George Michael's follow-up to the massive success of
Faith found him turning inward, trying to gain critical acclaim as well as sales.
Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 is not an entirely successful effort;
Michael has cut back on the effortless hooks and melodies that crammed not only
Faith but also his singles with
Wham!, and his socially conscious lyrics tend to be heavy-handed. But the highlights -- the light,
Beatlesque harmonies of "Heal the Pain," the plodding number one "Praying for Time," and also "Waiting for That Day" as well as the Top Ten "Freedom" -- make a case for his talents as a pop craftsman. [In 2017 the album was reissued in a three-CD/one-DVD Super Deluxe Edition titled
Listening Without Prejudice 25, including a remastered version of the original album on the first CD; remastered audio of
Michael's 1996 MTV Unplugged performance on the second CD, along with a brand-new version of the B-side "Fantasy" masterminded by
Nile Rodgers; a third CD of B-sides, remixes, and rarities; and a DVD featuring
Michael's 1990 Southbank Show special plus three additional videos.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine