For anyone expecting anything else other than slick, over produced pop-rock should look no further than the album artwork; beard and rolled up jacket sleeves set against a sunset/sunrise. Mmmm, it just screams Miami Vice. All that's missing is a Ferrari and a power boat but I'm sure Eric has those somewhere. If you look beyond the cover you will also notice that a certain P Collins shares some of the songwriting, drumming and production duties. Wait! Before you head for the hills please take a breath and read on.....it's not as bad as it sounds.
OK it is in places but for all it's faults, I actually like this album. Buried somewhere beneath the clunking 80s production there are some really great songs trying to get out. Take, for example, the lead track 'It's In The Way That You Use It'. A driving rock song with a blues riff at heart. The following track 'Run' is even better....and an even bigger criminal waste of a decent song.
Taken out of context yes it's a horrible album; harsh, shiny, brash and souless. But that was the 80s in a nutshell. Listen to it in the context of the period in which it was released and the album makes a whole lot more sense. I defy you to listen to 'Hung Up on Your Love' and not agree that it's a great rock-pop song. Go on defy me! (Well it was written by Lamont Dozier so it has the pedigree). This can't be said for all of the tracks. Some are just plain awful. 'Take A Chance' is as bad as the title suggests, 'Hold On''s only saving grace is a superb single note guitar riff at 2m:27sec and 'Holy Mother' is mawkish sentimentality at its best.
Nearly twenty-six years after it's release, it is fair to say that it has not aged well. With the benefit of hindsight, and from a 2012 perspective, a more stripped down sound would have given it more longevity. But that is now not then. In 1986 glossy production and slick pop tricks was the only game in town. So 'August' is a true child of it's time. But then again aren't we all?
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