Still on a roll from a year of Bob Dylan supports, The Alarm make up for lost time this side of the Atlantic with a Tony Visconti-produced concept LP that bemoans the fate of their ailing Welsh homeland. Simultaneously released with Welsh language vocals as Change, this is a stadium-sized pub-rock set that lacks the gusto and rampant commerciality of their 68 Guns secondhand The Clash without ever really living up to its own worthy ambition. Devolution Working Man Blues sees them stumbling, perhaps understandably, through Bob Dylan territory, while the inclusion of a male voice choir on A New South Wales only serves to bolster the Welsh windbag stereotype. Sincere in a shallow sort of way but definitely no fun at a party. (2 stars)
Publication::Publication:Q Magazine
Author::Charlie Dick