Smile

• Import

Amazon Review Smile is the debut solo release from the Wet Wet Wet frontman. Wet Wet Wet fashioned their escape from Glasgow's dole queues in the early 80s with a slick brand of pop-soul fronted by the cheeky, personable Marti Pellow, a man actually possessed of one of the best white soul voices of his generation. Smile is his solo resurgence, written with former Squeeze lyricist Chris Difford and produced by the legendary Willie Mitchell in the home of southern-fried soul, Memphis. For those two reasons alone it promises much, not least a return to Pellow's roots but it disappoints with its over-the-top treatment - swathes of strings, multi-layered piano--and slushy MOR values. "Hard To Cry" is a 50s' style ballad while "New York Life" is one of the few songs (you can also add "The Missing Sound") imbued with the Memphis vibe, a latent groove with snappy guitar riffs and gospelly organ licks that prompt Pellow to his best vocal performance on the album. But no-one has taken any chances here in assembling anything but a ballad-heavy confection for existing fans. --Mike Pattenden Product Description Wet Wet Wet vocalist's first solo album originally released in 2001. Mercury.