Returning after six years without original material -- a hiatus that was interrupted by two 2012 releases -- one a live album, one a Christmas record, along with a 2010 reworking of old songs --
Richard Marx is in a decidedly seductive frame of mind on
Beautiful Goodbye. A romantic record through and through,
Beautiful Goodbye is smoother than most of
Marx's catalog, rolling along at a subdued pace and seemingly encased in silk. Savvy old pro that he is,
Marx knows enough to vary the pace and the accents -- at times this flirts with Latin rhythms, at times he incorporates just enough EDM to illustrate he knows it's 2014, but not enough to alienate any longtime fans -- which is enough to keep
Beautiful Goodbye far away from the monotonous. He's aiming for atmosphere, not hooks here and, consequently, the record might seem a little elliptical for those expecting a revival of "Right Here Waiting," but that mastery of mood is also the appeal of
Beautiful Goodbye: this was designed for late-night romance, and forceful hooks would distract from the seduction.