Due to its enormous success – all six released singles reached the UK Top 3 – and Michael’s own assessment as his “biggest moment” one is reflexively inclined to describe OLDER as the ex-Wham!er’s most successful album. The special edition for the square, 26th anniversary now offers the opportunity to rethink this automatism. OLDER was his comeback in 1996 after six hard years, during which he had imposed celibacy on release as part of a dispute with his label and had to cope with the death of his great love Anselmo Feleppa. With “You Have Been Loved” he created a touching monument to him.
“To Be Forgiven” would have fitted well with the masterpiece LISTEN WITHOUT PREJUDICE VOL.1 and with the title of the lead single “Jesus To A Child” Michael, who was skeptical about religion but still carried a crucifix, irritated again. But the song behind it is outstanding. In a hilarious “Little Britain” skit, Andy, via nurse Lou, tells Michael in attendance, “Tell him that apart from ‘Jesus To A Child,’ I find his work emotionally flat.”
An understandable assessment given the preponderance of aimless ballads on OLDER. Michael wants to distance himself from radio pop so much that he almost seems ashamed of his knack for melodies. The few dance numbers are even colder, above all the yuppie pop “Fastlove”. Among the various formats of the re-release, the 5-CD box with its veritable excess of remixes is not advisable, the double album including the 1997 bonus EP UPPER is definitely sufficient.
SIMILAR REVIEWS
Maggie Rogers :: Surrender
Any pop – but in its most beautiful form.
The Chemical Brothers :: Dig Your Own Hole (25th Anniversary Edition)
Birthday edition of the boundary-busting electro-rock masterpiece.
She & Him :: Melt Away: A Tribute To Brian Wilson
Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward salute surf-pop legend — and miss an opportunity.
SIMILAR ARTICLES
“Blown-up revolutionary aesthetics have always been unsustainable” – Jens Friebe in Popwoche
Jens Friebe, exile from Lüdenscheid, and pop columnist Linus Volkmann talk here.
For more Tokio Hotel & Coldplay: About the overdue end of distinction
Against the Heinis: In the new issue of her pop column, Paula Irmschler explains why we can all celebrate Coldplay AND Tokio Hotel AND Kraftklub AND Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” with a clear conscience – regardless of gender and age.
2001: Tokio Hotel announce new album for November
The new record will be released on November 18th. It can already be pre-ordered now.