Eurythmics Touch CD

 Early electronica meets elegant pop song craft
The Eurythmics story is a long one, and the meeting of Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart dated back more than a decade before the first Eurythmics album, 'IN THE GARDEN,' was released in 1981. But it was in 1983 that they burst onto the scene with second album 'SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS)', a stunning concoction of pop melodies and cold electronic elements. With a distinctive, androgynous image, Eurythmics ruled MTV in 1983 as well as the airwaves and charts with their innovative music, and in a frantic burst of inspiration they cut third album 'TOUCH' in the very same year, at a time when they were still hitting the big time with the second album. This album expands on the electronica to a big degree, as the album is largely built around the skittering beats and synth flourishes. It certainly sounds quite 1980s-style, but that era is very much back in fashion now, and a lot of 'TOUCH' could pass as a fresh, quirky retro pop record if it were released today in 2006. The singles are the most obviously appealing, from the darkly gorgeous "Here Comes the Rain Again" to the mournful, achingly beautiful "Who's That Girl?" and the fun, sweet calypso of "Right By Your Side." One thing that surprised me about this, my first Eurythmics purchase, was the level of ambition and experimentation - it's a very experimental piece, from the seven-minute electronic Kraftwerk-style epic "Paint a Rumour" to the soul-dance hybrid of "The First Cut" to the dramatic "No Fear No Hate No Pain (No Broken Hearts)" to the Grace Jones-style scariness of "Regrets" to the slow, ambient, atmospheric "Aqua," where Annie Lennox excels on vocals, to the sexy "Cool Blue." It's arty, avant-garde, odd - but also there are pop melodies and classic songwriting, and it makes for an odd, cold juxtaposition - but it definitely works. The 2005 deluxe reissue comes with brilliant packaging and an informative booklet packed with photos, and the prospect of discovering all Eurythmics albums in this re-mastered form with excellent sound is an exciting one. The bonus tracks here are perhaps not all that essential, ranging from endless electronic experimentation to sublime acoustic versions of the album's two big hits, but the main product is really brilliant and should be investigated.
Submitted by MB (Rugby, UK)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No

 BEST EURYTHMICS ALBUM BY FAR!!
This album is the most successful Eurythmics album to date and for a good reason. There are absolutely no flaws here. From start to finish the brilliance of Annie & Dave shine through. Aside from the three huge worldwide hit singles ("Who's That Girl" #3, "Right By Your Side" #10 & "Here Comes The Rain Again" #4), there are other gems that are equally as good (if not better!) such as the synth-driven "Paint A Rumour" and the Grace Jones-esque "Regrets". The bonus tracks are a nice treat for longtime Eurythmics fans such as myself. Her cover of David Bowie's "Fame" is my personal favorite of the bonus tracks. Great cd remastered with lots of rare piuctures from the 1983-84 era as well as interesting biographical liner notes about what was going on in their lives during the release of the album. A great buy! You won't be disappointed with this masterpiece. Kudos to Dave Stewart & Annie Lennox for giving us such brilliant pop music throughout the years!
Submitted by Samm (Lafayette, IN USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No

Have you heard this album?