The 1980 Listening Post - The Doobie Brothers - One Step Closer

 

The Doobie Brothers - One Step Closer

#347

September 17 1980

The Doobie Brothers

One Step Closer

Genre: Rock

1.75 out of 5

It’s weird to come in at the end of a well known band’s history during the project. I have no real reference to compare this, the 9th album, and the one where Michael McDonald said farewell. 

My real experience with McDonald comes in the form of Rick Moranis’ impersonation of him running into the studio to sing a couple line on a track. 

McDonald and the group are lucky. If they tried to make it 20 years later, his best shot would be to audition for American Idol. 

We all know the hit song, “Real Love” but, ugh, it’s so cloying and annoying and I can’t figure out what McDonald is warbling. Eff it, it’s not going on the playlist. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/one-step-closer-remastered/1111351391

The 1985 Listening Post - Michael McDonald - No Lookin' Back

Michael McDonald - No Lookin' Back

#275/909

July 30 1985

Michael McDonald

No Lookin’ Back

Genre: Rock

1.75 out of 5

I can’t hear McDonald without thinking about that brilliant SCTV sketch. Getting that out of my head is nigh on impossible. Melding him with Kenny Loggins is…they really should name this album, “Hey white people, we know you have some money, can you give us some of it in exchange for this piece of plastic with sounds on it? You won’t even notice that you’re missing it. Trust us.”

That’s not really fair. Loggins is only responsible for the title track. 

All the rest of it? 

Totes fair. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/no-lookin-back/41704961