Fine Young Cannibals

Fine Young Cannibals' 1986 debut album was heady but erratic – fine, rough pop ("Johnny
Come Home") and a tremendous cover of Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds" bumping against
filler so obvious that side two could have been called Album Helper. But after three years
of assorted side projects (guitarist Andy Cox and bassist David Steele did some soundtrack
work and released a passable house-music single under the moniker Two Men, a... More >

All I can tell you about the content of these songs is that they seem to concern romantic love. That makes them pop. I can also tell you that I don't much care if I know what they're about or not. That makes them good pop. And add that since this is 1989, good pop doesn't mean melodies and hooks, though neither is overlooked. It means beats (most admittedly quite hooky) and vocal ID. (Grade: A-)