[01] Room 19[02] Attitude Chicken
[03] The Soft Soil
[04] A Hole to Fill
[05] The Song Of The Emergent Nationalist
[06] My Hippy Angel
[07] The Happy Club
[08] Like Down On Me
[09] Too Late God
[10] Roads Of Germany (After BD)
[11] A Sex Thing
[12] The House At The Top Of The World
amg: Irish singer Bob Geldof's third solo set, The Happy Club, finds him again being produced by Rupert Hine, although he and Pete Briquette lend a hand. Geldof eschews the guest star-laden turns of his prior albums and settles with a set band line-up, with World Party's Karl Wallinger the only name guest. While not quite the triumph of his previous outing, The Happy Club is still an engaging release through and through. Drawing on his love for Motown, the album is an often upbeat, ebullient affair starting with the lead track "Room 19," complete with "sha la las, " hand claps, and comical lyrics about cryogenics. Other standouts include the gentle, lovely "The Soft Soil," the singalong slice of neo-psychedelic pop "My Hippy Angel," and the catchy title track. Thought-provoking lyrics wrapped in some great melodies, The Happy Club is mature, adult pop/rock that doesn't forget to have a good time.
(amg 8/10)
