but he songs are very familiar. Easy listening, but not exceptionally memorable.
Boring 80s tripe
1001 albums to hear before you die.. I feel like death is preferable to listening to this again
its good, just not my thing
so... this is like some adult contemporary nightmare where Billy Joel and Phil Collins have merged into the same dude who happens to think he is Stevie Wonder. The cover pretty much tells you what you are getting into.
Ok album.
The synth keyboard is horrible. 2 stars
Wrapped in his cheesy duvet.
plunging into a warm slurry of casio yacht rock
Too much cheese.
Favourite songs: Slowdown-Sundown, While You See a Chance, Arc of a Diver, Second-Hand Woman Least favourite songs: Spanish Dancer 4/5
This was a fine listen, albeit a bit background noisey as it went on. I enjoy Steve Winwood's voice and approach, but I pretty much find myself wanting to hear most of these tracks performed by Traffic instead. Favorite track: Night Train
Have always been a fan of Higher Love and Back in the High Life Again but unfortunately neither of those tracks are on this album.
oK.
Dull. Could have been the soundtrack to Beverley Hills Cop 3. I much prefer his earlier work.
This is pleasant enough, early 80’s pop, very synthesizer driven. Good to very good, but a little bit soul-less. I see that Winwood did everything here, writing, producing, engineering, all instruments. That, along w/ the synth emphasis, probably account for this. “While You See A Chance” was the big hit, which does suffer a bit from having been really overplayed. There’s some nice moments here, especially “Night Train”. But “Dust” found me checking to see how much was left…. That one is not worth the 6:20 devoted to it. Solid 3, but nowhere near a 4. I’d rather listen to anything from Traffic, Spencer Davis Group, or Even Blind Faith (Winwood’s earlier bands). 3/5
I thought it was pretty good! I liked Colorado and Johnny's Garden
High tier classic soft rock. Just a shame that I'm not a fan of soft rock :(
Really not my kind
3.7
Very fine
I usually find Steve Winwood albums somewhat uneven. Often there are some great, even iconic, songs mixed in with lesser material. Arc of a Diver is no different. That said, this was the album that breathed new life into his career, giving Winwood a major boost going into the 80s. While You See a Chance was a significant hit on both AM and FM radio at the time. I often heard it playing somewhere in my dorm during my early college years. The title track is another great song and major hit. More important, this set up a whole string of hit albums and songs including the song Valerie in 1982, his best album of the era, Back in the Highlife Again (1986), and the song and album Roll with It (1988). After that, he ran out of steam and became more of a cult figure with little mainstream impact. Maybe it was luck, or maybe it was the sound, but Arc of the Diver and Winwood's subsequent hits became staples of MTV during its heyday. So, even though Arc of a Diver is not spectacular, it had major impact on Winwood's career and the sound of the 80s
Chill, good music. 6/10
Very smooth and soulful vocals, catchy choruses, extremely well played. Interesting to compare with The Night Fly reviewed a few days ago, which is more interesting, but poorer vocals. Bridging a gap between soul/pop and prog. I’m sure Pink Floyd lifted Night Train for Run Like Hell!
I liked the music. The lyrics and vocals….not so much
No me gustó, para nada. Re insulso, me hizo acordar a Phil Collins.
Never heard of the guy before now, seems like the type of music people’s parents would have listened to on holiday in Majorca in the 80’s. Night train was funky enough, reminded me of a vice city kind of song.
Good album, synths, 80s vibe.
Very 80s synth pop - nice album
5/10 Inoffensive Highlights: Night Train
"Arc of a Diver" by Steve Winwood, released in 1980, is a smooth and introspective journey into the world of adult contemporary rock. The album's title track, "Arc of a Diver," is a standout with its dreamy atmosphere and Winwood's soulful vocals. The production is polished, characterized by lush instrumentation and well-crafted melodies. While it doesn't break new ground or match the commercial success of some of Winwood's earlier work, the album offers a mature and reflective listening experience. "Arc of a Diver" showcases Winwood's growth as an artist and a transition towards a more polished sound, earning it a solid 3/5 rating.
That’s was the longest 39 minutes and 51 seconds of my life.
Okay album by Steve Winwood. Some nice guitar solos, rather average voice, a lot of 80s sounds in the background, which was very unnecessary. Good and solid record, but certainly not special in any way. Happy to move on.
I mean, I guess Steve Winwood should be represented as a "sound of the 80s" kind of thing. But I dont think that this album would be anything that anyone would say everyone should hear before they die. 2/5
First track was recognisable but the rest of the album was forgettable.
1/7, 14%
Easy listening
Very 70s sounding with some Electronica thrown in. Not majorly my cup of tea but a few good songs. Had a kind of jazz feel to it, too.
Fun Album, Nice tunes
starts good after the middle it's pretty filler
Amazing
Not my style but not bad for the 80s soft rock
Digger albumarten dåe
surprisingly good.
Whitest music ever made
There are better Steve Winwood albums
I hadn't really known much about Steve Winwood's history as a musician before listening to this album. It's interesting that he was a member of so many relatively important bands before launching his solo career. The music is interesting as well. It's really embracing the synthesizer as an instrument, but still remains pretty rooted in guitar rock as well. I feel like most artists tended to go one way or the other. His voice is great and really matches the music well. The album goes by pretty fast, but it's consistently good, if not leaning a little far toward adult contemporary rock. I think that's more of a fault with how Steve Winwood influenced soft rock than it is a failing of his music, though 4/5
It's okay.
Great! I really enjoyed this album.
a bit too 70's
It’s not for me. Every song melded into the other and I lost interest throughout parts of this. I’m sure there’s an audience for this brand of boring rock. Those people are probably going to love it!
Well, this was a nice and safe record wasn’t it. Not much to report on this one I’m afraid. Will I ever seek it out? Nope.
början på albumet är bra men sen blir det lite sämre mot slutet, så kanske en stark trea.
i thought i would like this album more than i did it was k
Not good.I don’t enjoy his vocal style and the songs are just plain boring.Feels like a waste of time.
Steve Winwood's 1980 album "Arc of a Diver" is a musical masterpiece that transcends time and genre boundaries. As a solo effort, it marks a significant departure from his work with Traffic and Blind Faith, showcasing Winwood's unparalleled talent as a songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist. The album opens with the ethereal "While You See a Chance," a track that immediately grabs your attention with its infectious melody and Winwood's soulful voice. The lyrics speak to hope, opportunity, and the eternal search for something better, setting the tone for the entire album. "Second-Hand Woman" is a funky, upbeat number that highlights Winwood's prowess on the Hammond organ and his ability to infuse blues and rock with a distinctive groove. The song's narrative about love and longing is delivered with a raw emotion that makes it impossible not to move to the music. "Arc of a Diver," the title track, is a sonic journey. The lush synthesizers and intricate guitar work create an otherworldly atmosphere, and Winwood's introspective lyrics invite listeners to reflect on life's twists and turns. This instrumental piece is a true gem that showcases Winwood's instrumental prowess. One of the standout tracks is "Spanish Dancer," a slow-burning ballad that oozes sensuality and passion. Winwood's voice here is filled with longing, and the song's sultry guitar solos add layers of emotion. It's a testament to Winwood's songwriting and vocal abilities that he can create such a deeply affecting track. "Night Train" brings a rockier edge to the album, with its driving rhythm and memorable guitar riffs. The song's lyrics are a testament to Winwood's songwriting maturity, exploring themes of escape and adventure. The album concludes with "Dust," a reflective and introspective song that features some of Winwood's most heartfelt vocals. It's a fitting ending to an album that has taken the listener on a sonic journey through love, longing, and self-discovery. Overall, "Arc of a Diver" is a timeless classic that showcases Steve Winwood's musical genius. His ability to blend genres, craft unforgettable melodies, and deliver emotionally charged vocals is on full display here. Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering Steve Winwood for the first time, this album is a must-listen. Its songs are not just musical compositions; they are windows into the human experience, inviting us to explore the arc of our own lives.
I'm not a Traffic fan so I know nothing of Winwood. Get huge Peter Gabriel vibes from the vocal. The production is so heavily what I perceive as what others incorrectly malign the entire decade of the 80s for (1st half anyway), this is going to have to work to overcome it. So far this feels a lot like something that is going to be impossible to get into outside of its time. I don't want to say it's not good, but... ah fuck, 3rd track in, it's not good. Oh god, it's a song about a Second Hand Woman. Amazing. You're worthless love unless you're a virgin or something. What I will say is from what I know of Traffic, this is quite a departure and doesn't necessarily reflect badly on them. The Peter Gabriel vibes continue to shine through oh so strongly, except for, crucially, in the writing. Maybe it's the booze but I did grow into this sufficiently to enjoy Spanish Dancer. Is that enough to avoid the 1 it was headed for, time will tell. Sadly Night Train was less Gabriel and far more Phil Collins, thus earned considerable enmity from me. That and being almost 8 bastard minutes long. This is exactly the sort of record future editions of this book should be phasing out, but no, they delete nearly everything they ever included since 2005 as if no newish music is important. Some of that stuff is 15 years old and older mate, it's nostalgia for today's kids. Won't somebody please think of the children.
Steve Winwood is a name that I definitely recognise but was struggling to place. The album art here is interesting, and has me wondering how an album can be based on the arc of a diver. It does leave me interested. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Second Hand Woman, Night Train I did some googling after a couple of tracks as I also recognised Steve’s voice. It turns out he was in Traffic, and also sang Higher Love, so that’s likely why I recognise him. I’m a big fan of a synth funk band called TWRP, and I think it’s highly likely that they could a lot of inspiration from Steve. The synths are fantastic, but that standout for this album was the excellent bass playing. It’s funky as hell. I liked this album a lot.
Good bones
Steve played everything you hear on the album: lead and backing vocals, Prophet-5, Minimoog, Yamaha CS-80, Hammond B3 organ, Steinway piano, Ovation acoustic guitar, Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, Ibanez mandolin, bass guitar, Multimoog (also used for keyboard fretless bass), Hayman and Ludwig drums, Linn LM-1 programming, percussion, producer, engineer, mixing.
Hard to argue with dat synth
EHHHHH: I mean this albums exists, don't know who is listening to it but it's here for sure. Not sure what to even write for this bc it was just so underwhelming. I felt bored throughout this whole album with none of the songs necessarily getting me going or loving it. Just not a very good album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__jiz18l84U
Surprisingly good blue Eyed soul, particularly strong opening track.
Solid album. Reminds me of college. While they played the crap out of “While You See a Chance”, “Arc of a Diver” is the standout song to me. The album is remarkable, and that Steve Winwood plays almost all the instruments.
I feel like I was transported into an 80s romcom movie while listening to this
This album is a nice, easy listen but in many ways dated. I cringe when I hear these fake pan flute synths.
Some nice, consistent, and extremely 80's tunes. Easy to listen to but didn't really make me feel much of anything. It just felt like they could've been a little catchier or something
I appreciated the synths, they were of their time, but cool. Kind of had Steve Wonder vibes, his better more upbeat stuff, less of the shit balads.
Starts of strong with some awesome synths, but loses steam after only 3 songs for me. Decent album.
2.9 meh I wouldn't listen to it as a full album again, but some songs slay. fave songs: second-hand woman, spanish dancer, night train
very similar to Peter Gabriel
I think you had to be there at the time for this one. It's a little Phil Collins, but without the talent or ego. I respect the songwriting. And the fact that he's a multi instrumentalist. But this did nothing for me.
I dislike this very much. It's not interesting and I find his vocals annoying. This is primo "secretary rock". Jettison this shit into outer space.
What a waste of talent. The man made some great music in the 60s and then he made this. It doesn't sound very original or very good.
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.
"Arc of a Diver" is the second album by English singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Steve Winwood. Winwood played all the instruments and produced the album. Soft-rock and blue-eyed soul. Yes, definitely. Critics had mixed reviews with the positive being him playing everything and distancing himself from his former acts with the negative being, well, kind of boring. Yes, definitely twice. The album was Winwood's breakthrough reaching #3 in the US and #13 in the UK. A synth and organ open the uplifting "While You See a Chance." Add a piano and we got the melody. Drums and congas on the beat. Easy listening. Don't let something pass you by and find romance. "Arc of a Diver" adds a guitar and bass. Smooth and more jazzy. Arc is the women and he is the diver. Clever analogy. Besides the first two songs "Slowdown Sundown" is the probably the best of the remaining songs. A slow beat. Winwood puts in just about everything in his musical arsenal. Piano. Acoustic guitar. An organ giving it some soul. A synth solo jam. Beat changes. "Dust" closes the album. A synth-driven song. Sort of sad with emotional vocals. He sleeps with her sometimes, still loves her but the dust still collects. I always put solo Steve Winwood in the OK category. This album maybe slightly above that. Maybe. Half of the songs didn't due anything to me sounding very late 70's/early 80's and not in a good way....synth-driven, sleek, soft pop/rock. Yuck! Age has not faired well. Some of these songs just plain sucked and didn't get better with repeated listens., But, the first two songs and singles are decent and in my opinion the only reason to buy/listen to this album.
This was everywhere back in the day.
Great band but no certified bangers
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.
end credits stock music
So much synthesizer! And he played all of it! I was never a huge Steve Winwood fan, although I had a very good friend in college who was a strong, unabashed fan. This makes me think of her with more fondness than I have for this music. That said, the music is quite listenable, though “Second-Hand Woman” is somewhat… bizarre.
Steve Winwood is just okay for me...and so was this album.
Very synth-y, very 80s, reminiscent of a TV theme song written by Mike Post. Sounds like I didn't like it. And yet... I had a couple of moments of pure euphoria listening to this today. Really enjoyed the first listen but was done by the end of the second.
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!
IMHO this is the overproduced period of classic rock. Winwood is talented but I'd rather listen to Blind Faith any day.
Arc of a Diver // Slowdown Sundown //
Imagine what people think of when "boring 80s music" pops into their mind, this is it. Although I will say, Winwood does have some talent in playing all instruments.
Might actually be ok,but very similar to Clapton and more
Good moments but too much fluff.
Not really my bag. Songs were ok, but nothing that really grabbed me much
4.0
2.4/5 not bad but just basic 80s
I man what? the complete opposite of "essential". Weak jazzy pop doesn't have the confidence to be out there like Jazz. Would call this easy listening, don't hate it but tempted to give it a 1 as so bland.
I love Winwood's use of the synthesizer
I liked it, I’m not too crazy about the pop rock kind of sound, but I do like Winwood’s voice.
this might be the cheesiest 80s album i’ve ever heard.
I liked it, cool/different rock. Kinda jazzy. 8.5/10
pretty decent
Like an off-key, cheesy, pale version of Talk Talk. 2.3
Perhaps the album I have the least amount of thoughts and opinions so far. The final song nearly dragged it down to a one star, but I like the synths in the first just enough for it to die in the "forgettable" pile.
It was wild how a lot of 60s stars returned to relevancy for hits they had in the 80s. And boy is this album very 80s. I love me some Steve Winwood, but give me Traffic or Blind Faith. I could do without this.
Fine, reminds me of Phil Collins.
Cat: Man, I love Steve Winwoods voice! Not all of these songs hit for me.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Arc of a diver
I am so fucking bored listening to this .........
Not feeling this one
Decent but hardly groundbreaking.
Enjoyable. I like the voice and the general sound.
A fun album full of guitar and synth, pretty enjoyable.
Windwood never managed to catch me with his music, even when it was new.
The first track on this is such a quintessential 80s television theme song... a period piece for sure and a little EZ for my tastes, but I didn't dislike it.
Nothing special
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.
The arc of this album is only so so. It starts off with its strongest track and then kind of nosedives from there.
Was this a Genesis album in disguise?
Nice to hear a bit of 60s rocker become an 80s proggie/poppie dude. I loved the first song, the rest were okay.
I can appreciate a good pop song, so I didn’t mind this. I can’t be certain that I needed to hear it before I die, though. Oh well, it’s a done deal now.
Solid chill music with nice guitar work.
Really good songwriter
Really appreciated this y'day. Great music. A slightly generous 5
Not bad! A few times I thought I was listening to Phil Collins or Genesis.
Sounds great. Not my style
Sleepy cheese
80s fuck sakes
“When you see a chance” is obviously a classic. The rest of the album, it was fine and we’ll crafted, but left me wondering what gave of admission to this list. 3.4/5
Heavily synth/pinao oriented pop, the sound of which firmly places it into the late 70s/early 80s. Which I usually like. But where are the standout elements? Where are the hooks? Not to mention melodies ... Without any of those, this is a lackluster excuse for a good album of that era. 2/5
The production is slick, even if it sounds dated now. I liked the optimistic energy of the opening track and when the synths were deployed to create spacey soundscapes, like on Spanish Dancer, but many of the tracks didn’t really move me in any way. 2.5
N'ayant aucun souvenir de ce que nous a proposé ce monsieur, j'ai remonté la conversation que j'entretiens avec eltrapeze dans le but de retrouver un indice. Bien que ce dernier ne tarit pas d'éloges sur cet album, j'ai quant à moi gardé le silence sur mon ressenti et ai partagé des captures d'écran de ce qui allait devenir l'affaire Gomez.
Steve Winwood est malheureusement atteint du syndrome Hawley: après une intro d'album absolument sensationnelle, Steve va en effet se prendre complétement les pieds dans le tapis. Il ne parviendra jamais à s'en relever, roulant sur le sol jusqu'à la fin de l'album.
Die kut 80s synthesizers kunnen me gestolen worden.
Sounds like a soundtrack for any feel-good movie from the 90s
not bad
Good ol' classic 80s soft rock. I'd never heard this one before but found it pleasant enough with some songs I plan to revisit, particularly the opening and closing tracks. 3/5.
Very good! Standouts: While You See a Chance, Arc of a Diver, Others: Spanish Dancer, Second-Hand Woman, Slowdown Sundown, Night Train, Dust Score: 4/5
Not bad background music, not something I'll choose to listen to again.
This was nice! Reminds me a bit of Phil Collins somehow. Probably won't see myself returning to this as the songs didn't quite stick with me. Still, it was hard to decide whether it gets a strong 3 or a weak 4, but I think I'd like it to be something I would at least consider coming back to and having some songs stick with me for it to be a 4, so 3 it is!
Oh man the most 80 s and most cheesy of the 80 s cheese. I loved it. Groovy and even though it sometimes sounds like a parody of 80 s music with all the synthesizer solos it was still enjoyable. Hadn't heard any of the songs before but after completing the album I immediately put it on again. If that isn't a recommendation I don't know what is. Only negative is the few tracks in the middle are not as good as the start and end of the album.
"Whoa. Hang on. It's all good. I got a Steve Winwood CD in my car. I'll go grab that." - Dennis Reynolds (IASIP)
7/10. not super my style and not likely one i'll revisit, but this was nice and extremely well-done.
6/10. Enjoyable enough.
So 80s. Like Casio keyboard 80s. Except I just googled it and apparently the first Casio synthesizer came out in the mid-80s, which this album predates. Good job making these synths without a Casio, Steve! 7/10
1.5
First two songs are excellent, then it kind of trails off, although Night Train and Dust end it with a strong finish. Overall this grew on me, but the highest I’d go is probably 3.5. Steve Winwood’s career is still awe inspiring though, looking forward to the other albums on this list that he was involved in.
Kinda nice
Steve Winwood goes adult contemporary with mixed results. For me Spanish Dancer (the most "Traffic-sounding" song) is the best song on the album with a lot of MOR pop oriented stuff that tends to put me to sleep. 2.5 stars
I like his voice a lot. Songs are groovy and fun to listen to. Aside from that, nothing spectacular.
Ça se laissait écouter, mais c'est un peu trop clean à mon goût. 6/10
Own on Vinyl
Decent. Nothing incredible about it, I do like the synthesizer tho. Good ambiance music 6/10
Overall it was boring but fine. It didn't seem to age well - just sounds like a relic of the 80s. A few cool synth riffs but overall just disappointing.
Very chill.
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.
"See a Chance" is just instantly likable, and perhaps the decade's most radio-worthy cut. Title cut has always been a semi-secret fave, not bad or well-known enough to be a full-on guilty pleasure – just cool. "Spanish Dancer" sounds vaguely Steely Dan-ish or Nightfly-esque – mildly groovy and decently pleasant. But then there are a few embarrassments of the avert-one's-eyes variety. "Night Train" could have been the theme to Miami Vice and "Second-Hand Woman" works not at all – the artist himself might even support the cancellation of that particular cut for PC reasons. This does feel like the original Dad rock, maybe, or a Boomer transition into the era of Members Only jackets. Still, it's better than it seems it should be or perhaps deserve to be. In transitioning from the '80s, this record has been clearly damaged, but not terminally so. Overall, the feel is that the former wunderkind was ready to sell out but was a little unsure about how to do or perhaps diffident by nature and so sold out in an inoffensive sweet (and not a little cheesy sort of way).
Liked it.
fire 8/10
I really don’t like this album. It’s so basic and forgettable. But I guess in the background it isn’t terrible
Song all sounded the same
Pretty bland except for the one hit
Bit boring over all
2.5/5 Just an average album. Not bad but none of the songs jump out for me and the sound is quitte the same all the time.
Only the hit stands the test of time
Just good songs. And lots of synth
Just…so many synths
2.7 - If this record were maybe 15% worse it’d be within that realm of “so-bad-it’s-good.” As it is, I find the arrangements messy and slapdash with lots of ham-fisted attempts to meld synthesized sonics and acoustic instruments. “Spanish Dancer” epitomizes these shortcomings with its lame nylon-stringed guitar voicing over repetitive chords on synth. Winwood’s voice is one redeeming feature but it’s a pity that the lyrics and melodies are also weak.
Didn't know he was in Trafic
So 80's it sets my teeth on edge. Its by far from the worst offender of that decade because despite all the twee minimoog Winwood does manage to bring a soulful edge to it, which is actually quite impressive because it manages to break through all the awful synth stabs that put it firmly in its time. till most of the time it seems tailor made to be either 1. The soundtrack to a particularly forgettable episode of Magnum P.I or 2. Sung on a cruise ship. It gets elevated to a 2 because, to its credit, it didn't make me keep checking how long until the end.
Traffic pleasantly surprised me. This... this is horrible. Tepid arrangements and ugly synth pads make this yet another embarrassing entry in this shoddy list.
Sounds like Phil Collins but actually boring. Avoid if you don't like 80s cheese. Best song: Arc of a Diver (Good chorus, still feels like a demo from Phil) Worst song: Second-Hand Woman (Terrible execution and abysmal lyrics)
I mean, it's fine. While You See A Chance is really quite good, but also settles into well worn grooves in my brain so who knows, maybe it is just familiar. The rest is, you know, fine. Easy to listen to.
Seemed ok
My first Steve Winwood album. It was a nice change of pace, easy to listen to and enjoy. I am excited to listen to more of his discography in the future.
Easy listening but grabs your attention
Soft Rock? This is cheesy synth heavy. I'm ashamed this made the list.
Han satsa på en sound, den vartet ikke
straight heat 🔥 set my ears on fire from the first ten seconds 10/10
all of these songs sound like the music over the rolling credits of a film featuring paul hogan.
Yesterday, upon the stair, I met a man who wasn't there! He wasn't there again today, Oh how I wish he'd go away!”
🚷
This was alright. I kinda dig the 80s bluesy pop synth vibes. Probably not something I’d return to.
I just really love the energy of Steve Winwood's voice, throughout this album and all of his music
Solid album. The first song is the only one that really did well on this album.
A nice familiar sound
Favourite song: Arc Of A Diver
It’s kind of goofy sounding now, but overall impressive from a “one man in the studio” perspective and pretty enjoyable throughout
Fine. Perfectly pleasant with a nice atmosphere but nothing that stood out and made me really pay attention.
I didn't care for this one.
While You See a Chance is awesome and Arc of a Diver is very good. The rest of the album is just in the "pretty good" range for me. 3/5
Yeuhh
Semi chill flera grooves
Didn’t expect this kind of funky 80s music from Steve Winwood. Pleasantly suprised
Mäkta bra pop
This is better than it seems it should be. First two cuts are both top-class, and hold up well. "Second-Hand Woman" is an embarrassment really, as much for the troglodytic content as for the hideously '80s hook and the thin disco beat. "Slowdown Sundown" and "Spanish Dancer" right the ship, but only briefly, until the Jan-Hammerian "Night Train," another time-traveler that feels ready to explode when contacting 21st-century air. Considering how one's never liked Winwood's way-back-in-the-throat voice, one's surprised to find this of substantial quality ... the pluses meaningfully outweigh the Ultimate '80s embarrassments.
Ahh it's just really weak isn't it. Nothing seems to be expressed with conviction or passion on this album. It's dull and cheesy. It kind of reminds me of a very shit version of a Phil Collins album (I love Phil and find him cheesy in the best way possible) but this is without that extra spark. There's not really any dynamics in the songs either for me, a song doesn't build at all or drop. Also are we for real with a song called Second-Hand Woman??? GROSS
I really have no idea what to make of this! It was a bit all over the place I thought, started off with very cringey 80s synths then took a completely different direction by the time we got to Spanish Dancer. Wasn't my bag at all. A touch irritating
loada rubbish, boring, cheesy
Surprised how much I enjoyed this. Some groovy cuts here.
Nice, had never heard it before
Dull 80’s rock, sounds a bit like Phil Collins.
Fuck this dude.
2.5/5
great album. Steve has always been a good listen
I enjoyed the first couple of songs, the music was pretty fun, but I really tuned out after that
A definitive Steve Winwood album
Giving the lowest possible score here because he's got a ton of talent and chose to use it to make yacht rock, which pisses me off. Best track: none
👍 git album
Bring me a higher love! Oops wrong album, but his voice is unmistakable so it was fun to hear an album full of new songs. A fun little 80's album but I don't think I'd come back to any of these songs.
Cool one! I know the big Steve Winwood hits, we all do, but I've never heard this album (and always wanted to check it out). The synths that open this are really funny, part of me wishes it was that bonkers throughout. But ultimately it's just a good "adult contemporary" sort of rock project. He's got a cool voice and the instrumentals are really well done. I enjoyed it! Favorite tracks: While You See a Chance, Arc of a Diver, Spanish Dancer. Album art: Honestly adore this one, I've been seeing it for years and years, always intrigued. Not until today, seeing it large on the website, did I realize the diver's head was at the bottom left and not the top right. Total mindfreak moment, I thought he was flipping backwards. Love this art style though. 3.5/5
Prefs: While You See a Chance, Arc of a Diver Moins pref: Second-Hand Woman
Puro pop de los 80. Agradable de escuchar y muy asociado a la época
wow that opening synth riff is CRINGE. Sets a cheesy 80's tone right away. Fuck synths.
The opening track is the strongest point of the album, but that isn't to say the rest of the album is bad. Just average and nothing new. Enjoyed it as an introduction to Steve Winwood. Interested to listen to his other work, but definitely not excited. 3/5
- Only knowledge of Steve Winwood before this was Higher Love or Dennis from Always Sunny - Boring 80s pop - Wouldn't listen to it again
Spanish dancer is so cool when the beat drops. The intro reminds me of Vida Blue’s first album. When You See a Chance is maybe my favorite. The synths are so expressive and pair really nice with the gospelly piano and organ. On Nighttrain I realized he is great as a guitarist too. I knew him as keyboard player and singer but he is super talented as a multi instrumentalist. Synth bass sounds just like a fretless jazz bass. Actually love all the synth bass on this album. Least favorite song is definitely Second Hand Woman. The lyrics are just so terrible. I dig about 80% of this record.
I’m a fan of Steve winwood, I listened to a lot of traffic and blind faith growing up. He has a great voice/feel and is a great player. There were some really good moments on this album. I enjoyed listening but it wasn’t super memorable for me and idk if I’d listen again
I liked this though I got bored at the end. I like the production of the album.
Nice
Liked it
Good, but was it really outstanding? I'm not convinced, but I'll probably give it another whirl sometime.
Top 3 Songs: 1 - While You See A Chance (1) 2 - Night Train (6) 3 - Second-Hand Woman (3)
It was worse than I expected, and my expectations were quite low. Even the best songs on the album are bad.
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)
I liked the sonorities of the album... Even if it is not particular there is something to it with the synth sounds that I liked. 3/5
I was scared of this album because it was labelled country, but I ended liking it quite a bit. It starts out pretty strong. It kinda loses me towards the end of the album. I did not like Dust very much compared to everything else, and it's a bit hard to overlook that when there are only seven songs on the album and it's almost seven minutes long. I was gonna give it a 4, but I'm going to barely give it a 3 instead. My favourite song was Second Hand Woman.
Nope
Steve Winwood is one of those names I know well but I couldn't name a song he sang. After hearing the first song, which was the single, I was glad I knew his name rather than his songs. The album got better and it's impressive that he plays all the instruments. I like his guitar and bass playing.
I'm impressed that he sang, played every instrument, wrote all the songs and produced this. Will Jennings writes good lyrics and Winwood has an instantly recognizable voice, that makes me think of the eighties. The music is often referred to as blue-eyed soul, but it sounds a bit white bread to me.
Its funny how some albums age gracefully, and some simply don't. While you see a chance has an iconic synth intro and just screams the 80s! But it's still a fine song though as Winwood's soulful tenor voice is one of the hallmarks of this song. The best song on the album IMO however, is Night Train, with some great guitar and keyboard playing. However, as typical for the 80s when CDs were all the rage, this recording its very "tinny" and compressed so there is almost no bass. Boo. There is some nice album artwork by the prolific artist Tony Wright though.
Solides poppiges, rockiges, jazziges Album. Klingt teilweise sehr nach Phil Collins.
Did a dad make this list? What a snooze.
Some great bits but a bit too ‘background music’
Dreadful. I skimmed though a couple of tracks, got as far as Second-Hand Woman, looked up the terrible misogynistic lyrics to check I wasn’t mishearing them and bailed. Bland 80s anti-music.
A classic 80's sound with keyboards and a squeaky clean production to match. Which is a shame as Winwood's voice is more suited to something a little more authentic. There are some great songs in here waiting to be set free. But the music doesn't match the emotion. Night Train has a nice groove going on. A hint of what was to come.
Not bad but never was my type of music
Blah
Was looking forward to this as I like Steve Winwood's stuff even though I don't really seek it out. I was only familiar with "While You See a Chance" which opens the album. Strong start but everything else just sort of blends together in a mediocre sameness. Nothing too bad but nothing really stood out either.
Solid
quite dated, sounds like every other song of the era. Is this the same pewrson that sings return to sender
it's a bit groovy. but not my taste.
Delightfully 80s, but not my thing overall
FANTASTIC
If a less talented Steely Dan threw it more synths and mimicked George Michael's singing style. It's relatively inoffensive (gives off yacht rock / adult contemporary vibes), and has enough variation to keep you engaged, with some added quirks thrown in to give it a sense of identity. Some disco vibes would make a good addition to an 80s dance mix. With only 7 songs, it's a very digestible listen that I wouldn't mind listening to again, but also it's not interesting enough for me to seek out again. Favorites: Arc of a Diver, Spanish Dancer, Night Train
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.
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.
Cut price Phil Collins.
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
i enjoyed this more than i thought i would. it’s not my favorite, but it is catchy and fun!
An alright album, nothing outstanding. Very Phil Collins-esque
meinlaust
Not a fan
2.5/5. Not a big fan of this. It is boring and not that enjoyable. I found the music to be subpar as well, very 80s.
He’s a great musician and has been in a lot of groups I’ve liked over the years. There were a couple of classics and I enjoyed the whole album, 3or 4*.........?
Yeah it was alright. Something to listen to at least. Nothing particularly stood out but it was pleasant enough.
Every song is really good, they all seemed well polished. No duds on this album.
Incredible pop rock with soul notes. I enjoyed more than I admit this album.
In the spirit of Todd Rundgren, we have another musical genius putting together solo efforts that is amazing to behold in terms of scope. The music is late-70s disco inspired, but strays far enough from those beats to keep it sonically distant from "disco," except for Second Hand Woman and Night Train. While You See a Chance is a good groove for sure. I went into this thinking I wasn't going to like it, but there's enough to like here for sure. Winwood's vocals are distinct, and as I mentioned, there's a lot to listen to here, and he did it ALL. Slowdown Sundown is a lost Bob Dylan/Rod Stewart/The Band song none of them ever wrote. The album enters its final act with the Peter Gabriel-esque Spanish Dancer. Night Train has to have appeared in some 80s cop buddy movie right? I mean it has to have? If it didn't that was a lost opportunity that must be corrected immediately! Dust is fine. Decent album.
Pretty solid
It was some generic easy listening. It wasn't helped by the fact that Traffic was on the list 2 days prior for me.
Laid back synth 80's but not compelling enough
Listenable but not super enjoyable or memorable. Favorite: While You See a Chance
Not bad. A little repetitive sounding.
Solid
Nice, but not fantastic
The kind of album that sounds like it was written for every 80s teen romance movie... and not in a good way. It reminds me of a more generic Phil Collins. There's nothing offensive here - it's even pleasant at times - but the overuse of synths and cheesy lyrics sound a bit dated to my ears. In general, I really enjoy 80s synths, but the sound isn't working for me here. There just isn't a whole lot unique about its execution. Maybe that's unfair and this album was in fact a trendsetter at the time, I really have no idea - but listening to it in 2022 without that history, it's just not standing very strong on its own. Standout tracks: "Second-Hand Woman" and "Night Train"
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
Mostly boring
Some pretty tracks on here, although we have been getting a lot of 'white guy soft folk rock' lately on the list
Only ever heard Winwood's two most notable hits - Higher Love and Valerie - prior to listening to this album. He definitely has a unique "80's sound" that resonates through all his songs, be that his voice or multi-instruments (which I was surprise to learn he played all of on this album). I never had him as multi-instrumental talented, so big new found appreciation there. I think this album kind of grew on me with a few listens through..(also found the album artwork distinctive). Flet the opening track - While You See A Chance - had a nice positive and upbeat in tone, which fed into the rest of the album. 3/5 from me, and will gladly listen to again.
Wasnt too impressed but May need to relisten to catch anything I missed bc I was fairly distracted
Good soft rock, early Winwood without the hits though. Why this album over others?
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. A great album to cycle to!
Dear god no.
Big ol' meh. Night Train was okay tho.
A couple of pretty great songs ("While You See A Chance" and "Night Train") the rest ranges from ok to not that great.
Hold on. Is this list actually based on the book "1001 *Elevator Music Albums* You Must Hear Before You Die", edited by Robert Schmuck and Associates at the Cheesefest Corporation, Inc.? 1980 is just three years after the 1977 punk explosion. I can't imagine how many fans of truly vital music (or just simply decent one) must have rolled on to the floor with laughter while listening to this ridiculous stuff. I'm rolling right now as I'm writing these words. It' s nOt easy to whrite by the waY, butt its becuz of the unconttttrolabble fits of laughTer I'm Xperincin rite noW. Now that I've stopped laughing and regained my spirits, I can maybe admit I was unfair in my first assessment up here. *Elevator Music* might be too narrow as an umbrella genre to describe the sounds and performance on this record. This thing can also work for the phone, actually. As in "Your call is very important to us. Please hold the line". Yeah right... You know they actually don't give a rat's ass about you and your problems when they choose this sort of music and make you go through those long minutes of ordeal as you're waiting for someone--anyone--to pick up the line. Guess the only correct tag for this sort of thing is "Music For People Who Have Bad Taste". And for once, I'm ready to fight tooth and nail to prove that such a supposedly harsh assessment is actually nothing but objective here. Let's just be a little serious for one second. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 854 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 80 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 36 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 31 (including this one)
Inoffensive but indifferent Saturday morning listening really. Like having Smooth Radio on or something.
This was nice, easy listening stuff but with a little more oomph than most easy listening. Lovely background music, there's a bit more there if you choose to listen to it, but not a huge amount. Just scrapes a 3.
Not for me
Not bad. Some of his later material might be better.
I should buy a boat.
A really talented musician. The white Stevie Wonder, if you will. But not after '77... (6/10) FT: While You See a Chance
Cool synths that passed the time
Hey I liked this! Synthy samples with a very 80s feel.
I think Steve has a great voice and his singles are uniformly great. But the gap between the good and the meh is pretty big.
Ok
A few of the songs were a little catchy (Slowdown-Sundown, Spanish Dancer), but most didn't stand out for me.
Like Winwood's vice. Sounds very much of its time.
3/5 there are some interesting songs here
Easy listening MOR pop
oof, that was some bullshit early-80s pop. Yay, Steve, you played all the instruments on this album and it still sucked.
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.
Not a big fan of synthesized music but I do enjoy Steve Winwood.
Love Steve Winwood with traffic. This album is ok. First song when you see a chance is popular.
Hey, it's this song! I didn't know this song was called this and was from this album. Kind of love the pitch bend keyboard buzz here. This isn't a grabber of an album for me except for a sort of nostalgic time capsule, which I do dig.
So I have to slog through all these clunky keyboard tones without even a "VALERIIIIEEE - CALL MEEEE" as compensation? Fair play though, Winwood played every note on this album. Suits a certain mood, a fairly classy but anonymous collection overall. An absolute Rolls Royce of a voice.
Steve Winwood: "All right, everybody all tuned up and ready to roll?" Band: "You got it, boss. Let's rock." Steve Winwood: "Timmy, you got that synth set to 'Elegant Farts'?" Timmy: *forces saddest thumbs up of all time in Winwood's direction* Steve Winwood: "Perfect, Tim. Let's make magic! And a one, two, three..." Or at least, that's how I imagine it went down. Anyway, this is not for me. I did like the title track well enough. Otherwise it's a cloudy blur.
Phill Collins soundin mofo.
Without higher love what are we doing here
A little too eighties for my taste