Former Neighbors heartthrob
Jason Donovan hadn't released a studio album for 13 years before an appearance on I'm a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here in 2006 revitalized his often-derided music career. Following his '50 and '60s covers album
Let It Be Me,
Soundtrack of the '80s is a collection of his favorite songs from the decade he became a household name. Unsurprisingly, you won't find any
Kylie,
Rick Astley, or any of his own
Stock, Aitken & Waterman compositions, although his Hi-NRG version of "Don't Leave Me This Way" could well be a long-lost leftover. Instead,
Soundtrack focuses mainly on '80s MOR acts such as
Richard Marx,
Danny Wilson, and Mister Mister. It's a sound which admittedly suits
Donovan's ever-improving pop vocals, but with hardly any attempt to differentiate or modernize the originals, it all feels a bit pointless. Indeed,
Cutting Crew's "I Just Died in Your Arms," and
Climie Fisher's "Love Changes Everything," sound even more dated thanks thanks to its lazy and tinny production. There are a few exceptions.
Terence Trent Darby's "Sign Your Name" is given a surprisingly subtle acoustic makeover, while
Howard Jones' "What Is Love" easily fits into the
La Roux-style nu-synth scene. However, the decision to include three new self-penned tracks feels like an afterthought, and as competent as the lullaby-esque "Goodnight Baby," and the acoustic guitar pop of "Innocence," and "Talk You Down" are, they sound misplaced among the rest of the '80s-themed material.
Soundtrack of the '80s will undoubtedly appeal to his hardcore fans, but with its karaoke treatment and confusing track list, any other nostalgia seekers would be far better off with any of the more authentic '80s compilations out there. ~ Jon O'Brien