In an attempt to radically change his image,
Todd Rundgren and
Utopia were recruited to reinvent teen idol
Cassidy for the new wave '80s. They wound up essentially remaking
Rundgren's Faithful album with lesser-known cover songs, looser arrangements, and
Shaun on lead vocals. Like Faithful,
WASP is an eclectic selection of covers, mixed with typical
Rundgren originals, all delivered with adventurous, uniformly fine vocals from
Cassidy.
The opening take on
Bowie's "Rebel Rebel" is indicative of the futility this album sometimes falls into:
Cassidy sounds fine in his lower register, but
Rundgren adds a munchkin-like second lead vocal, turning the song into near-parody. Similarly, "Shake Me, Wake Me" is nearly ruined by synthesizer tweets and synth drums, and "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" sports a playful tack-piano that undermines
Cassidy's edgy delivery.
Throughout the album, though,
Cassidy's expressive vocals redeem material that is hampered by production quirks. And most of the album rises above the dated arrangements, which mar some of the best selections. "It's My Life" is effectively creepy with its eerie vocal and funereal tempo, "So Sad About Us" sports the strong group vocals and drive of
Rundgren-styled power-pop, and "WASP" features a rapped lead vocal and heavy riff reminiscent of
Utopia at its best.
WASP is a gutsy album for
Cassidy and, when he's not being overshadowed by his producer and backup band, a fine showcase for a talented singer
who clearly transcended the teenybopper niche he was stuck in. ~ James A. Gardner