Album Review: Mike & The Mechanics - The Singles 1985-2014

This retrospective should be subtitled “A Keytarist's Guide To Being An '80s Man”. Stadium belter Word Of Mouth, 'manthem' Nobody's Perfect and universal blub-fest The Living Years represent plenty of Rock FM friendly mileage for Mike Rutherford's 'other' group. The bonus disc holds inessential odd bits and disappointingly, the ordaining of new vocalist Andrew Roachford doesn't give the band a second wind. Take the first disc and enjoy the fantasy of being a sensitive '80s bloke with a bikini'd girlfriend and beach house. The rest will drag you back into horrible reality.