ABC Album: “Skyscraping”

ABCs career have been characterized by ups ("Lexicon of love", "Alphabet city") and downs ("Beauty stab" and "up"). But "Skyscraping" is definately one of their best - if not their best album since groundbraking "Lexicon of love". "Their" is maybe the wrong word since "Skyscraping" is ABC only in the form of Martin Fry.

"Skyscraping" should be a treat for everyone who liked "Lexicon of love". Tracks such as "ask a thousand times", "who can I turn to", "stranger things", "only the best will do", "faraway" and last but not least the fantastic title-track (hear that chorus!!) "skyscraping" are wonderfully produced, has clever lyrics and show that Martin Fry is an intelligent writer with a perfect and unique voice.

Heaven 17 members helped Martin Fry on this album and this seems to have been a creative partnership. Musically "Skyscraping" pays homage to Roxy Music and the early new romatics scene (a scene in which ABC themselves was vital) and if you like music from the 80's this album should appeal to you. Whenever I listen to this album melancholy hits me - somehow it makes you remember all those wonderful people you have met on your lifes journey.

The albums fluctuates a bit in quality and received mixed reviews in the press. Everyone I know loves the album - and it seems that the total lack of marketing was the real reason this album failed. Give it a few listens, remember what ABC was all about (good, strong and catchy pop-songs with intelligent lyrics) and you will have a companion for life.

I ordered Skyscraping because I'm a huge ABC fan. I recently got their 2008 CD "Traffic" that I like much better, but this CD is not bad, just completely different from the usual style of the band. Once again Martin Fry is in full vocal form. I love his voice and never tire of hearing him sing. His writing style is fantastic as well. He explores relationships and the material is never stale.

If you're looking for a "Lexicon Of Love" followup this is not it, but if you want to listen to a different side of ABC while enjoying the always amazing Martin Fry then don't hesitate to pick up Skyscraping. One thing,the art work is awesome. I have no idea where the locales are that the photos of Martin were taking, but the architecture is stunning. All around "Skyscraping" is fun and the new style is great.

Not as great as others discs by ABC, but still very enjoyable, especially the track "Stranger Things".

Having been one of only about eight people on the entire planet to own all of the ABC albums and willingly admit to doing so, I really looked forward to the release of a new ABC album - particularly since their last album, Abracadabra, was easily their best.

Unfortunately, with Mark White out of the picture, ABC falls flat. Even the best moment on the album, "Stranger things", sounds stilted and artificial, the equivalent of trying to bake a cake based solely on a picture of one. Sure, Messrs. Fry and Gregory toss in a few recognizable motifs from ABC past, but this just adds insult upon injury.

Save your money. Buy the remastered editions of the first four albums instead.

ABC is the band that flourished in the eighties.This one is the comeback CD.But the chemistry that lifted the band quite high cannot be found anywhere.Maybe this is the solo CD for Fry.from that point,you will be satisfied to hear this CD.Fry's vocal is the ABC.Total sound production is a little bit shabby and out of date.Perhaps this one is the present for Fry's die-hard fans only.Not for every music fans.This fact means that this is not an excellent ABC album,but a so so album.