Erasure
Thanks to an emphasis on gorgeous torch tunes like "Rock Me Gently" and "Stay with Me," lead singer Andy Bell's always operatic vocals take on a newfound luster on this electro-pop duo's seventh studio album. Lyrically, Bell flaunts his sensitive side. "Looking in the papers makes me sorry to be human/ A little ray of hope won't hurt at all," he sings on the sociopolitical "Grace," the CD's best cut. Lest Erasure get too solemn, though, Vince Clarke, Bell's partner on the synthpop circuit, delivers more of those tinny, interchangeable dance melodies that have hooked millions of fans. But it's when he and Bell slow the pulse and tap the passion in their notoriously chilly genre that they uncover its heart and soul. (Mute/Elektra)
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