Veteran synth pop act Simple Minds follow their album of inspiring covers, 2001's Neon Lights, with a mostly inspired studio album of entirely new material.

Although only two original members remain -- singer-songwriter Jim Kerr and guitarist-keyboardist Charlie Burchill -- there are glimpses of the Scottish group's '80s heyday within this 12-track collection.

And really, Kerr and Burchill were always the group's braintrust.

The epic-sounding numbers Spaceface, New Sunshine Morning, One Step Closer, Sugar and Sleeping Girl are particularly dance-floor-worthy, while the more stripped-down Lazy Lately and Cry Again are definitely worth a listen.

Not nearly as well executed are the acoustic guitar number Face In The Sun, the disjointed Disconnected and Slave Nation, and the album-ending throwaway instrumental The Floating World. (More on Simple Minds)

Monday, June 24, 2002

New album nothing to cry over