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Human's Lib is an unintentionally revealing title for Howard Jones' debut album. What first seems like a play on words reveals itself as something of an empowering manifesto, a shift that mirrors his music. Upon first glance, Human's Lib appears to be state-of-the-art synth pop circa 1984: a record where every element outside of the human voices appears to be electronic. While that may well be true, Jones isn't a futurist the way such peers as Depeche Mode or Eurythmics are. At his core, Jones is a reconstituted free spirit, preaching the power of positive thinking and advocating universal love. His dedication to synthesizers does camouflage Jones' innate hippie, which gives the album an appealing dichotomy: underneath his electronics and stylish haircut, he's singing about subjects better suited to acoustic guitars and tie-dyed T-shirts. Still, Human's Lib benefits from Jones' complete immersion in synths, giving the album a glimmering sheen that remains emblematic of the dawn of MTV. In particular, "New Song" is quintessential post-New Wave synth pop, all percolating blips and analog washes held together by a massive melodic hook. Throughout Human's Lib, Jones usually relies on texture, a move that makes the album an ingratiating artifact, but there are moments where his songcraft surfaces. Usually those are on singles, such as "Pearl in the Shell," which flattens a Tamla/Motown beat for the music video era. But it's the searching "What Is Love?" -- the album's biggest hit everywhere outside of the U.S. -- that points the way toward Jones future: it's a big, soaring ballad that hints at the adult contemporary he'd later embrace.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Rupert Hine, Producer, Backing Vocals - Howard Jones, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kobalt Music Publishing LTD, MusicPublisher - Warner Chappell Music Ltd, MusicPublisher - Kobalt Music Services Ltd, MusicPublisher - Will Bryant, ComposerLyricist - HOWARD JONES MUSIC LTD, MusicPublisher
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Rupert Hine, Producer, Backing Vocals - Howard Jones, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kobalt Music Publishing LTD, MusicPublisher - Warner Chappell Music Ltd, MusicPublisher - Kobalt Music Services Ltd, MusicPublisher - Will Bryant, ComposerLyricist - HOWARD JONES MUSIC LTD, MusicPublisher
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Rupert Hine, Producer, Backing Vocals - Howard Jones, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kobalt Music Publishing LTD, MusicPublisher - Kobalt Music Services Ltd, MusicPublisher - HOWARD JONES MUSIC LTD, MusicPublisher
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Rupert Hine, Producer, Backing Vocals - Howard Jones, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kobalt Music Publishing LTD, MusicPublisher - Kobalt Music Services Ltd, MusicPublisher - HOWARD JONES MUSIC LTD, MusicPublisher
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Rupert Hine, Producer, Backing Vocals - Howard Jones, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kobalt Music Publishing LTD, MusicPublisher - Warner Chappell Music Ltd, MusicPublisher - Kobalt Music Services Ltd, MusicPublisher - HOWARD JONES MUSIC LTD, MusicPublisher
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Colin Thurston, Producer - Kobalt Music Publishing LTD, MusicPublisher - Kobalt Music Services Ltd, MusicPublisher - HOWARD JONES MUSIC LTD, MusicPublisher
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Rupert Hine, Producer, Backing Vocals - Howard Jones, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kobalt Music Publishing LTD, MusicPublisher - Kobalt Music Services Ltd, MusicPublisher - HOWARD JONES MUSIC LTD, MusicPublisher
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Rupert Hine, Producer, Backing Vocals - Howard Jones, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kobalt Music Publishing LTD, MusicPublisher - Warner Chappell Music Ltd, MusicPublisher - Kobalt Music Services Ltd, MusicPublisher - HOWARD JONES MUSIC LTD, MusicPublisher
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Rupert Hine, Producer, Backing Vocals - Howard Jones, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kobalt Music Publishing LTD, MusicPublisher - Warner Chappell Music Ltd, MusicPublisher - Kobalt Music Services Ltd, MusicPublisher - HOWARD JONES MUSIC LTD, MusicPublisher
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Rupert Hine, Producer, Backing Vocals - Howard Jones, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kobalt Music Publishing LTD, MusicPublisher - Warner Chappell Music Ltd, MusicPublisher - Kobalt Music Services Ltd, MusicPublisher - Will Bryant, ComposerLyricist - HOWARD JONES MUSIC LTD, MusicPublisher
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Rupert Hine, Producer, Backing Vocals - Howard Jones, Vocals, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Kobalt Music Publishing LTD, MusicPublisher - Kobalt Music Services Ltd, MusicPublisher - HOWARD JONES MUSIC LTD, MusicPublisher
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Howard Jones, Composer, MainArtist
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
Album review
Human's Lib is an unintentionally revealing title for Howard Jones' debut album. What first seems like a play on words reveals itself as something of an empowering manifesto, a shift that mirrors his music. Upon first glance, Human's Lib appears to be state-of-the-art synth pop circa 1984: a record where every element outside of the human voices appears to be electronic. While that may well be true, Jones isn't a futurist the way such peers as Depeche Mode or Eurythmics are. At his core, Jones is a reconstituted free spirit, preaching the power of positive thinking and advocating universal love. His dedication to synthesizers does camouflage Jones' innate hippie, which gives the album an appealing dichotomy: underneath his electronics and stylish haircut, he's singing about subjects better suited to acoustic guitars and tie-dyed T-shirts. Still, Human's Lib benefits from Jones' complete immersion in synths, giving the album a glimmering sheen that remains emblematic of the dawn of MTV. In particular, "New Song" is quintessential post-New Wave synth pop, all percolating blips and analog washes held together by a massive melodic hook. Throughout Human's Lib, Jones usually relies on texture, a move that makes the album an ingratiating artifact, but there are moments where his songcraft surfaces. Usually those are on singles, such as "Pearl in the Shell," which flattens a Tamla/Motown beat for the music video era. But it's the searching "What Is Love?" -- the album's biggest hit everywhere outside of the U.S. -- that points the way toward Jones future: it's a big, soaring ballad that hints at the adult contemporary he'd later embrace.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 23 track(s)
- Total length: 01:02:34
- Main artists: Howard Jones
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Cherry Red Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
(C) 2022 Cherry Red Records (P) 2022 Cherry Red Records
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