Pop’s Mr Reliable is back with studio album number eight and the second one in two years. Beautiful Life scores heavily in the vocal department with Astley sounding joyously youthful throughout.
The production is pretty nigh on perfect too with the bass heavy orientation of some recent albums by other artists avoided in favour of a more traditional balance. The problem is that that songs are weak.
We know Astley isn’t likely to produce another Never Gonna Give You Up but there’s just nothing here that shouts or even whispers hit. Rick Astley is a living legend but this album does nothing to enhance his reputation.
> Gary Trueman
