Cowabonga is the strongest of
Melanie's '80s experiments. It's depressing to hear her struggling amid a
Starship/
Bonnie Tyler rock-sludge milieu, but persistence pays off because the album conceals some strong moments, particularly the self-assertive "Racing Heart." She actually sounds happy to be recording, which makes a change after the half-hearted albums of the early '80s. The rot only sets in on a few pieces -- an updated, electronic "Ruby Tuesday" is a mistake through and through, and "Show You" is a valiant try for ballsy, foot-tapping guitar rock that fails. Those errors of judgment aside,
Cowabonga is halfway toward a return to form.