  |
 |
Well
it’s here at last, “Viva La Difference”,
the latest album from Eric Stewart. It’s already been mentioned in various
places as to just why it reads “Eric Stewart, 10cc” on the front of the inlay.
Well, if you’ve recently had anything autographed by Eric, the chances are that
he put “,10cc” after his signature. And for those that
only have vague recollections of who Eric used to play with, it’s a sure-fire
pointer as to who to look for on iTunes and eBay (Viva’s not on eBay YET!!!).
Anyway this album is his first since the last one, Do Not Bend, which was
released in 2003. There’s only 11 songs on “Viva”,
but they are all excellent. There’s no bonus CD, no additional tracks and no
reworking of “Make The Pieces Fit” either. Here’s what
our rusty panel, oops, trusty panel of experts had to say about Viva La
Difference.
Gnome
Sweet Gnomes
AO: Who would have thought
that a song about greedy Swiss bankers** could provide the subject for such a
good, solid, opening track. This sets the scene for the album; heartfelt lyrics
with a strong melody and some catchy guitar riffs.
RB: A very useful opener, this
one. Wonderfully crafted with a very catchy guitar riff.
Try singing the chorus with a cockney accent, it really works!!!
VA: Good start to the album,
very punchy tune. You can hear and understand every word Eric sings. He is very
articulate in his performance of the song to get his message across.
DJ: Good start for the opening
track, very serious subject makes you sit up and listen. Very
reminiscent of the serious side to 10cc in the early days.
It’s
in the Blood
VA: Another song with very
reflective lyrics of life and life styles. A catchy pleasant tune, although in
my mind’s eye slightly cheesy, cliché after cliché spoils it for me slightly…
AO: This reminds me of late
70s 10cc; really soft instrumentation – keyboard, piano, guitar, percussion –
with the lyrics to the forefront, with another catchy chorus. Then there’s the
lovely bluesy guitar solo …
DJ: Pleasant tune which leads
nicely to ore wide range and scope of Eric’s voice. A song full of words to
make you think about what Eric is trying to say. Hardly a get up and dance
track, but still has you foot-tapping along after a few listens.
RB: Took me by surprise… it
sounded just like Graham singing the bass chorus line “deep in the veins” when
I first heard this song.
Friends
Like These
RB: It took me several plays
of this song to finally start singing along… halfway through it’s
first listen, I pressed the “next” button on the CD player. However, it grew on
me eventually.
AO: This track has some really
interesting guitar sounds, especially at the beginning and a marvellous slide
guitar solo in the middle. The lyrics are quintessential Eric which make this a
really chill-out late-night blues number. For me, this one took several listens
for it to grow on me.
DJ: I must admit I am
struggling with the backing of this song although I do love the song in the way
Eric delivers it. I love the meaning of the song but I may need a bit more time
to adjust to the bluesy, jazzy, sleazy feel of the
backing. Having said that I simply love Eric’s guitar solo’s.
VA: Promising vibrant start
which escalated into a long drawn-out affair.
Down
By The Palace
AO: Your
favourite
DJ: Now we’re cooking man…
fabulous, fabulous track, very reggae feel and Eric’s voice flows majestically
and has you singing along with him straight away. Excellent track, me thinks I
love this track.
RB: It’s very reminiscent of
Norman Conquest II on Eric’s Do Not Bend album, in that it’s by far the best
sing-along-as-you’re-driving song on the album, with a very catchy chorus. I
like this one a very lot.
VA: Tune a little more upbeat
and feels fun with the emphasis on feel. The guitar solo provided slight relief
from the serious side of the song.
Do
Not Bend
VA: A good beat, very
enjoyable guitar solo. I would have loved to have heard more of Eric’s guitar
playing on this track.
RB: I thought this quite
powerful and anthemic, with a strong “stand up for your beliefs” message.
AO: A catchy number with an
introduction reminiscent of 80s Fleetwood Mac. A track that appeals more after
a few hearings; layered vocals in places and a brilliant guitar solo,
which deserved more prominence over the drums.
DJ: Great start to this track.
A catchy intro’ and excellent flowing vocals from ‘Mr Earache’ himself. I was
whistling along after only 1 listen, another fab’ track, very catchy and even
our Border Collie “Dillon” was swishing his tail and tapping his paws. Pure pop
classic track which would put a smile on Mr Nasty Simon Cowell’s face
Millennium
Blues
RB: Doesn’t really do much for
me, personally. The least memorable song. But that’s just my opinion.
DJ: Unbelievable guitar
playing from Eric. It is simply amazing. I love the way the guitar follows
Eric’s lead vocal all the way through this excellent track. I would love to
hear this track without lead vocals and just have Eric’s guitar playing. Oh
boy, that would be heaven.
AO: This song 'grabs' you from
the very first listening; lots of guitar, a very catchy melody and packed full
of energy.
VA: Bluesy, sexy delivery…
what more can I say?
Viva
La Difference
DJ: Very melodic, very catchy
chorus. Not working for me at the moment but given time!
VA:
A very 70’s sound which mingles well against cliché and corn. Not for me.
AO: True to it's title, this
track IS different; it has a lovely, floaty feel to it. Eric says "I
wanna hear you singing" and you will be; it is very catchy.
RB:
Like most of the songs on Viva, this has a memorable chorus. Good stuff!
We’re
Not Alone
DJ: I love the very Beatle-esque feel to this track with backward style feel to the
intro’. I love Eric’s lead vocals – probably the strongest track on the album. Love
the meaning of the track, the subject matter which appeals to so many people, myself included. Fabulous track.
RB: Good use of strings in
this song… the only song on the whole album with a fade-out, rather than a
finish. I thought this would have made a good instrumental as a bonus track…
VA: We’re not alone. At long
last, a light at the end of the tunnel. Instantly recognisable and very
enjoyable, pure class. We’re not alone is a masterpiece. Would I buy this album
to listen to this track? Yes I would!
AO: An unusual introduction
and Eric’s evocative lyrics and great guitar solo make this the outstanding
track for me. This track really is a multi-faceted creation; there are so many
layers to the music. A very well-crafted piece and one of the stand-out tracks
on the album.
Word
of the Mouth
RB: Eric asks “Where can you
hide?” Well, there’s no hiding from this song, it’s very catchy indeed. You’ll
be singing it all day.
DJ: Very grungy style to
Eric’s guitar playing, excellent vocals. The track works really well especially
with Eric’s guitar playing which is outstanding. Pure magic.
VA: Easy listening…
AO: This one will grow on you
and you’ll find yourself singing along after a couple of listens. Another track
with an outstanding guitar solo.
Sleep
At Night
DJ: Love Eric’s smoochy style
take to the lead vocals, beautifully accompanied by sublime guitar playing
intermingled by backing vocals wish-washing through the track.
AO: The lyrics are sure to
evoke a lot of discussion regarding who is the subject of Eric’s words. Yet
again, there is a melody that 'grabs' you from the very first listening, a
catchy refrain and some excellent guitar work.
VA: Thought provoking display
of life through someone else’s eyes. No rose tinted glasses here.
RB: Sounds similar in style to
“Guitaaaraaaaaarghs (Rooties)” from Eric’s “Frooty
Rooties’ album. Nice laid back song with great vocals.
Can’t
Get Enough
AO: A really upbeat final
track with lots of piano and guitar; if
Eric was ever to tour again this would be the perfect “encore” track. Can just
see the original 10cc foursome playing this one.
DJ: Now we’re cooking again.
This will get you up on your feet. What a fabulous track to end the album.
Eric, going back to his roots, leaves you craving for more of Eric’s rocking
ways… magnifique…
VA: Could not warm to this
track. In my mind the style did not fit in with the rest of the album.
RB: Brilliant song to close
out the album with. Mind you, I’ve listened to the album several times in
“shuffle” mode and any one of these 11 songs makes for a great finishing
number.
AO: 9 out of 10. Overall, well
worth the 6-year wait and with the different track tempos, there isn’t a need
for a ballad (or 2) after all. I’ll just be patient for the next album release!
VA: 6 out of 10. Well worth a
listen too.
RB: Anyone expecting a 10cc
album will be disappointed. This is a very strong, solid piece of work from one
of
DJ: 8 out of 10. Overall
a very enjoyable album with some stand out tracks.
That’s 32 out of 40… 8 out of
10 as an average so therefore…
We
don’t like Viva… We LOVE it!!!
**From Wikipedia…Gnomes of Zürich is a disparaging term for Swiss bankers.
Swiss bankers are popularly associated with extremely secretive policies, while
gnomes
in fairy tales
live underground, in secret, counting their riches. Zürich
is the commercial center of Switzerland. The term was coined by the British
Labour Party politician Harold Wilson,
then Shadow Chancellor, in 1964 when he accused Swiss
bankers of pushing the Pound down on the foreign exchange markets by speculation.
The relevant portion of
Traders and financiers all over the world had listened to the
Chancellor. He had said that if he could not stop wage claims the country was
facing disaster. Rightly or wrongly, these people believed the Chancellor. On
September 5th, when the T.U.C. unanimously rejected wage restraint, it
was the end of an era, and all the financiers, all the little gnomes in
Zürich and other financial centres, had begun
to make their dispensations in regard to sterling.