After two albums playing jazz-pop in the style of
Paul Simon's
Still Crazy After All These Years (and with the same musicians),
Carly Simon acknowledged the new wave with
Come Upstairs, turning out her version of a power pop album. The title track was frisky and seductive, "Take Me as I Am" was an upbeat raver, and "Them" almost sounded like
Devo. Of course, that was only part of the story. Other songs changed the pace, though
Simon's emotions were unusually close to the surface throughout. "James" was a final plea to her soon-to-depart husband, and "In Pain" was the brutal cry of someone who sounded like she was. But the album's highlight was "Jesse,"
Simon's best-written pop/rock song since "You're So Vain" and a Top Ten hit to boot. ~ William Ruhlmann