This 1982 ode to NYC is an urban(e) pop classic. No CBGB's grime in evidence here, not much sleaze to speak of, but the cosmopolitan vibe and Jackson's strident piano faithfully evoke the hyperkinetic magic of the Big Apple. The Latin rhythms still sound fresh, and there are some curiously proggy te...
This 1982 ode to NYC is an urban(e) pop classic. No CBGB’s grime in evidence here, not much sleaze to speak of, but the cosmopolitan vibe and Jackson’s strident piano faithfully evoke the hyperkinetic magic of the Big Apple. The Latin rhythms still sound fresh, and there are some curiously proggy textures: “Chinatown” sounds like the meeting point between mid-period Genesis and Costello, all portentous chords and swirling synths, and is a highlight alongside the brilliant happy/sad electropop of “Steppin’ Out”. Big, brave and often deeply moving.