Well thinking of Mantrap in the last post, got me to thinking of the The Lexicon of Love album and just how good it is. It's a brilliant album from start to finish and a true one of a kind. ABC would never even attempt this sound again, as the band almost immediately began to fall apart, and no one else ever came close to matching the flood of hooks, fun lyrics, and drum and bass beats. Probably no album better represents the best of the new wave sound of the early 80's for me. Each song is almost overly orchestrated and yet it all tightly fits together around Martin Fry's singing. This album is worth hearing if nothing else for the drum and bass work.
Of course for me the status of the album is lifted even higher because of the goofy movie Mantrap that was made to promote the album. An odd choice it seems to me for a band's first album, but it definitely worked to highlight the distinctiveness of the band.
ABC - The Lexicon of Love (1982)
1. Show Me
2. Poison Arrow
3. Many Happy Returns
4. Tears Are Not Enough
5. Valentine's Day
6. The Look of Love, Pt. 1
7. Date Stamp
8. All of My Heart
9. 4 Ever 2 Gether
10. The Look of Love, Pt. 4
I picked this video because it's a song that most people wouldn't necessarily know and it has everything that is great about this album. The driving beat is fantastic so turn it up. On top of that you get the fun lyrics and wonderful singing of Martin Fry, with this overly orchestrated sound that adds a richness. This album has aged extremely well I believe because these guys were able to blend all of these things together so incredibly well.
