Comments for Thompson Twins, Sidekicks

A trendy, bouncy, beat-laden album from techno-pop trio the Thompson twins. One of their stronger efforts, it reached #30 on the US album chart and #2 on the UK chart. Well known hits include "Lies"(#67 UK, #30 US), "Love on Your Side"(#9 UK, #45 US), "We Are Detective" (#7 UK), and "Watching" (#33 UK)

The first Thompson Twins album as a threesome. When you listen to this album, it''s hard to believe that it followed "Set". The original title of this LP is "Quick Step & Side Kick", in Britain and the rest of the world. God knows why the US shortened it to "Side Kicks". This is the first Thompson Twins album that had direction, style, a consistent sound, MELODIES and best of all, it was done in the most straightforward, simple way. Only 2 synthesizers and a drum machine were used as core instruments, along with the odd persussion instruments and a xylophone. Brilliant simplicity.... The first single, "Lies", released in late 1982, was the fist single that reached the UK charts for the TT''s, was a hint of things to come. Then in Jan. ''83 "Love On Your Side" reached No. 9 in the UK. Success had finally come, and the Twins were no longer broke, struggling artists. The third single, "We Are Detective" could hardly be called a "dance" record, but with it''s quirky European melody, reached No. 7 in the UK. The fourth single (released in the UK only), "Watching" (featuring vocals by Grace Jones) only reached 33. A lot of people labelled "Quick Step..." a dance record, but many other tracks showed Tom Bailey''s strong songwriting abilities (what ever happened to that? Babble? Wake up Mr. Bailey!!!!). Melodic tracks such at "If You Were Here", is an early Bailey ballad that soars, dripping with atmosphere. "Tears", has a stomping rhythm that is a loud sceam saying that when you''re hurting, you can never really hide the pain no matter how you dress. "Love Lies Bleeding" is probably THE dance number on the album. "Judy Do" is probably a hint at how Showbiz really is, about a girl performer who knows the realities of the biz. "Kamikaze" is a classic Thompson Twins song. Slow, atmospheric, about the suicidal fighter pilots. Lastly, "All Fall Out". I still don''t get this one. Is it about being on drugs? Check out the lyrics: "Dream/Dream in red...." OK. This album is the kind that you can listen from beginning to end, and never get tired of it. Too bad they didn''t make more great albums. It IS possible, Tom and Alannah. Do you hear me?!