Erasure:- Listen To The Sound Of The Circus (The Circus - Erasure)

Member Name: keeperofthematri

Product:	The Circus - Erasure
Date:	24/05/09 (9 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Consistent album.

Disadvantages: Spiralling (& possibly Sexuality)

The Circus was Erasure's second studio album, following the relative flop of "Wonderland" and contains the following tracks:

01) It Doesn't Have To Be:
The second single released from the album. It peaked at number 12 in the UK charts.
From the start of this song it's obvious that Erasure's style of song has evolved a little since the previous album. Andy tells us all about how he & somebody else are divided:- "you are on one side & I am on the other" but that "It doesn't have to be like that". A fairly decent start.

02) Hideaway:
Erasure tackle the subject of sexuality & coming out as they ask, "Oh my father, why don't you talk to me now, oh my mother do you still cry yourself to sleep? Are you still proud of your little boy?
"The boy he was rejected by the people that he cared for" hardly creates a positive message about coming out & it's left to "there's a whole new world, you can make it on your own" to provide some sense of hope within the lyrics.
Having said that, it's still a decent enough song.

03) Don't Dance:
It's all about difference as we're told "you don't have to be like every other, don't dance to the rhythm, do something about it, don't dance to the rhythm, you can do without it".
Another decent enough track but the lack of a decent chorus prevents it from standing out from other tracks on the album.

04) If I Could:
A slightly slower track than the first three with Andy telling us :-" If I could make the world a little better you know I would." Like "Don't Dance" the chorus doesn't stand out from the rest of the track which prevents the song as a whole making an impression.

05) Sexuality:
The backing track makes an instant impression but the lyrics & the way in which they are delivered probably mean that they will be a song you either love or hate. It probably all depends on how you feel about Andy urging:- "come up to my room, let's not pretend you're shy about it, sexuality". Personally I think it's quite a fun track.

06) Victim Of Love:
The third single to be released reached number 7 in the UK & therefore gave the group their 2nd Top Ten hit.
The opening lines say it all:- "I don't wanna look like some kind of fool, I don't wanna break my heart over you" as Andy vows "this time I won't end up another victim of love". One of the stronger tracks on the album so it's no surprise that it was chosen as a single.

07) Leave Me To Bleed:
Andy just wants to be left alone on this track as he instructs:- "Leave me to bleed, love can be fatal". The chorus is simplistic but for some reason this song still stands out much more than If I Could Do.

08) Sometimes:
The first single released from the album kicked off Erasure's run of Top 40 singles, peaking at number 2 in 1986.
It's an uptempo number which belies the lyrics:- sometimes the truth is harder than the pain inside, sometimes it's the broken heart that decides".

09) The Circus:
The fourth & last single to be released from the album reached number 6 in the UK.
Arguably the best song on the album, dealing with the decline of the traditional industries in the country:- " there was one a future for a working man, there was once a lifetime for a skillful hand ~ yesterday".

10) Spiralling:
An odd little number here. We start off with a slow, ballad like song with Andy telling us:- "I try hard to put you out of my mind", before it changes towards the end to something that wouldn't sound out of place in a circus.

11) In The Hall Of The Mountain King:
An instrumental.

12: Sometimes (Extended mix)
An extended mix of track 8 with a slightly rejigged backing track.

13) It Doesn't Have To Be (The Boop Oopa Doo Mix)
An exended mix of track 1 with a rejigged backing track.

A reasonably strong & consistent album. The songs here are less "frothy" than they were on "Wonderland" & the whole thing holds together rather well. If you liked any of Erasure's other albums but haven't heard this one yet buy it now!

Summary: Strong second album