MCA Records
1992
Rockeye
About This Album
The Outfield were a great power pop band whose big '80s production sound was the antithesis of what power pop fans wanted. The fusion of Dwight Twilley-style melodies with Journey bombast was intriguing for the moment, but inhibits the luster of the group years after the fact. For bright, shiny hit singles, one refers to the Raspberries and Badfinger, while Crowded House comes close to what vibe could have been a blessing to this group. Rockeye was the fifth album in seven years, and is highly listenable throughout -- the trio pared down to a duo, John Spinks' 11 new compositions feature only one Tony Lewis co-write, and the material is still first rate pop chock full of hooks. They don't break any new ground with "Winning It All" or "Closer to You," and the sound is interchangeable with some of their previous work, "The Way It Should Be" in the same vein, while "Under a Stone" resembles a British version of The Cars with Dave Fitzgerald providing the saxophone. If Split Enz went the 38 Special route, you might have the ingredients that make up Rockeye -- it sounds like an unholy marriage on paper, but the album is pleasing and works on many levels.
Track List

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