Customer Reviews

Welcome To The Real World

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This is the middle one of three albums from "Kansas Jr." (the other two don't seem to be available), but these guys were tight and melodic from day one, as well as funky enough to keep them out of the "soft rock" quagmire (Robert Fripp obviously thought so when he ended drummer Pat Mastelotto's "planned obsolescence" by making him Bill Bruford's junior partner in the present King Crimson). But that was the 'Eighties for you. Anything melodic came out ear-candy. Anything with punch had to be harsh and grating. Except Mr. Mister--they played hard-driving, radio-friendly pop songs with the finesse of an art rock band. Like the opener "Black/ White"--this bunch had an uncanny talent for being right about which song should be the first one. You find that also on the first album with "Hunters Of the Night" and on the last album with "Stand and Deliver" (which became the theme to the film of the same name). Upbeat songs, all of them--but they don't just crash into you and knock you over on the first beat like the headbanger stuff of that era. They serenely shift into <drive> and build in intensity through the first verse, reaching full stride at the chorus. The next time you play the song, you realize that it didn't start slow and speed up--it was at full tempo from beat one. Other writers here cover the avoidance of synth-pop cliches well, but I think they're talking textures. I can't help but notice that the keyboardist slides deftly between rock, jazz and R & B chordings so well that you forget that, theoretically, these are mutually exclusive forms. But this dude often puts them all in the same song. Why is it that Foreigner is still in business but this band is yesterday's papers? There ain't no justice!

I was 12 when "Broken Wings" hit the airwaves and I hated it. Then "Kyrie" hit the airwaves and I loved it. Then "Is It Love" hit the airwaves and I liked that too. In 1987 I bought Welcome to the Real World and Go On. I loved them both, but most people would say that Welcome to the Real World is Mr. Mister's most memorable cd. Later, in '89 I bought I Wear the Face and thought that it was a good debut disc. Mr. Mister is like the Cutting Crew and Bourgeois Tagg--they should have been long-lasting musical acts. I guess with the commercial failure of Go On in '87 the band decided to call it quits. They should have persevered because Go On was a more mature effort than Welcome to the Real World. Go On also had a richer, more organic sound to it. But, Welcome to the Real World is the only disc still in print. I'd recommend it because every track is solid. No album filler or long-winded passages. Just a nice, well produced, well played pop album. Interestingly, Richard Page did a solo cd in 1996 that was mediocre compared to what he did with Mr. Mister. This is a great cd, you won't be disappointed, it's worth the money.

That question is taken from their hit "Kyrie," but later on that. Following the brisk New Wave/rock of I Wear The Face, with "Hunters Of The Night," Mr. Mister (creative name, huh?) made their best-known album, which contains a more streamlined version of the hybrid electropop/rock sound, where a grinding guitar was meshed in with airy synths. Welcome To The Real World yielded their only three Top Ten singles, two of which would hit #1. They benefitted from lead vocalist/bassist Richard Page with his tempered but pleading voice, keyboard/vocalist Steve George, who were also sessions vocalists for bigger artists, Steve Farris's fiery guitars, and Pat Mastelotto's power drums. A good combination.

"Black/White" with its meshed keyboards and bombastic guitar and 80's keyboard theatrics, could've been a single. Actually, it might've been the followup to "Is It Love," but if it was, it tanked. Shouldn't have, as it's not all bad.

Instead of wearing the face, Mr. Mister sings of wearing the "Uniform Of Youth," a call to parents from children. With the anthemic drums and lyrics, as well as the skittery keyboards, again, another possible single. There's a resigned feeling in this song, asking to be respected for individuality, but also a request to parents: "no one said the world was fair/all I want is for you to care."

"Run To Her" could've been another single, as it's a quiet synth ballad emphasizing Page's softer vocals, which is up a register from normal.

Clearly enough thought of Page's pleading vocals and those fiery guitar bursts in the moody ballad "Broken Wings," with its airy synth and bassline. It made the #1 spot, but signalled the beginning of their fifteen minutes, something encompassed only within this album. Between the three singles, this is my favourite.

With "Kyrie"'s power guitars, drums, catchy chorus, Mr. Mister got their second and last #1 hit, on the concept of following one's chosen road. However, any religious themes (kyrie eleison meaning "lord have mercy") is clearly non-existent, as they clearly used its syllabry as something could be hit-single material.

As for "Is It Love," the brisk opening keyboard exercise and the funky bassbeat helped it become one of the more singleworthy tracks. It too hit the Top Ten, and it deserved to, but it did so basking in the warmth of "Kyrie."

"Tangent Tears" is a mixture of pop keyboards with some guitar in parts. Hearing the chorus lends doesn't surprise me that early 80's electropop lasted this long, as it reminds me of Johnny Hates Jazz's "Shattered Dreams."

The title track is a throwback to their earlier album, a catchy a-ha-like number, and is sung to a newborn, one-part welcoming, one-part warning that out there, there's so much to learn and that it's "so much colder than your own soft glance."

They would have one more album, Go On, with the single "Something Real (Inside Me/Inside You)" and their own rendition of "Watching The World," done earlier by Chaka Khan. A good album, but there could've been more singles mined from here.

Having been released in 1985, Welcome to the Real World is the second full-length album from Mr. Mister. It consists of ten tracks. The material is in a pop rock musical direction. Altogether, I find the songwriting to be gratifying, the musicianship to be taut, and the sound quality to be pleasing. Two ballads are included, "Run to Her" and "Broken Wings." Richard Page is a likeable vocalist--he also handles the bass guitar duties. Steve George's keyboard work and the guitar playing of Steve Farris complement each other. Examples of George's impressive keyboard playing can be heard on the lively, album-opening "Black/White," which exhibits a pretty keyboard melody on the chorus, and on the vibrant "Uniform of Youth"--displaying rapid-fire keyboard work from him. The harmony vocals are remarkable, also (this is evidenced during the refrain of the vivacious "Is It Love"). My favorite songs are "Don't Slow Down," "Run to Her," and "Broken Wings." The catchy "Don't Slow Down" contains an infectious keyboard line from George that is indelible, ardent vocal harmonies, and euphonious guitar work from Farris. The serene and attractive ballad "Run to Her" features a fervent vocal performance from Page that is striking. The epic, elegant ballad "Broken Wings" is a nicely tailored composition that presents keyboard playing from George that is enveloping, atmospheric, and regal; also, Page's bass guitar playing is memorable, and Farris' guitar melody during the ending section is notable. Other pieces that I like are "Into My Own Hands," "Kyrie," and "Welcome to the Real World." The sprightly "Into My Own Hands" sports a dynamic chorus and melodic guitar soloing from Farris--at song's end are charming harmony vocals. "Kyrie" commences with keyboard work from George that has an interesting-sounding timbre; this tune also provides an airy, vigorous refrain. The upbeat, album-closing "Welcome to the Real World" supplies an uplifting beginning, an appealing chorus, and a well-crafted conclusion. The CD insert includes the song lyrics, a black-and-white photo of the band, and an individual color photo of each member--these same color photos of each member are also on the back of the CD jewel case. The disc is almost 44 minutes. Welcome to the Real World is a recommendable piece of work from Mr. Mister.

Mr. Mister formed in 1982, made up of mostly L.A. based studio musicians. Their first album I Wear the Face barely made a dent in the popular music scene. It was until this 1985 release that people started to notice Mr. Mister. They had three singles reach the Top 10 of the pop chart which helped send Welcome to the Real World to the top of the album chart. Unfortunately, they failed to match this success on their following release, and disbanded shortly after.

Yeah, they'll mostly be remembered for their cheesy rock ballads, but you know you couldn't stop thinking about them. How could you forget the crazy underwater effect that began the mega-power ballad "Kyrie"? The vocals were smooth, passionate and tuneful. And like most songs of the era, driven by layered synthesizers. If you didn't remember that one, you're sure to remember "Broken Wings". I think Mr. Mister knew they made it big when this one hit every Muzac system in the mall. Its subtle beats and driving synths help this track build to a passionate chorus.

What about their other big hit "Is It Love"? It was a more up-tempo track for the group that really personified the sound of that era. Of course there were other non-radio tracks on the album. The synth heavy "Black/White" actually borders on a new wave sound. A simple song structure gets the point across on "Uniform of Youth". "Don't Slow Down" features soft vocal arrangements and driving rhythms. The ballad "Run to Her" is pure sugary syrup. "Welcome to the Real World" is sure to stick in you brain with its infectious rhythm composition and melody.

The Verdict
You know its worth going back to visit the real world, don't deny it.

This was the first album I ever owned. This is still one of my favorites. I think you will find a handful of songs that you like. Many will stay with you throughout the day. If for nothing else, this is great for when you have an 80s party! Give it a listen!

I bought this album released in 1985 because of super hits BROKEN WINGS and KYRIE but after listening to the whole album more and more songs on the album captivated me. First pick is RUN TO HER well-structured slow moody ballad which could have been another hit. Techno-pop styled UNIFORM OF YOUTH and DON'T SLOW DOWN are also the album highlight of the first half. On the whole the album direction is somewhat between SURVIVOR/STARSHIP catchiness and MIKE&MECHANICS/GENESIS vocal style.

Verdict: Catchy yet deeply melodic masterpiece.
Rating: 96 out of 100
Recommended for: Wide range of mid-80s pop rock fans and particularly if you love Survivor, Starship, Mike and the Mechanics, Trillion, Pride of Lions and Mecca.

The year was 1985 and the radio was dominated by Phil Collins' "No Jacket Required" and Tears for Fears "Songs from the Big Chair." Duran Duran "broke up" and formed The Power Station and Arcadia, both releasing solid albums of different styles, "The Power Station" and "So Red the Rose," respectively. In the midst of all of this great 80s Pop there was a band that came out of nowhere called Mr. Mister which released a benchmark album called "Welcome to the Real World." To say that this album has no filler is an understatement. All the songs here could have been radio singles. Most of the songs consist of verse-chorus-verse structures that should have sounded old ages ago, long after I discovered Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, and Queensryche. In fact, I never listen to this type of music anymore. So when I popped it in recently, thinking it might conjure up memories and give me a buzz of nostalgia, I was surprised to find a parallel appreciation for the high-level production value and some excellent arrangements that help this album remain as fresh as when I first heard it. Back in 1985 I had a strict rule about buying new albums: There has to be three songs from the album that I like. Well, it worked for The Thompson Twins' "Here's to Future Days," also released that year, so I went out and bought this new album. The three hit songs here were the only singles released. They were "Is It Love," the ballad "Broken Wings," and the mega-smash hit "Kyrie." I dare anybody who grew up on 80s Pop not to sing along with the chorus when that last song is playing. Througout the course of this album there is an overall upbeat tone with playful musicianship and some interesting and very professional songcraft. The layering of the vocals is especially notable, sounding akin to the vocal layers from Def Leppard, but with less power and more intimacy. One thing to remember: try not to laugh too hard when you see the photos of the band members trying their hardest to look like stand-ins for Duran Duran. It was a fun, oftentimes hilarious decade for Pop music, and this is one of those albums that made it more memorable. Thank you.

Many people dismiss 1980's pop as a synth-driven nightmare. Mr. Mister proves that theory wrong with this album. The musicianship is first rate and the songs are wonderful. A great mixture of pop hooks, intelligent lyrics and well crafted songs make this album worth buying. Fun to sing along to. Kyrie is a very moving piece of music. Broken Wings is timeless... come to think of it so is most of this album. Try something different, pick this album up.

Mr. Mister is so far the best music I've heard in a long time. Broken Wings is why I wanted this album. And I found out I liked every song. It's just great that you expect to like one or two songs but ending up liking the whole album! Mr. Mister is sure one of my favorites!