Album Review: ‘Colour Radio,’ The Nines
On Colour Radio, he and the group do it once again. The album is jam-packed with unforgettable hooks and ethereal harmonies; in fact, it may be the most consistent Nines album to date, and that’s saying something.
Colour Radio is almost a concept album; it begins with the old-time radio tuning that we used to do with the knob, trying to find that perfect radio station among the static, and then we find the right station – the group launches into “Crazy Little Girl,” a rocker that features an aggressive Eggers on vocals before ELO-type vocals emerge on the chorus.
The theme continues throughout the album. There’s a commercial break for “Hercules Cologne,” and even a station jingle as the wonder station – a station that plays all Nines music? – counts down to the number nine song of the week.
Eggers gets funky on a few songs – something we really haven’t seen from him. It’s an interesting departure for him; don’t expect ELO on any of these tunes. But it’s the ballads and mid-tempo numbers where Eggers has always excelled, and he doesn’t disappoint. “Maybe if You Stayed” made me nod my head and say, “There’s the Steve Eggers I always want to hear.” It’s genuine ear candy.
Eggers has some secret formula for writing pop music and is blessed with an ear for what goes well together. “For A Lifetime” has that old feel to it, similar to his songs “Vanessa” and “Plans That Never Came to Pass”; it’s accented with strings and makes for a perfect lullaby.
And like a true radio countdown, Eggers saves the best for last. “I’m Lucky” is pure McCartney; it’s a beautiful piano ballad that becomes an instant Nines classic. It’s definitely the number one song on the album – and on the radio station.
It’s Christmas time, and Eggers, like Santa, even gives us a Christmas song as an epilogue to the album. Colour Radio is a wonderful Christmas present indeed.
