Customer Reviews

Break of Hearts

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Often damned by critics in favor of Katrina & The Waves' landmark debut album, this 1989 album, while ultimately not the masterpiece that "Walking On Sunshine" is, is still a solid album that retains much of the soul and character of the band's earlier, more well-respected works. Still anchored by the strong songwriting abilities of the atypically-named founding guitarist/keyboardist Kimberley Rew, and Katrina Leskanich, one of the more underrated singers of the 80s for sheer vocal ability, this album is certainly vintage K&TW for fans of the group, though it does tail off a bit later on, with most of the best songs being confined to the first half of the album. They had one low-charting hit with "That's The Way," which is one of the album's best songs. Also good are Walking On Sunshine-ish "Rock N' Roll Girl," the Kim Carnes-ish "Keep Running To Me" and the nice power ballad "(I've Got A) Crush On You."

Make no mistake about it: The success of Walking on Sunshine was nothing but an enormous albatross for this group. They wanted...desperately, overwhelmingly wanted...to lose their one-hit wonder status. To be known for something, *anything*, else.

Unfortunately, Break of Hearts didn't do it, and after listening to it, I have some idea why. It's servicable rock, yes, but that's all that it is. There isn't anything distinctive, bold, powerful, or even all that fun (MAJOR minus points for the bazillionth "girl/world" pairing in Rock 'n Roll Girl). I listen to Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, The Gin Blossoms, heck, even Puffy Amiyumi, I can sense spirit, heart, the willingness to be different. They take the rock sound and *do* something with it. That's someting I'm just not getting from Break of Hearts.

Nothing horrible, but nothing great, either. If you're a fan of straight-up vanilla rock, you're going to love it. In light of that, why they weren't more popular is beyone me. :-)

She is often overseen, but Katrina is a strong singer and performer. All her albums are strong too. This one has the hit "Rock'n'roll girl", but also quite some more good songs like "To have and to hold" or "Crush on you". Katrina & the Waves are far more than a one-hit-wonder

This is a very good album by the great Katrina and the Waves. All songs are good and their playing/interpretation outstanding, as usual. I highly recommend it to all fans of 80's music.