“There’s real feeling in it, but you can’t write about that stuff too seriously,” he says of his sometimes tongue-in-cheek approach to serious subjects. “In the end, it’s about the world in flames, but from a personalized viewpoint. I take what’s happening to me and place it in a universal context. It’s what I’ve always tried to do with my songwriting.”
Considering the bloke is 63, and been a music performer since 1969 ( I was just two!!), hes still as relevant today as he was at his pinnacle in the 80’s. Listening to the new album, nothings missing at all, not a single fault in his vocal rage. Fuck me, he still looks great too.
His 2010 autobiography, Late, Late at Night…: A Memoir, for Simon & Schuster’s Touchstone imprint, entered The New York Times best-seller list at No. 13, hitting the Los Angeles Times and Publishers Weekly lists as well, with Rolling Stone recently naming it one of the Top 25 rock autobiographies of all time. In the book, Springfield revealed the life-long depression he’s battled throughout his career, a theme he returns to in such songs as “I Hate Myself” and “Love Screws Me Up.” “I’m not the shiny, happy guy people think I am from my role in General Hospital,” insists Springfield. “I tend to put that angst into my music.”
Its is first album in four years
since 2008’s Venus In Overdrive, and all the songs on Songs For The Edge Of The
World are all short, trimmed little Duracell power packed nuggets with hardly a
song over 4mins. If youre a fan of ‘The Springfield’ then this one will have
you in multi-orgasm territory. All his trademarked strengths are here, take the opener for example, Wide
Awake has a chorus that just gets under your skin immediately (in a good way I
might add). In a similar vein is the extremely catchy ‘A Sign Of Life’. ‘My
Last Heartbeat’ is a groovier/ heavier rocker than most on the album, and
also features Mr Mister’s Richard Page on backing vocals. Going back to the
80s, Rick had a knack for writing pop songs, and Theres a couple on offer here
in the acoustic ‘Gabriel’, and ‘Joshua’ in particular.
Im guessing Springfield's long term friend and guitarist Tim
Pierce is in session on the rockier ‘Depravity’ as it’s the sole song with a
guitar solo. It would be a waste otherwise if Pierce wasn’t utilised in one way
or another. (Check out Pierces allmusic page for all his credits…astounding
work)
Springfield has set his sights on
the collector in us all. Its being sold as four different versions, each one
complete with different bonus material, and covers
So to round up, looks great…check, sounds great…double
check, as an album, I doubt there's many better than this for your buck in 2012.
Power pop/rock, unashamedly 80s in parts, all delivered with a style and
panache that only Rick Springfield can.
I hate the bloke!!!
SCORE 90/100
Tracklisting:
Wide
Awake; Our Ship’s Sinking; I Hate Myself; You And Me; Gabriel; A Sign of Life;
My Last Heartbeat; Joshua; Love Screws Me Up; I Found You; Depravity; One Way
Street ; Let Me In (Bonus Track); My DUI (Exclusive Bonus Track).
The Bug – album only I-tunes exclusive track
The Bug – album only I-tunes exclusive track
RICK SPRINGFIELD
Rick Springfield: Guitars, Lead Vocals
Matt Bissonette: Bass & Keyboards, Background Vocals
George Bernhardt: Guitars
Rodger Carter: Drums
Additional Guitars: George Nastos, Dan Strain, Tim Pierce
Additional percussion: Ronnie Grinel
Additional vocals: Richard Page on 2,7,12
Additional vocals: John Waite on 2
Rick Springfield: Guitars, Lead Vocals
Matt Bissonette: Bass & Keyboards, Background Vocals
George Bernhardt: Guitars
Rodger Carter: Drums
Additional Guitars: George Nastos, Dan Strain, Tim Pierce
Additional percussion: Ronnie Grinel
Additional vocals: Richard Page on 2,7,12
Additional vocals: John Waite on 2
