Anyone hear the new Ultravox album?

[postpunkmonk]

It's called "Brilliant" and if the title seems like the height of hubris; that's because it is. I was not expecting too much, based on the incredible shrinking Midge Ure career that saw me give up totally on his music by a decade ago. Their live 2009/2010 reunion shows were pretty good on CD and DVD. They were always great players, but could they write a new album after 28 years apart? I was skeptical. I noticed that writing credits were Currie, Cross, Ure. Warren Cann was still shut out. Not a hopeful sign.

The album started off even better than I was expecting. The first cuts could be off of "Quartet." Not their best, but far from their worst. Then it rapidly degenerated, primarily due to Midge Ure's weird, vocals used throughout the rest of the album. He sounds thin and emaciated. I'd heard fan reaction to this on the title cut, pre-release single but I didn't play it on the web to maintain some sense of surprise.

When the CD came in the mail I was surprised all right. As it progressed, it seemed to get worse and worse with some good melodies here and there, but overall, poor songwriting, worse production and the worst singing ever on anything with the Ultravox name. Maybe a 4 cut EP could have been salvaged from this farrago. The vocal production just exacerbates the bad singing choices. It was the kind of record where I was incredulous the band saw fit to release it. Not unlike the "UVOX" album 28 years ago.

Sigh.

[Scratchcat]

OK disappointment aside 'Brilliant' although it might not quite live up to the title , It IS a fine album in it's own right.
It will never acquire the status of the original "Foxx-Vox"
It would be hard to atain the heights or cultural impact of the Chrysalis years,
... But, I'l repeat myself, it is a fine album - and that maybe the key? a repeat listening is certainly what this work requires

There are some tracks that are 'Instantly, Uniquely "Ultravox" :

Satellite .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXbRg_IhzrY

Lie ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ewAKHl2EWY

Flow .... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umi9pNZdzsY

Hello ..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fcbg6Z9VIJY

To be fair, there are some tracks that on first hearing, appear to be a little bit Midge focused (as if that were ever a bad thing) But let's not forget how Sir James of Ure has made massive impact upon the world, not just the world of music, and that must occassionaly irk the other guys, as Original Ultravox! founder members.

but it bears all the hallmarks of Billy, Chris and (for my money) Warren plays some blinding input to this work.

I would sum-up this album as a modest return, beyond disappointment & without the high expectation it would easily sit in the Ultravox cannon, somewhere around their classic era of Rage In Eden & Quartet

[Micistm]

I like it. I especially like the tracks 'Live' and 'One.'

Midge seems to be either loved or loathed as the frontman, probably depending on if you're a loyal Foxxer or not
My assessment is if you like the Ure era albums like Rage, Quartet etc...you'll enjoy this. Although it is a bit of a grower and takes a few listens.
If you don't like the Ure era U/V...this won't change your mind either.