Rocktrospectiva: The Brilliant "Voices Carry" Turns 40

Released on 20 April 1985 "Voices Carry" was the first studio album by the US new wave band 'Til Tuesday, the album spawned three singles "Voices Carry" which went to #8 on the Billboard singles chart and remains the band's best-known song. The "Voices Carry" video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist and was played heavily on MTV. The album's second and third singles were "Looking Over My Shoulder" peaked at No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the magnificent "Love in a Vacuum". 

 

The album entered the Billboard 200 at 152nd place on June 25. The album spent 31 weeks on the chart, peaking at 19. 'Til Tuesday's debut album, Voices Carry, was a fairly good album with a decent production, Mike Thorne does a decent job on much of the album and excellent work on the title track. Former manager Randall Barbera spoke with this writer prior to the album's recording, when Human League/Pete Shelley producer Martin Rushent was being considered for the task.  

 

The band released the hit demo of "Love in a Vacuum," which saturated Boston airwaves prior to the record deal? As good a job as Mike Thorne did on the song "Voices Carry," the world at large has not heard the inspired and innovative recording that was the original "Love in a Vacuum." 

 

'Til Tuesday demos. "Don't Watch Me Bleed" has the same kind of mesmerizing bass that makes "Voices Carry" so captivating, while the final track, "Sleep," could be the Human League going deep into the underground. There was something about this combination of Pesce, Hausman, and the brilliant Robert Holmes that would make a 'Til Tuesday reunion a welcome thing. 

 

The haunting lyrics and dark tones of the keys and bass on songs like "I Could Get Used to This" or "No More Crying" separate this recording from the work of similar '80s bands. "Looking Over My Shoulder" has a bubbling intensity which Holmes' guitar adds drama to. Voices Carry may have achieved success because of the MTV video, but there were nine other songs to go along with the hit, and this album and its follow-ups should have had as much commercial success. 

 

Voices Carry" is quite a glossy album for such an initially unknown band's debut. The songwriting and lyrical wit on the album is top notch, with every member of 'Til Tuesday getting equal credit for each composition. A large part of the sound is shared between Aimee Mann's thick and funk heavy bass and Robert Holmes shimmering guitar work. Despite the title track stealing most of the credit, the rest of the album is practically no filler; tracks such as "Love In A Vacuum" or "No More Crying" show an undeniable knack for subtle production textures and anthemic, sing-along choruses.

Unfortunately, 'Til Tuesday are an incredibly unfairly forgotten one hit wonder; every song on here sounds like a potential hit and shows an extreme ear for lyrical depth and hooky choruses. While the top 10 hit "Voices Carry" steals most of the show, the rest of the album is highly, highly recommended.

 

Critics were mixed, some describe it as a pleasure but not a revelation, others praised their vocalist Aimee Mann her attitude also because she had her own look and a voice that's evocative, thought not yet distinctive enough to stake out its own turf in the crowded field of female vocalists. Nevertheless, and despite considered' em a one-hit wonder, in the years to come, a popular Canadian teen dram "Degrassi: The Next Generation" was famous for naming each episode after an '80s hit song or album, in this case, they named a two-part episode after this album. 

 

Voices Carry Track List: 

 

1. Love In A Vacuum

2. Looking Over My Shoulder

3. I Could Get Used To This

4. No More Crying

5. Voices Carry

6. Winning The War

7. You Know The Rest

8. Maybe Monday

9. Are you Serious?

10. Don't Watch Me Bleed

11. Sleep