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Imagine approaching an oceanside tiki bar and hearing a distinctive, familiar voice offering slightly altered versions of some favorite, almost forgotten tunes interspersed with a small helping of refreshing new music. That's Colin Hay's Man @ Work, the latest solo release from the former Men At Work frontman.

Hay skinny-dips some Men At Work standards such as "Overkill" and "Who Can It Be Now," presenting them in bare-flesh, coffee-house acoustic style. They are the gems of this album. A few other songs from Hay's '80s arsenal, "Down Under," "It's A Mistake," and "Be Good Johnny," are re-recorded with a slightly reggae/tropical flavor, and it works well.

On his newer material, Hay falters only slightly. The impressive "Beautiful World," the lead track, is a laid-back, sunny-day anthem."Looking For Jack" is playful mix of Paul Simon and Bob Marley (if you can dig it). The acoustic additions "Waiting For My Real Life To Begin" and "Love Is Innocent" prove  that Hay hasn't lost his touch for kind irony and clever poetics. Sadly, "Looking For Jack" is an over-produced adult contemporary disaster and "Don't Be Afraid" is a horn-driven, blasé beach bomb.
 

The majority of this album is a fantastic showcase of Hay's unmistakable voice and mastery of pop tunes. For those not nostalgic enough to invest in the Men at Work back catalog, Man @ Work fills the gap.

Greg Adams 8/15/03