Neon Neon – Stainless Style

I was captivated by the idea of this album before I’d heard a note of it. (And really, who wouldn’t be interested in a concept album about John DeLorean that recreates the sound of the early 80s?) While the album as a whole isn’t all it could have been, you can create a stunning 6-song EP from this 12-song record.

The album begins with “Neon Theme,” a synthesizer instrumental that conjures images of Miami Vice. Next comes a set of pop-rock songs (“Dream Cars”, “I Told Her on Alderaan” and “Raquel”) that sound like sonic stepchildren of Toto, Men at Work, or Phil Collins. Skip the terrible “Trick for Treat”, and head for “Steel Your Girl” (cut from similar cloth as tracks 2-4) and “I Lust You”, which favorably recalls the interchangeable dance-pop songstresses of the mid-80s. Stop there. The other songs on the record, while interesting to hear once, weren’t much fun to listen to and didn’t seem of a piece with the first batch. Stylistically, there’s more of a modern rap/R&B sound that simply doesn’t mesh.

I feel that "Raquel" alone justified my purchase, but if you're the sort that doesn't like paying for song you probably won't enjoy, cherry-pick this one in iTunes.