Windham Hill
1989
Rockapella
About This Album
The Nylons' performing career began in 1980 at a time when a cappella outfits were not in vogue. The fact that the Nylons were unlike any a cappella act on the scene made them stand out and earned them accolades and a devoted audience almost immediately. The band has existed in one form or another for more than 25 years, but it is the original quartet of Claude Morrison, Arnold Robinson, Paul Cooper, and Marc Connors that created their most beloved recordings. Rockapella, their fifth album (and final release by the original quartet) is a real mixed bag. By no means is it a bad album, but it sounds like the boys gave in to their record company's demands to make a commercial album and, because they attempted to make a contemporary album for 1989, it's over-produced and now sounds dated and of its time. It's a shame, really, because the Nylons' performances on this album sound spirited and electrified. The arrangement of "Drift Away" is almost embarrassing as it attempts to update their sound and add a silly intro that sounds more like Run-D.M.C. (sans the rapping). For a moment, "Love This Is Love" sounds like a distant cousin of Baltimora's "Tarzan Boy," which doesn't ruin the track but doesn't do it any favors, either.
Track List

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