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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Essential for '80s fans, January 31, 2005
Men At Work's second album was released in the Spring of 1983 when their debut album was still in the Top Ten. And while "Business As Usual" would prove to be a hard act to follow, the success of this album was enough for them to avoid the dreaded sophomore jinx.
"Cargo" yielded two huge hit singles: the creepy "Overkill" and the anti-nuclear anthem "It's A Mistake" along with the minor hit "Dr. Heckyll & Mr. Jive". Other noteworthy tracks include "Settle Down My Boy" written and sung by Ron Strykert, "No Sign Of Yesterday", "Blue For You", and "High Wire". Unfortunately there are at least two tracks here worthy of being called filler: "Upstairs In My House" and "No Restrictions".
The bonus tracks are interesting at best. The humorous "Shintaro" and the mostly instrumental "Till The Money Runs Out" were B-sides while the last two live tracks, the reggae sounding "Fallin' Down" and "The Longest Night" haven't appeared previously on a Men At Work album until now.
Differences in songwriting & management took its effect on this album resulting in two members leaving a year later and eventually their breakup but this album proved that they could still make good music together. "Cargo" may not be quite as solid as "Business As Usual" but if you grew up in the eighties listening to MAW like I did, then I strongly suggest you add this to your collection. Because they may have been together for only a short time, but they accomplished so much in that short amount of time that they've become one of the most memorable bands of the eighties..maybe of all time.
Okay, maybe not.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent effort! Very adventurous!, June 29, 2006
Before I start, I wish that Colin Hay and his band Men At Work would have been at 10 albums or so or have just as many hits as Usher, Mariah Carey, Jay-Z, or other artists have now. They were on such a roll after two albums (including Cargo), and then what happened? Maybe couldn't handle fame, the floods of fan letters or the multi platinum sales or the pandemonium of fans. But they tore it up in 1982 and 1983! Cargo doesn't match the greatness of Business at Work, but it is a solid album, with adventurous songs like Overkill, It's A Mistake, Settle Down My Boy and others. One standout is the fast paced Restriction Zone and its strumming guitars. Colin and his band make solid pop rock on every song, and the songs are hooked in your head after several listens. These fellows need to get past their bickerings, get a new album out, talk with their managers, and tear up stages once again like they did in their '80s peak. If Prince could sell out shows in 2004, why can't Men at Work? Show the public once again what made the '80s so great with the music! Maybe they won't do it now, but someday. I think that Cargo was one of the band's finest moments.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Peak of 80's Australian Pop, February 17, 2003
Front man Colin Hay revealed immediately what this album is truly about in this follow up to the bands debut with the first song: "Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Jive".
This album is a definite revelation to the insights of the creative soul of the group, where we go from light-hearted and whimsical to the more internal, dark and brooding of "The Man"; (Overkill, No Sign of Yesterday).
When 80's Pop was mostly make-up and bi-level hair cuts, this was an attempt to take the band to a more serious level of musicianship and lyrics that transcend the MTV offerings.
As the Beatles went from their early light-pop to Rubber Soul and beyond, so Men at Work began their transition on this album.
A fantastic CD from a wonderful group anchored by a much-overlooked and brilliant song writer, Colin Hay.
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