Melt with Them Over and Over Again (part 5)

(continuation of a definitive review of Modern English's full studio discography)
by aLfie vera mella

{This particular article is dedicated to Mick Conroy, the bass player of Modern English, who personally sent me a private message to let me know that he'd been enjoying reading my series on Modern English. He also informed me that they were at the moment at the mixing stage of the recoding process of their forthcoming new, eighth studio album; and that it was being produced and mixed by an old friend of theirs, Martyn Young of New Wave / Synthpop / Electronica band Colourbox.}

“As we move through cruel waters

Give me strength to be by your side

It’s so difficult sometimes to be human

The years they leave us your side”

In 1990, Modern English released its fifth album, which contains a re-recording of “I Melt with You.” Pillow Lips was supposed to market the band to the so-called U.S. audience, thus the new version of their most popular song. 

Modern English recorded a new version of "I Melt with You" for inclusion in their album Pillow Lips, intended for the so-called American audience.

However, by the entry of the new decade, the Alternative music landscape had also shifted from the melodic and romantic New Wave to the heavier and rugged Grunge. Modern English was one of the casualties. Before Pillow Lips could even make a mark on the scene, many of those who used to laud them had already written off not only the band but also the entire genre. Because of this, many people who used to love them failed to discover the beauty of this album. 

"Pillow Lips" is a slow, somber ballad, in which Robbie Grey's vocal sounds like that of Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet.

Many fans have indeed overlooked Pillow Lips for many years, and I don't blame this on the massive appeal of "I Melt with You." Rather, I blame it on the short attention span of many music listeners who could not hold their loyal interest in bands that they claim they love; they're only too ready to move on as soon as commercial media begin to cast their spotlight on another new band. After all, to many in the media, a band is just another scoop.

Someone familiar with the band's entire discography could easily describe "Life's Rich Tapestry" as the song with which Modern English was in their most Synthpop preoccupation.

Pillow Lips was released during the pre-Internet ’90s, when music fans were virtually slaves of commercial TV, radio, and print media, a time when the taste of many music lovers was still almost exclusively affected by whatever was on popular radio and TV. The songs in this album were Synthpop-oriented, had less guitar works, and had sprinkles of Reggae and Dubstep.

 My most-favorite song from Pillow Lips, "Care about You" is the twin song of "I Melt with You" in terms of title, song structure, and melody.

The sunny tropical-island reggae vibe of "Beautiful People" is in the same league as the song "Rush" by the '90s version of Big Audio Dynamite, also known as BAD II. 

"Rush" by BAD II (Big Audio Dynamite II) has the same sunny tropical-island reggae vibe as Modern English's "Beautiful People."

Personal recommendations are “Life’s Rich Tapestry”; “Beautiful People”; the slow ballad “Pillow Lips”; and “Care about You,” which I regard as the twin song of “I Melt with You” in terms of title, song structure, and melody. My only complaint about it is its having been titled as “Care about You” instead of “I Care about You” to make it parallel with the title of its predecessor.

(review of the rest of the albums, to be continued...)