The Best of Howard Jones compiles all the necessary material ever put forth by this pop synthesizer master and is overabundant with a hearty 18 tracks.
Jones had a remarkable eight Top 40 singles throughout the course of the mid-1980s, churning out keyboard laden dance/pop songs that were bright and lively. His debut album,
Human's Lib, was a blend of new wave shine and friendly pop, which harbored the uppity "New Song" and the
Duran Duran sound-alike ballad "What Is Love?" Worthy of its number four mark on Billboard is the beautiful "No One Is to Blame," which was one of the prettiest songs from the era. His flair for catchy melodies comes alive on both "Things Can Only Get Better" and the synth spicy "Life in One Day." Other highlights include the rich textured "Everlasting Love" from 1989 and the vibrant elevated chorus of "Lift Me Up." illuminating
Jones' surprising vocal range. Sounding similar to the British trio
the Thompson Twins, who were popular at the same time,
Howard Jones' music reflected the synth driven sound of the decade. This compilation gathers all of his hits and then some, making for a perfect one stop album. ~ Mike DeGagne