Tracks

1. Faron Young

2. Bonny

3. Appetite

4. When Love Breaks Down

5. Goodbye Lucille

6. Hallelujah

7. Moving The River

8. Horsin' Around

9. Desire As

10. Blueberry Pies

11. When The Angels

Performer Notes

Audio Mixers: Mike Shipley; Thomas Dolby.
STEVE McQUEEN (released in the U.S. as TWO WHEELS GOOD) is the crowning achievement for U.K. pop visionaries Prefab Sprout, their second full-length album. It combines acoustic strum-and-jangle balladry with blue-eyed soul, bossa nova, and pristine pop approach to create a lush sonic landscape. The unique stylistic paradigm sported a shimmer and sheen on par with the most ambitious work of '70s popsters like 10cc and Steely Dan, but the lyrical/conceptual sensibility is strongly informed by the alt-rock era in which the band emerged. Produced by synth-pop pioneer Thomas Dolby, STEVE McQUEEN perfectly merges Prefab Sprout's organic roots with a gently glowing layer of tasteful electronic gilding.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (p.71) - "[The songs] were, like McQueen's acting, cool and nuanced yet tough and quietly tortured at the center."

Spin (p.124) - 4.5 stars out of 5 -- "It wraps gossamer synths and ghostly background vocals around posh melodies that nod as much to Sondheim and Gershwin as to the rock canon."

Q (p.134) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]heir work still stands up, especially STEVE MCQUEEN, the most succinct expression of McAloon's skills."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.126) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]hese songs are sweet postcards from the crepuscular fringes of romance, and sound as vibrant and as out of kilter as ever."