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Artist: Colin Hay
Label: Compass Records
Length: 12/49:04
Colin Hay takes a wistful, introspective, and somewhat tongue in cheek look at life as a aging rocker on his first new release in five years, Are You Looking at Me? The title (perhaps) recalls his heyday as the lead singer of Men at Work:
When I flew across the oceanIt then brings us forward almost thirty years to his current state:
I was number one
People gave me everything
And I didn't need a gun
Walking down that avenue
I never felt so alive
People callin' out my name
And I'd only just arrived...
I had myself a moment"Lose to Win" employs a Stray Cats like guitar line, and "No One Knows" is in the Elvis Costello vein. "What Would Bob Do?" is a whimsical portrayal of a man's last days. "Land of the Midnight Sun" depicts a hoped for excursion to Japan. "I Wish I was Still Drinking" is poignant, amusing, and sad all at the same time, detailing life's pains and the exhaustion it causes...along with a wish for put it aside for a moment, to be numbed to it, if only temporarily.
My day out in the sun
'Tis an unfinished story
But it's more than just begun.
For those who recall Hay in his goofy Men at Work days, this album will seem quite different. For those who become acquainted (or re-acquainted) because of Zach Braff's efforts, this will fit in perfectly with his more recent efforts, and perhaps seem slightly better. Are You Looking At Me? is Hay's question. My answer? Yes, I am, and I hope to for awhile longer.
Brian A. Smith
14 June 2007
It was Christmas of 1983 that I received Cargo by Men at Work on cassette, packaged with Zenyatta Mendatta by the Police, as a gift from my cousin. Though history may have been kinder to the Police, as long-term popularity is concerned, Cargo was the better of the two albums, and Business as Usual, their debut, was arguably equally good. I even enjoyed their less than perfect final studio album, Two Hearts. That’s just to say, I’m a fan.
Fast forward almost two decades: my band’s drummer and I went to catch the recently reunited Men at Work in Atlanta hoping for a good laugh – we hadn’t had many good experiences with '80’s band re-unions so our expectations were pretty low. We could hardly bring ourselves to clap: they weren’t good – they were incredible. We stood there, jaws agape, amazed at the excellent showmanship, musicianship, and raw talent, as they tore through a perfect mix of hits, individual solo-material, rarities, and even new songs – truly one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen.
There’s a certain beauty that can occur in a collaboration – just like Sting’s solo material, though very good, didn’t carry the same power of the Police’s collective output, Colin Hay’s solo career has been spotty at best. There have been the occasional gems – like the very catchy “Into My Life” from Wayfaring Sons, or the beautiful Cockburn-esque “Waiting for My Real Life to Begin” from Topanga – but overall, though Hay’s approach has matured via building on the folk music styles of Men at Work’s pre-major label days, the songwriting output of his solo career just isn’t as memorable as Men at Work.
Enter Are You Looking at Me?, Colin Hay’s new solo-album. Recorded almost entirely in his home studio, Are You Looking at Me? is a giant step in the right direction. The title track is easily one of the most interesting, if not the catchiest, song released so far in his solo career: a quirky autobiographical piece chronicling his rise to, and fall from, stardom, told in a manner that only Colin Hay could pull off. With a wink from his wandering eye and a smile full of crooked teeth, he sounds somehow comfortable where he is – and he should be: with the release of ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME? Colin finds himself in a very good place. The production is perfectly matched to songwriting, and the songwriting is solid. Now, that’s not to say the CD is perfect: in all honesty, the lead-off title track is actually so strong that it’s hard to not find yourself somewhat let down by the rest of the c.d., at least on a first listen, but taken as a whole this is a really enjoyable release. Other standouts are the beautiful ballad, “Lonely without You” and “Land of the Midnight Sun”, a pleasant pop song which in many respects reminded me of what Men at Work might be doing if they were still together today.
No, Are You Looking at Me? is not a new Men at Work record, but when compared to Colin’s solo-career it’s a very strong CD. and well worth owning. It this is a sign of things to come, I hope he keeps it up.
Shannon Lewis 7/26/2007
