Foreigner - Agent Provacateur

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Free Music Notes for Agent Provacateur

Free Music Review: Not to the level of "4", but still great
Hit: 5 Stars

The album begins with a song as rocking as any Foreigner song, "Tooth And Nail". Cleary Lou Gramm comes out singing like he's ready to fight (in this case, to be with his woman). Then comes the beautiful, heart-rending anthem, "That Was Yesterday"--a number 12 hit that nonetheless had no staying power on radio. Very underrated song. The next track, however, is famous to this day. Foreigner's only #1 hit, "I Want To Know What Love Is", is one of the fabulous hits of the mid-'80s. "Growing Up The Hard Way" is a decent anthem although one of the less notable tracks on the album. Then comes two quality rockers in "Reaction To Action" and "Stranger In My Own House". On the latter track especially, Lou is clearly fed up, as he sings "I've got the keys to the door but I'm still locked out!"

Then, the mood changes from angry to soulful over the next three tracks. Many have criticized this part of the album, but I find it absolutely enchanting. Here are three slower songs that are synthesizer-heavy but emotional and well-sung. "A Love In Vain", "Down On Love", and "Two Different Worlds" are all great rock ballads. Particularly on the middle one of the three, "Down On Love", Lou's vocals are at their heart-rending best. That song to me should have been another big Foreigner hit. The album then closes with the average (for Foreigner) but still enjoyable rocker "She's Too Tough".

I guess the main problem people have with this album is that it goes a little bit away from the over-the-top backing vocals and amount of hard rock that is present on the first four albums. While I agree that it simply doesn't get better than, say, the debut and 4th albums, this one is at least near-vintage Foreigner. While it has no killer rock track like "Long Long Way From Home" or "Juke Box Hero", the album as a whole is still very much Foreigner. If you are a fan of the band, you should own this album. 4 3/4 stars is my overall ranking.

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