We're at the finish line on our journey through Kim Wilde. It started out rough, got a little better, then tapered off a little bit. However, things could definitely end on a high note.
Why?
Because today we're diving into her 1988 released, Close. It's Wilde's most successful album to date. It not only returned the singer to the UK top ten with multiple singles, but the album itself would spend eight months in the UK album charts.
Lead single, Hey Mister Heartache, saw Kim and Junior collaborating again, and while the track did become a hit, it was overshadowed by her second single, You Came. The latter would reach the top ten in multiple countries, as well as the top forty in the USA. Her third and fourth singles, Never Trust A Stranger, and Four Letter Words, also reached top ten status in the UK. Attention for the album would further be bolstered by Wilde appearing as a special guest, and opening act for the European leg of Michael Jackson's Bad tour.
Okay, that sets the bar pretty high. Let's see where this goes.
Very adult contemporary, is what I would label the majority of Close. It has a much more mature sound than her prior pop efforts, which while not necessarily a bad thing, also attributes to part of its lack of charm. A comparative example would be Duran Duran's Notorious (1986). Wherein you get a more mature sound, a series of good tracks, but also leaves you with a yearning for some more of that bubblegum pop that drew you to them in the first place. That's what Close is ultimately lacking. A good bit of cheesy pop, which serves no other purpose than to get your toes tapping.
Overall, the album didn't resonate with me, and in hindsight, perhaps that's my fault. See, when you listen to an entire discography back to back you lose something. That loss is the length of time that those albums came about. See, if I were to have heard Wilde's albums each year, I would have gotten the opportunity to grow up with them, in essence maturing with Kim, and better adapting to the changing themes and tones. However, because I went from bubblegum pop to maturity, literally overnight, this sudden shift feels out of place from what my ears were accustomed to hearing.
Close is not a bad album. Not by a long shot. However, it also didn't have songs that screamed to me, "You must add these to your shuffle list." At the end of it, I passed on all of them.
I suppose, if nothing else, I'm glad that Kim ended her 80's era of music on a high note, for her, the highest it ever peaked. She's also continued to release music since, with her most recent being just this year, January 2025's Closer. At the age of 64, she seems to have no desire to stop anytime soon.
As for me, I'm off to find my next discography to complain about.
Click "HERE" to go back to the home page. For more posts related to this one, please click the labels below.
Disclaimer: They Toy Box does not endorse or contribute to piracy. Retro Spins posts are intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. None of the music discussed here is available for sale, downloading or distribution. |
| THIS WEEK ON THE CHARTS September 7, 1985 |
No comments:
Post a Comment