The 1980 Listening Post - Firefall - Clouds Around the Sun

Firefall - Clouds Around the Sun 

December 1980

Firefall

Clouds Across the Sun

Genre: Rock

3.25 out of 5

Highlights:

Love That Got Away

Headed for a Fall

This is about as pleasing MOR as their other release in 1980. It’s basic soft rock that, just when it threatens to be edgy or interesting, pulls back, shaves off the edges and packages it’s stuff for radio.

But this one has no hits. They show some sign of life with “Leave It Alone” but it’s piffle.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/undertow/56208469

The 1980 Listening Post - Firefall - Undertow

 Firefall - Undertow

March 1980

Firefall

Undertow

Genre: Southern Rock

3.5 out of 5

Highlights:

Love that Got Away

Leave it Alone

This one’s got everything you’d expect from the 70s. Cowbell. Keyboards. Flutes. And it all kind of works. I mean, yes, it’s soft rockin’ stuff but it’s pleasant in that Eaglesy way. 

It takes a while before anything remotely crunchy shows up but the multi-tracked Starland Vocal Band vocals on “Laugh or Cry” mellow it out to a sweet little confection. 

There’s not a lot to write home about here. The two highlighted tracks are the best but it’s not a terrible record. I would probably be okay if it came on randomly while in the hot tub. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/undertow/56208469