The Real Macaw by Graham Parker

The Real Macaw

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The Real Macaw

Reader Reviews
This had been one of my least listened-to Graham Parker albums; I was always aware that it was on the shelf, but nothing really inspired me to play it. However, after years of overlooking it and now acquiring it on CD, I hear it in a different light. The CD format definitely helps because this one grows on you if you listen to the whole thing in one sitting. In fact, it's one of those discs you could listen to twice in a row and not lose interest. Loaded with poppy, upbeat songs darkened by GP's snide lyrics, this is kind of a water-treading period, representing his last album with Arista, his reunion with Brinsley Schwarz, and the album just before he assembled the Rumor-soundalike band The Shot. Drawbacks are tied to 1980s obsessions with electronica. Though Squeeze drummer Gilson Lavis played on this, there's an annoying Linn drum overdub throughout, giving it that plastic sound, as do the '80s-drenched keyboards that punctuate the intros to "Glass Jaw" and "Life Gets Better." (The intros are almost note for note identical.) Still in all, lots of great songs and very easy listening. The bonus track, "I Want You Back" is a Rumour-era cover of the Jackson 5, and it works well.

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