Men At Work - Cargo

$23 Adventure Time, part 2/4

I'm a man at work, i deal with cargo, Lance may not want it anymore, but i can't not buy it.

Cargo is the second Men At Work album, the one they made after the first one we listened to a year ago. Is Colin Hay still quirky? Only one way to find out.

Oh yeah, just wonderful. Men At Work is the Australian equivalent of The Cars (even a couple of Elliot, sorry Ron Strykert, songs), but with a definite Elvis Costello quality all around (critics would say Sting/The Police, and sure i can hear it too, but it's way more Elvis Costello to me).

This album has the standard bipolar critical response. Some say it lacks the punch of the big debut singles but the album as a whole is better, others say it's an REO Speedwagon album (two hit songs and a bunch of pointless filler). Ummmmm, yeah, I'm gonna totally be that guy and remind you it's called Cargo, as in "here, i brought you all this stuff, get it off my truck and deal with it yourself. My job is done here, have a nice day. Or, don't. See you next time i have more stuff to bring you."

They actually had to postpone its release because the first album was still selling so well that they would legitimately tank their own profits. Has any other band ever had that problem, ever, at all, anywhere? Put that second album in your back pocket guys, we're still pressing additional runs of the first one. 

Man, this is great. No, it's not in your face like the first album, but listening to it is absolutely fun. Seriously, i could just put this thing on repeat and be content for days. It's paranoid, sure, but not exhausting or fleeting. I can't imagine actually tiring of any of it, it's not cheesy or cliche or annoying, these are just objectively great songs. Ha! Bid my devil friend goodbye. One can only hope.

We're 2 for 2, both for tonight's albums and Men At Work's discography, go on and love it as much as i do.

Part 3