The Time (Bros album)

Last updated

The Time
The Time (Bros album) cover.jpeg
Studio album by
Bros
Released16 October 1989
Genre Pop, dance-pop
Length49:20
Label CBS
Producer Nicky Graham
Bros chronology
Push
(1988)		The Time
(1989)		 Changing Faces
(1991)
Singles from The Time
  1. "Too Much"
    Released: 17 July 1989
  2. "Chocolate Box"
    Released: 25 September 1989
  3. "Sister"
    Released: 4 December 1989
  4. "Madly in Love"
    Released: 26 February 1990

The Time is the second album by British pop band Bros and the follow-up to their debut Push . It was released on 16 October 1989 and was their first album as a duo of twins Matt and Luke Goss, following the departure of bassist Craig Logan earlier in the year. It was also the first album to feature Matt and Luke as co-writers, along with Nicky Graham. Four singles were released from the album: "Too Much", "Chocolate Box", "Madly in Love" and "Sister". The track "Sister" was written about Matt and Luke's stepsister Carolyn, who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver in London in 1988. [1]

Contents

The album reached number four in the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold in the UK. [2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
NME 4/10 [5]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg (music)
Star full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg (lyrics) [7]
Smash Hits 6½/10 [8]
Sounds Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Mike Soutar of Smash Hits recognised the duo's talent and stated that their playing had become more accomplished and that their sound was "more mature" compared with debut album Push. He called the opening four tracks "promising", but then went on to say, "Where Bros do come unstuck, however, is when they turn their attention to serious 'social' issues, namely drugs in 'Streetwise' and racism in 'Black & White'. Well intentioned as they may be, neither of these topics are particularly new to pop music, and Bros have nothing fresh to say about them... And that's Bros' big problem: about half the songs on this LP are just ideas thrown together and never really finished properly." [8]

In NME , Simon Williams stated that "the most astonishing fact is that the boys have social consciences" and that "the messages are delivered in a trite manner, but their earnestness can't be denied". However, he called the music "crap, f—ed up funk workouts which Wham! perfected five years ago ... And the bottom line is that Bros are sorely short of chummy, hummable tunes." [5] Lloyd Bradley of Q stated that the duo were attempting to break the US market by copying Michael Jackson's mix of pop and rock, complete with Jackson's vocal stylings, but "in trying for a level of aggression totally at odds with their long suit – punchy easily danceable pop – it sounds uncomfortably forced". His conclusion about the album was that "it's difficult to see its appeal: while remaining distinctly juvenile, by losing its predecessor's essential innocence, it's a little too, er, challenging for [the US's] established market". [6]

Self-confessed "Bros apologist" Andy Ross of Sounds was disappointed with the album, calling the songs "well-above-average pop" but that "the major criticism is that the material is polished to the extent of losing all character ... The most so-so record of the year." [9] In Music Week Andrew Martin called the album a "response to apparent waning popularity", stating that "The drums may sound meatier, the guitar raunchier and the lyrics as risky as they are banal", and concluded, "Bros's second album surprises no-one". [10] Tim Southwell of Record Mirror praised Matt Goss's vocals and the album's production, and said that "all 10 songs are delivered with skill and a soulful zest". However, he criticised the "dire Stevie Wonder imitations" and the "lyrical naïvety", with the exception of "Sister", and said that "Bros should credit their fans with a bit more upstairs before they are outgrown by the very people who made them famous." [7]

In a retrospective review, William Ruhlmann of AllMusic noted that Bros were coming to the end of their popularity, and that their music had not travelled well across the Atlantic, saying, "As with most teenage heartthrobs, the music wasn't the point; all of these songs are heavily produced, glossy dance tracks in which Matt Goss's enthusiastic but thin vocals are the least noticeable aspect. The point was image, and without a big promotional push, that image never became visible to Americans, while, in England, it was only good for the life of this record, completing Bros' two years of fame." [3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Matt Goss, Luke Goss and Nicky Graham

No.TitleLength
1."Madly in Love"7:09
2."Too Much"3:30
3."Chocolate Box"3:57
4."Money"4:21
5."Streetwise"4:29
6."Club Fool"5:28
7."Black and White"3:52
8."Don't Bite the Hand"3:10
9."Space"3:40
10."Sister"4:23
CD bonus track
No.TitleLength
11."Life's a Heartbeat" (B-side of "Chocolate Box")4:43
2010 CD reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleRemixLength
12."Too Much (Extended Version)" Tom Lord-Alge 6:43
13."Astrologically" (B-side of "Too Much") 3:30
14."Chocolate Box (Swing Mix)"Justin Strauss6:18
15."Sister (Remix)"Tom Lord-Alge4:23
16."Madly in Love (Joe Smooth 12" Version)" Joe Smooth 6:24

US and Canada version

All tracks are written by Matt Goss, Luke Goss and Nicky Graham, except where noted

No.TitleLength
1."Madly in Love"7:09
2."Too Much"3:34
3."Chocolate Box"4:00
4."Money"4:23
5."Life's a Heartbeat"4:48
6."Club Fool"5:31
7."Black and White"3:55
8."Don't Bite the Hand"3:09
9."I Owe You Nothing (remix)" (The Brothers)3:57
10."Sister"4:23
11."Space" (bonus track on CD only, incorrectly listed as "Streetwise")4:30

Personnel

Bros

Additional personnel

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (1989)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [11] 34
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [12] 90
European Albums Chart [13] 18
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [14] 23
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [15] 34
Italian Albums ( Musica e dischi ) [16] 20
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [17] 7
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [18] 17
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [19] 42
UK Albums (OCC) [20] 4

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [21] Platinum100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [2] Gold100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Communiqué</i> (Dire Straits album) 1979 studio album by Dire Straits

Communiqué is the second studio album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 5 June 1979 by Vertigo Records internationally, Warner Bros. Records in the United States and Mercury Records in Canada. The album featured the single "Lady Writer," which reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 51 on the UK Singles Chart. The album reached number one on album charts in Germany, Spain, New Zealand, and Sweden, number 11 in the United States and number 5 in the United Kingdom. Communiqué was later certified gold in the United States, platinum in the United Kingdom and double-platinum in France.

<i>Stay on These Roads</i> 1988 studio album by A-ha

Stay on These Roads is the third studio album by Norwegian band A-ha, released on 3 May 1988 by Warner Bros. Records. Six singles were released from the album.

<i>Sailing to Philadelphia</i> 2000 studio album by Mark Knopfler

Sailing to Philadelphia is the second solo studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 25 September 2000 by Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album contains featured vocal performances by James Taylor, Van Morrison, and Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze.

<i>Delicate Sound of Thunder</i> 1988 live album by Pink Floyd

Delicate Sound of Thunder is a live album by the English band Pink Floyd. It was recorded over five nights at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, in August 1988, during their A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour, and mixed at Abbey Road Studios in September 1988. It was released on 21 November 1988, through EMI Records in the UK and Columbia Records in the US.

<i>The Ballad Hits</i> 2002 greatest hits album by Roxette

The Ballad Hits is the second greatest hits compilation album by Swedish pop duo Roxette, released on 4 November 2002 by Roxette Recordings and Capitol Records. It was the first of a two-part series of "best of" albums released by the duo in quick succession, and was followed by The Pop Hits in March 2003. Two new songs were recorded specially for The Ballad Hits: lead single "A Thing About You" and "Breathe". The album was a commercial success upon release, and has been certified gold or platinum in a number of territories.

<i>The Miracle</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Queen

The Miracle is the thirteenth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 22 May 1989 by Parlophone Records and Capitol Records in both the United Kingdom and the U.S. respectively, where it was the band's third and final studio album to be released on latter label, and their first studio album on the former label. The album was recorded as the band recovered from Brian May's marital problems and Freddie Mercury's HIV diagnosis in 1987. Recording started in January 1988 and lasted for an entire year. The album was originally going to be called The Invisible Men, but three weeks before the release, according to Roger Taylor, they changed the name to The Miracle. It was also the last Queen album with a photo of the band on the front cover.

<i>The Seeds of Love</i> 1989 studio album by Tears for Fears

The Seeds of Love is the third studio album by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released on 25 September 1989 by Fontana Records. It retained the band's epic sound while incorporating influences ranging from jazz and soul to Beatlesque pop. Its lengthy production and scrapped recording sessions cost over £1 million. The album spawned the title hit single "Sowing the Seeds of Love", as well as "Woman in Chains", and "Advice for the Young at Heart", both of which reached the top 40 in several countries.

Bros are an English band formed in 1986 in Camberley, Surrey. The band originally consisted of twin brothers Matt and Luke Goss, and their friend Craig Logan, who attended Collingwood School in Camberley. The band was managed by former Pet Shop Boys manager Tom Watkins. They achieved chart success and a large teenage fanbase in 1988 with songs such as "When Will I Be Famous" and "I Owe You Nothing". Early the following year, Logan quit the band and the Goss twins continued as a duo. After two more albums the band split up in 1992.

<i>Golden Heart</i> 1996 studio album by Mark Knopfler

Golden Heart is the debut solo studio album by British singer-songwriter and guitarist Mark Knopfler, released on 25 March 1996 by Vertigo Records internationally and Warner Bros. Records in the United States. Following a successful career leading British rock band Dire Straits and composing a string of critically acclaimed film soundtrack albums, Knopfler recorded his first solo album, drawing upon the various musical influences he'd engaged since emerging as a major recording artist in 1978. The album reached the top-10 position on charts in Austria, Belgium, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The album peaked at 105 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.

<i>Push</i> (Bros album) 1988 studio album by Bros

Push is the debut album by British pop band Bros and was released on 28 March 1988 on CBS. The album peaked at number two in the UK Albums Chart and was certified quadruple platinum in the UK. It was also a worldwide success, reaching number one in New Zealand, and the top ten in Australia and several countries in Europe.

<i>Victory</i> (The Jacksons album) 1984 studio album by the Jacksons

Victory is the fifteenth studio album by the Jacksons, released by Epic Records on July 2, 1984. The only album to include all six Jackson brothers together as an official group, Victory peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 albums chart. Its most successful single, "State of Shock", peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.

<i>Results</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Liza Minnelli

Results is the ninth studio album by Liza Minnelli, released in 1989. It was produced by Pet Shop Boys and Julian Mendelsohn.

<i>Foreign Affair</i> 1989 studio album by Tina Turner

Foreign Affair is the seventh solo studio album by Tina Turner, released on September 13, 1989, through Capitol Records. It was Turner's third album release after her massively successful comeback five years earlier with Private Dancer and her third and last album with the label. Although the album was not a major success in Turner's native United States, it was a huge international hit, especially in Europe. The album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, her first number one album there. Dan Hartman produced most of the tracks on the album, including the hit single "The Best", which has gone on to become one of Turner's signature songs.

<i>Wildest Dreams</i> (Tina Turner album) 1996 studio album by Tina Turner

Wildest Dreams is the ninth solo studio album by Tina Turner, released on April 22, 1996, by Parlophone internationally and Virgin Records in the US. Six singles were released from the album: the theme for the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye, "GoldenEye"; "Whatever You Want"; "On Silent Wings" featuring Sting; "Missing You"; "Something Beautiful Remains"; and "In Your Wildest Dreams", a duet with Barry White. It has earned double platinum certifications in the United Kingdom and in Europe.

<i>Live at the BBC</i> (Dire Straits album) 1995 live album by Dire Straits

Live at the BBC is a live album by British rock band Dire Straits, released on 26 June 1995 on Vertigo Records internationally, and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. The album was recorded on 22 July 1978 at BBC Studios in London, with one track recorded on 31 January 1981. The studio versions of the first six songs were released on Dire Straits. Live at the BBC was the band's third live album, preceded by Alchemy: Dire Straits Live (1984) and On the Night (1993).

<i>E.S.P.</i> (Bee Gees album) 1987 studio album by the Bee Gees

E.S.P. is the seventeenth studio album by the Bee Gees released in 1987. It was the band's first studio album in six years, and their first release under their new contract with Warner Bros. It marked the first time in twelve years the band had worked with producer Arif Mardin, and was their first album to be recorded digitally. After the band's popularity had waned following the infamous Disco Demolition Night of 1979, the Gibb brothers had spent much of the early 1980s writing and producing songs for other artists, as well as pursuing solo projects, and E.S.P. was very much a comeback to prominence. The album sold well in Europe, reaching No. 5 in the UK, No. 2 in Norway and Austria, and No. 1 in Germany and Switzerland, though it failed to chart higher than No. 96 in the US. The album's first single, "You Win Again", reached No. 1 in the UK, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Norway.

<i>Heart Like a Sky</i> 1989 studio album by Spandau Ballet

Heart Like a Sky is the sixth studio album by English new wave band Spandau Ballet, released on 18 September 1989 by CBS Records. The album was mainly distributed in continental Europe. It was the group's last release before disbanding and is their last to be composed entirely of new material.

<i>Indigo</i> (Matt Bianco album) 1988 studio album by Matt Bianco

Indigo is the third album by British pop/jazz/soul/dance band Matt Bianco, released in July 1988.

<i>Back of My Mind</i> (Christopher Cross album) 1988 studio album by Christopher Cross

Back of My Mind is the fourth studio album by singer Christopher Cross, released in 1988 through Warner Bros. Records. After both the album and its singles failed to chart in the United States and due in large part to the general decline in sales beginning with Another Page (1983), Cross was soon released from Warner Bros. "Swept Away" was previously heard on a few episodes of the TV show Growing Pains in 1987. It would be nearly three years until Cross signed a new recording contract with BMG and release a new album, Rendezvous, in 1992.

<i>Green</i> (R.E.M. album) 1988 studio album by R.E.M.

Green is the sixth studio album by American rock band R.E.M., released on November 7, 1988, by Warner Bros. Records. The second album to be produced by the band and Scott Litt, it continued to explore political issues both in its lyrics and packaging. The band experimented on the album, writing major-key rock songs and incorporating new instruments into their sound including the mandolin, as well as switching their original instruments on other songs.

References

  1. ↑ Scott, Danny (16 November 2003). "Best of Times, Worst of Times: Matt Goss". The Sunday Times . Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  2. 1 2 BRIT Certified – Bros – The Time
  3. 1 2 Ruhlmann, William. "The Time – Bros". AllMusic.
  4. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). "Bros". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  5. 1 2 Williams, Simon (28 October 1989). "Bros – The Time". NME . p. 39.
  6. 1 2 Bradley, Lloyd (November 1989). "Bros – The Time". Q . No. 38. p. 111.
  7. 1 2 Southwell, Tim (31 October 1989). "Bros – The Time" (PDF). Record Mirror . p. 19. ISSN   0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2021– via American Radio History.
  8. 1 2 Soutar, Mike (18–31 October 1989). "Review: Bros – The Time". Smash Hits . No. 284. p. 78.
  9. 1 2 Ross, Andy (28 October 1989). "Bros – The Time". Sounds . p. 43.
  10. ↑ Martin, Andrew (21 October 1989). "Bros – The Time" (PDF). Music Week . p. 24. ISSN   0265-1548. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022– via World Radio History.
  11. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Bros – The Time". Hung Medien.
  12. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bros – The Time" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  13. ↑ "Hits of the World – Eurochart". Billboard . 18 November 1989. p. 80.
  14. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 263. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  15. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bros – The Time" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts.
  16. ↑ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 28 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Bros".
  17. ↑ "BROSのアルバム売上ランキング".
  18. ↑ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  19. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Bros – The Time". Hung Medien.
  20. ↑ "Bros | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart.
  21. ↑ Salaverrie, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (PDF) (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Madrid: Fundación Autor/SGAE. p. 928. ISBN   84-8048-639-2 . Retrieved 22 July 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.