Wide Awake Dreamland in Bloomington, MN

Although it falls short of the excellence of
Crimes of Passion
,
Precious Time
, and
Get Nervous
Wide Awake in Dreamland
is a generally decent and respectable effort that has more pluses than minuses. Closer in spirit to
Tropico
than
Passion
or
Time
, the consistently melodic
Dreamland
stresses
pop
elements and steers clear of
hard rock
. The CD's most memorable offerings include the haunting and moody
"Too Long a Soldier,"
the infectious
"Lift Em on Up,"
and a disturbing commentary on child abuse,
"Suffer the Little Children."
Unfortunately,
Pat Benatar
's popularity was starting to decline in 1988 -- and in the early-to-mid-'90s, she would receive little attention. ~ Alex Henderson