Wang Chung - The Warmer Side Of Cool

Released in 1989

The Warmer Side of Cool was Wang Chung's fifth and final album, and unfortunately they went out with a whimper rather than a bang. That's not to say the album is without merit, but it was a commercial failure due to fans rejecting Wang Chung's attempt to move away from synth-pop and into rock. The album also failed to create even one memorable radio hit.

I can't blame Wang Chung for trying to reinvent their sound a bit, for their synth-pop dominated their previous three albums and had they continued to ride that horse further it could very well have become ragged and tired. Throughout their career you'll notice subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) differences among their albums, so clearly the band was capable of trying new things and keeping their work fresh. But fans were either too accustomed to their mindless pop fun and therefore had a harder time swallowing their transition to rock or the band just wasn't very adept at the different genre.

Some of the album's highlights are:

• Praying To A New God – This album opener is one of their rockers, but it manages to retain the band's appealing vibe. A nice hybrid of pop and strong guitars.
• When Love Looks Back At You – Although the band moved in a rock direction, they didn't abandon their synth-pop entirely, as exhibited by this lush ballad.
• Games Of Power – A great little pop-rocker with a catchy tempo and just the right amount of guitar work.

Overall I was disappointed with The Warmer Side of Cool when I compare it to their previous works, but at the same time I can't condemn the album since it does contain some strong tracks. Their new sound didn't quite work for them, but at least they gave it a whirl and came close to hitting their target.

Rating: 6 stars

Track List Praying to a New God What's So Bad About Feeling Good? Snakedance Swing When Love Looks Back at You Games of Power At the Speed of Life The Warmer Side of Cool Logic and Love Tall Trees in a Blue Sky Big World

Additional Resources:

• Huang Chung Review
• Points on the Curve Review
• To Live and Die In L.A. Soundtrack Review
• Mosaic Review

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