Album Review - Gary Numan "Jagged"

Gary Numan – "Jagged" 2006 Rating: 2/5

Recommendation: Buy it if you really wished Pure was a double album. Otherwise just listen to Pure again and change the names of the songs as it won't make a difference.

I know it's a little late for this album review seeing as it has been out for a couple of years but I am still scarred by the disappointment of this album. Here is a review I did shortly after it was released that I would like to share:

Well let me start off by saying that Gary Numan is one of my favourite artists and has been since about 1990 when I first discovered him via a friend who picked up one of his used CDs in a local record shop. Since that day, I have accumulated his entire catalog. I must admit that the direction of music that Numan took starting with the album “Sacrifice” is outstanding. Both lyrically and musically, simply put masterpieces. That is, however, until “Jagged” was release in 2006. After many years (six I believe) of production, the highly anticipated follow up to “Pure” was a huge disappointment for me. What has made Numan so unique over the years was the fact that each album, although similar in lyrical style and musical sound, have been significantly different. For some unknown reason Numan decided to break from this tradition with his latest album. What “Jagged” turns out to be is nothing more than an extension of the last album. In fact, it is so similar that you have to do a double take to figure out which one is which. While this sort of musical commitment may work for some, it does nothing for me. As much as a disappointment that this album has been for me, I will continue to await the next one in hopes that it will indeed be “new” material.

But wait, it’s not that bad, really. If you liked “Pure” chances are you will like this album. “In A Dark Place” is an excellent song and “Blind” is also another song that I tend to tune in to whenever I play this album. But honestly, this is as exciting as it gets. Many of the other songs on this album sound the same. In fact, some so much that you actually can’t tell them apart. For instance, the first couple of bars in the choruses of “In A Dark Place”, “Melt” and “Scanner” are virtually identical. And, to add to this confusion, they all start with the lyric “Sometimes.”

All in all, most of “Jagged” fails to stimulate the listener and falls short of expectations. It seemed as though Numan took material that was recorded for the “Pure” album and dusted them off to create this latest album. That’s six long years of mixing?

Keeping my fingers crossed for the next release Gary, please let's have something original!