* * (2 out of 5 stars)

Another Dull World

I’m starting to think that Brian Eno has read all the reviews of his previous music and decided that he can do anything and still be considered vital. Unfortunately, this isn’t so.

As a contemplative work, this album fares okay, but no better than some of the other music created by his musical progeny. As a "vocal" album, this is pretty lame. His vocals are, as always, pleasant with great harmonies and a strange sort of emotion–like listening to someone who is distant.

But the music is plainly just fine, and for Eno that is a disappointment. There is no edge to his music anymore. Where once there was a recklessness and a sense of avant-garde, there is now just warmed over pastiches of music he has recorded previously. Where he used to approach music with the excitement of a "non-musician," there is a scholarly approach trained by years of being one of the most sought-after producers.

But what can you expect of a guy who had to abort an album called "11 Things To Do On A Rainy Afternoon," after only coming up with one (Draw One Animal)?

Brian, do yourself and us a favor: Burn the DX-7 in effigy, pull out the VCS3, and play with some musicians whose sounds you can process, but don’t have to. Have some fun again, fer goodness sake.