Fueled by the hard-pushing hit from
Jarreau's previous album "Boogie Down," aproducer
Jay Graydon cranks up the energy level some more and comes up with a snazzy high-tech vehicle for his converted R&B singer. The sound is hotter, stoked by greater reliance upon synthesizers and electronically goosed rhythm tracks, and
Jarreau's own vocals are more hectic, though again not much in the way of individuality is required of him. But the material this time isn't as strong -- though "Murphy's Law" is pretty catchy with its flugelhorn punctuations -- and so the reluctance to exploit the unique vocal talents of
Jarreau is more glaring. The minor hit single of the album, oddly, is the mundane ballad "After All," an ominous harbinger of bathos to come from
Jarreau down the road. ~ Richard S. Ginell