Not worth fighting for!

Fine wine usually matures with age; left too long it turns to vinegar! 25 years later and UB40 are still churning out the same pop style n fashion for the commercial market.

It’s not often I write a negative review, but what is one supposed to do with this release?? 'Signing Off' was a classic debut album, 25 years later and UB40 have still not improved upon their original release, why? Because I'm guess their style makes money. Macka B summed it up when he sung “UB40 come and make the most millions’.

So what has happened after 25 years………… Not a great deal! I swallowed my pride and spun this a few times and what did I find? To be honest - reggae, but for folks who don’t really enjoy reggae, but feel they should! Harsh? Maybe, but true never the less!

This release follows a similar pattern to the previous UB40 albums, a few choice political tracks, a few lovers cuts and several covers. This time the covers include The Jamaicans ‘The Thing you Say You Love’ and Matumbt ‘After Tonight’, to name a couple.

In their defence, all these years later they remain the same eight-piece line-up that they began with, which may go someway to explain the lack of original sound this album creates. The band feel much too comfortable and at ease with each other; they could be excused of simply going through the motions. Some would say this is consistency, in this case I for one would not agree.

There is nothing fresh or inspiring about this release. Lyrically there is a flash back to their early days, with tunes such as ‘Plenty More’ and ‘War Poem’, however this is short lived.

This release is easily accessible and will no doubt make headway in the summer pop charts, however for the true reggae enthusiast, avoid at all cost!