Happy Together

' performing career began in 1980 at a time when outfits were not in vogue. The fact that were unlike any act on the scene made them stand out and earned them accolades and a devoted audience almost immediately. The band has existed in one form or another for more than 25 years, but it is the original quartet of , , and that created their most beloved recordings. was the band's fourth album and is probably their most popular, commercially. Taking a small step forward from still uses electronic percussion but not in an intrusive way. In fact, the rhythms of the album add a worldly vibe to the recordings, and allow the boys to be a bit more playful with their voices. The most successful tracks on the album were covers of and but the spirited version of deserves mention. As on their previous releases, the band's originals, mostly by , are the standouts on the album. is top-notch and remains one of 's finest, while 's vocals on voice carrying lifts 's writing to a new level. 's is stunning, and the song's simple, touching arrangement sounds like it could have easily fit on . penned the joyous "Face In The Crowd," another notch in their belts. Only the trite fails to please, although it's certainly not a terrible entry in their catalog. After the slightly disappointing was a step in the right direction and sounds like a true compromise between the guys' artistic approach to their music, and the record label's insistence on a more commercial sound. [The CD was re-released with bonus tracks in 2002.] ~ Steve Schnee