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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect pop., November 13, 2001
When Erasure released "Chorus" in 1991, they were the number one band in the UK and one of the most successful synth pop groups of the era. Having already scored 15 hits on the British charts and topped the LP charts three times (twice with "The Innocents" alone), they began the Nineties from a position of considerable commercial strength. An ominous wind was in the air, however, as Nirvana and the grunge movement exploded out of Seattle just as "Chorus" rose to its inevitable #1 position. Erasure would survive the early grunge years, releasing several more hits and topping the LP charts twice more before the arrival of Oasis and the guitar-based Britpop movement stalled their career with the release of their eponymously titled "Erasure" album in 1995. "Chorus" was something of a departure for the duo. Following 1989's hugely successful "Wild!" (and its rather notorious world tour), the band took two years off, writing ten of their finest songs. "Chorus" was a synth-lover's delight; a pure analog aural feast for the ears. Vince Clarke's arrangements are more subtle and assured, as are his partner's vocals. Andy Bell's lyrics are among the finest of his career, and there is nothing on "Chorus" short of superb. Not since "The Circus" had the band released such a consistent set. "Chorus" proved them to be more than a bouncy, campy singles band: they were pop craftsmen of the first order. Here was a darker, more introspective album than any of their previous releases, and they would maintain this more thoughtful stance until the release of 1997's nostalgic (but magnificent) "Cowboy." In short, "Chorus" is one the best pop albums of the 1990s and ranks among Erasure's finest work.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Erasure at their best, November 19, 2003
By A Customer
ChorusI have every Erasure song ever released commercially, and this is, in my opinion, their best album. Other albums may have stronger singles-it is hard to beat the one-two punch of Drama and Blue Savannah, or Chains of Love and A Little Respect, but this was the first Erasure CD that didn't feel like a collection of singles and b-sides. There are no real weak spots here as on previous efforts. There were four singles taken from this album, and if one didn't know what they were, I think one would be hard pressed to identify them. "Waiting for the Day" is the best Erasure single that never was, and "Turns the Love to Anger" and "Perfect Stranger" are fantastic synthpop songs. It is true, perhaps, that this album may seem darker than others, but the production is gorgeous, the songs are brilliant, Andy Bell's voice has never sounded so rich, and Vince Clark's aural landscape is breathtaking. One of my all-time favorite records.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Chorus of Approval., February 22, 2000
Chorus is Erasure's best cd musically and lyrically. 10 songs at 40 minutes makes this a consistent and cohesive listen. It's darker and edgier than previous Erasure cds and more original and consistent than later cds. All of Erasure's cds are good if you're a fan. Chorus is the one for non-fans as it is more mature dance music. There's no bad songs on this disc. I Say I Say I Say would be my next recommendation because it isn't as danceable as Chorus but it's just as interesting. I don't think Erasure has surpassed Chorus in excellence. The three studio cds that have been released since don't quite match up to the quality of Chorus. Vince and Andy were in top form in 1991. Just listen to "Breath of Life", "Siren Song", "Home", "Chorus" and "Waiting for the Day." All excellent craftmanship. This cd is worth the money.
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