American English

by Wax UK

Overview

The partnership of songwriters Graham Gouldman and Andrew Gold, stepping out of the wreckage of the recently deceased 10cc, always promised a lot more than it actually delivered. While there was no denying either the talents or the heritage of either player, Wax was doomed to remain a child of its time -- that awful, awkward second half of the '80s during which production and arrangements took over from the actual songwriting, and swamped even the sweetest tune in bombast and swill. And so American English disguises 11 songs beneath echoing drums, bellowing keyboards and "look at me, I'm wonderful" vocals, until even the tracks that you know should be good, like the title track, the single "Bridge to Your Heart," and "Right Between the Eyes," are reduced to little more than background noises in a particularly annoying version of Miami Vice, and what should have been an object lesson in musical brilliance becomes a master class in the worst of '80s excess. Unless, of course, you like records that sound like a lot of doors being slammed. ~ Dave Thompson

Product Details

Release Date:	09/02/2008
Label:	Renaissance Records
UPC:	0630428028920
Rank:	52908

Tracks

1. American English
2. In Some Other World
3. Ready or Not
4. Call It Destiny
5. Bridge to Your Heart
6. Share the Glory
7. Alright Tonight
8. The Promise
9. Heaven in Her Bed
10. Bug in the Machine

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Wax UK   Primary Artist
Lorna Wright   Spoken Word
Andrew Gold   Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Vocals (Background),Drums
Paul Bliss   Keyboards
Jackie Rawe   Vocals (Background)
Graham Gouldman   Guitar,Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Phil Palmer   Guitar
Adrian Lee   Keyboards
Wix   Keyboards
Paul Carrack   Vocals (Background)
Peter Van Hooke   Drums
Tessa Niles   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Andrew Gold   Producer,Programming,Audio Production
Steve Hammonds   Release Coordinator
Christopher Neil   Producer,Audio Production
Graham Gouldman   Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Malcolm Dome   Sleeve Notes
Wax UK   Arranger
Phil Palmer   Composer
Simon Hurrell   Mixing,Engineer
John Hiatt   Composer
Peter Van Hooke   Programming
Ian Cooper   Mastering
Hugh Gilmour   Reissue Design