Customer Reviews

Sparkle in the Rain

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is fantastic from beginning to end, and it's astonishing that anyone could give it less than 5 stars.

The first half, in particular, is so good it's almost like a "Best of" album from a band like U2 from an alternate but superior universe. "Up on the Catwalk," "Book of Brilliant Things," "Speed Your Love to Me," "Waterfront," and "East and Easter" - each song is a masterpiece.

The line up on this album is the definitive Simple Minds line up, with its musicians being some of the best in their field. The production is also awesome, courtesy of Steve Lillywhite (U2, Big Country). The soundscape he forges is a vast, uplifting sound full of youth and optimism. The only downside is that the bass playing by the incredible Derek Forbes is somewhat lost in the mix.

For the unininitated, this period of Simple Minds is similar to U2, equally passionate but more arty with more keyboards and interesting arrangements. And "Sparkle in the Rain" is a masterpice, right up there with U2's "The Joshua Tree." Seriously.

If you have, like me, the vinyl album and the CD, the only question is: is it worth shelling out $.. for this remastered version? The answer is: go take your old CD to the used-CD store and sell/trade it in, and order this remastered version immediately! The sound quality is amazing, to hear gems like "White Hot Day", "C Moon Cry Like a Baby" and "The Kick Inside" is amazing, it's like rediscovering a long lost treasure.

Warning: this is a Limited Edition, which is not a jewel-case CD but a replica of the old vinyl with the inner-sleeve jacket (no lyrics), which I don't find particularly handy, but no matter.

For those casually perusing Simple Minds: "Sparkle in the Rain" is the follow-up to Simple Minds' best album ("New Gold Dream"--see my review there), and just before they hit it big in the US with "Dont You Forget About Me". But Simple Minds is so much more than that "one-hit wonder" (in the US anyway). It rocks harder than "New Gold Dream", and contains the European hits "Up On the Catwalk", "Speed Your Love to Me" and "Waterfront". You cannot go wrong with this one.

Never being one's to sit still and go with what worked for them so well(New Gold Dream), Simple Minds literally crashed into the US alternative scene with one of the most unique sounding records I've ever heard. Honestly, is there a single record that anything like this one? I know they've been compared to U2 on more than one occasion but noone had a bass player quite like Derek Forbes, a guitar player quite like Charlie Burchill, a keyboard player quite like Michael McNeil, a drummer quite like Mel Gaynor or a singer/songwriter with the majesty of vocals and lyrics of Jim Kerr.

I remember the end of a Rolling Stone review saying that "Sunday school never sounded quite like this." What a good description. The first thing I thought of when hearing "Up on the Catwalk" was organs in a large cathedral high in the Scottish countryside. Steve Lillywhite brings every sound out front and helps make these powerful songs so much more.
This album is solid from start to finish. Each one memorable in its own way and each one adds to the overall impact of teh album. My favorite tracks here are "Speed Your Love to Me", "Up on the Catwalk", "East at Easter", "C Moon Cry Like a Baby" and "Shake Off the Ghosts". When I saw the band on this tour this incredible instrumental would fade in over the pa while the shadows of the band members appeared behind some light drapings. What an incredible entrance.

Any fan of alternative music should make it a point to add this one to their heavy rotation stack. Awe inspiring from start to finish and an unforgettable listening experience.

I was suprised by the re-master of this album. I puchased this CD version to replace my old vinyl copy from 1984. And theres a big difference in the sound quality. They've really cleaned up the sound production on this re-master. And I thought I was getting the best sound possible on stereo, but this improved big time on sound clarity, wow. As for the album goes this was a ground breaker for the Simple Minds. Some people say that they are trying to copy the sound of U2, NOT TRUE. Simple Minds have always been more universal with their music, they add different sounds with keyboards, synths, guitars, and not all their songs sound the same like you might find with U2. I mean, with U2 you just have the Edge on that guitar. Not much to them, when comparing them to Simple Minds. I never tire of listening to this album over the years and its still gold to me. Best tracks are Book of Brilliant things and Waterfront, and Up on the Catwalk( main single from the album). But yet this album is consistent track to track. Highly Recommened for any fan of the 80s.

Simple Minds came closer than ever before to full-blown rock on this album. They do rock here, but they still exhibit skillfully played musical shadings. Highly inventive, underrated guitarist Charlie Burchill steps forward and rocks, but not without his rhythmic subtlety. At the time, this album was criticized for being poorly mixed and sounding muddy, but I quite like that thick din of sound. I haven't heard the remaster, so I hope they haven't botched it.

"Up on the Catwalk" kicks things off with rumbling thunder and haunting keyboards. One of SPARKLE's best songs despite borrowing the already overdone U2 theme "I'll be there tonight." Singer Jim Kerr delivers a fantastically wordy vocal that moves into improvisation towards the end of the song.

"Book of Brilliant Things" is good but not my favorite, although it grows on you with that catchy guitar hook.

"Speed Your Love To Me" and "Waterfront" are the album's glorious centerpieces. Simply brilliant and uplifting (and totally rockin'!)

"East at Easter" is a slow burner that builds with subtle intensity.

"Street Hassle" is one of Lou Reed's best songs and SM actually improve on the original, giving it a smoother, more organic quality. Fantastic orchestration. And, let's face it, Kerr has a much better voice than Reed. Lou must've approved because he sings (or, rather, speaks) on SM's "This Is Your Land" from STREET FIGHTING YEARS a few years later.

"White Hot Day" - not the best, but still a good song with musings about "time."

"'C' Moon Cry Like A Baby" is another favorite. This one has an infectious swing.

"The Kick Inside Me" is the hardest rocking song on the album.

"Shake Off The Ghosts" is floating serenity. Keyboardist Michael McNeil, so integral to the whole album, really takes this instrumental to a place of wonderment. A beautiful way to finish.

It's wonderful to hear an album that rocks without banging you over the head with feedback, distortion and the like as so many bands do today. People who call this the start of their U2-style bombastic phase are really missing the point.

It wasn't long after this fine album was released, when Simple Minds found fame and fortune with 'Don't You Forget About Me,' featured in 'The Breakfast Club' soundtrack.

It's truly sad that the soundtrack tune they didn't write is the song that Simple Minds is best remembered by, when you've got songs like 'Waterfront' and 'Speed Your Love To Me' in your catalog.

Worth the price of admission here, people, while supplies last...it is a Limited Edition, after all. Don't wait too long!

I first heard of Simple Minds at The Left Bank, an 80's club in Mount Vernon NY which had Richie, the finest DJ I have ever heard. When I finally found out what THAT SONG was (Love Songs) I immediately went out and bought New Gold Dream (originally an LP pressed on gold flecked clear vinyl..) and this recording. CD redo has if anything improved its sound. The intensity of "Speed Your Love" is so great I sometimes can't listen to it, it is so strong. "Catwalk", "Book", and "Waterfront" are all great songs, so much so that you wonder why "Don't You Forget About Me" became a hit - it is one of their weakest songs. Jimmy was one of, if not the best pure New Wave singers - too bad Chryssie stole his soul and wrecked the group. Even worse: there's a live concert that was broadcast by Long Island's WLIR in the 80's that would blow this and all the other studio albums away, but never will reach CD status....but there's some incredible instrumental playing here, and Jimmy has a fabulous voice. This CD and New Gold Dream are musts!

This album kicks! It's got a very original sound to it. It shows how great they were as a band and their musical abilities. If I had to use one word to describe it, it would be "Powerful".

"Sparkle In The Rain", undoubtedly one of the best Simple Minds albums ever. When everyone thought that Simple Minds had created their best work with "New Gold Dream 81 82 83 84", along came "Sparkle In The Rain" to make matters even better. It is evident that practice makes perfect, and while I consider NGD a perfect album, SITR follows the same steps and profile. This album has its own style just like the others, from "Up On The Catwalk" to "Shake Off The Ghosts", is a complete work of art.

Although more songs should have been included in "The Best Of" collection from this album, only 3 songs were placed, "Up On The Catwalk", "Speed Your Love To Me" and "Waterfront". While "Speed Your Love To Me" wouldn't have been one of my picks for "The Best Of" collection, I do believe that "Waterfront" and "Up On The Catwalk" were GREAT picks. I would have replaced "Speed Your Love" with either one of these: "Book Of Brilliant Things", "Street Hassle", "White Hot Day", "C Moon Cry Like A Baby" or "The Kick Inside Of Me". All of them great songs. But no "Best Of" collection is perfect. That's why you shouldn't deprive yourself from listening to these songs any longer, they really are works of art, so I encourage you to get your hands on one SITR album now. Enjoy!

This album is packed full of sounds that still sound fresh 20 years on. "Waterfront", "Up On The Catwalk", "The Kick Inside Of Me" and "Book Of Brilliant Things" have an undeniable aura of originality and innovation to make Thom Yorke go green with envy.

Arguably their best ever album (but not as instantly accessible or memorable as it's predecessor "New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84"), this album possesses a towering, sophisticated sound like few others.

Flawed genius.