The Power Station

Its name to the contrary, this alliance of slick British soul singer Robert Palmer and former
Chic drummer Tony Thompson with two of Duran Duran's three unrelated Taylors –
guitarist Andy and pinup bassist John – suffers from an acute power shortage on its debut
album. The mix of Duran Duran's theatrical New Wave fluff and the lean funk bottom of
Chic's nimble Seventies disco hits is at least an interesting prospect. But it has yi... More >

Problem's not Bernard Edwards's textures or Tony Thompson's pulse. It's not the condescending concept that united them with young posers John and Andy Taylor. (How to Tell Them Apart: Andy's guitar has six strings, John's only four!) It's not even the Taylors' songs, though I'll take the T. Rex and Isleys covers and so will you. Problem's old poser Robert Palmer, whom the Taylors thought a suitable Simon Le Bon substitute. Ask any Duranie: he's got wrinkles, and they're not as cute as Bruce's. And even when he didn't the little girls understood. (Grade: C+)