I still get a rush when I hear this part of the song today, although it's now 35 years old. The other highlight of the song is the last verse, when the plainspoken lyrics are sung three times over, in-the-round style. This is a deceptively simple song dominated by a chillingly beautiful, all-instrumental chorus that features a great example of some driving guitar by Reynolds. My personal favorite is "Space Age Love Song". While the synths are definitely important to the Flock, the truth is, A Flock of Seagulls was more of a guitar-driven band than a synth-pop dominated one, thanks mostly to their young lead guitarist Paul Reynolds. (Disclaimer: I actually don't have a problem with those two bands, so please send all hate comments elsewhere). The second myth is that this is one of those soppy synthpop bands like Spandau Ballet or OMD that was mostly known for their slow dance tracks.
And while we're at it, all seven of the other tracks on the album's original release were respectable songs themselves. AFoS contains no less than three songs that were reasonably successful singles, and all three still get airplay on '80s-oriented stations today. First, this band was way more than a one-hit wonder. One listen to A Flock of Seagulls, the band's eponymous 1982 debut, will quickly dispel two myths.
Oh, those silly, frivolous '80s bands! Except that like 'Til Tuesday, Flock is band that was far better than people give them credit for. Forget the fact that today he looks like Michael Chiklis, all of the photos of the band back in their heyday were dominated by his puffy blonde locks, much in the same way Aimee Mann's feathered 'do made 'Til Tuesday seem way more ludicrous than their music deserved. I'm pretty sure it's because of lead singer Mike Score's hair.
Review Summary: One of the seminal albums of the '80s.Ī Flock of Seagulls is one of those bands that people don't seem to take that seriously today, except on '80s new wave radio stations.