Vive Le Rock by Adam Ant

After 1983's disappointingly mainstream, Phil Collins-produced STRIP, Adam Ant's commercial star was on the wane. 1985's VIVE LE ROCK didn't improve his chart fortunes, but it was a resounding artistic return to the form of such previous Antmusic gems as FRIEND OR FOE or KINGS OF THE WILD FRONTIER. Wisely retiring the booming, Gary Glitter-influenced faux-tribal drums which defined his earlier sound, Adam and longtime collaborator Marco Pirroni instead created a delightfully gimmicky space-age-rockabilly sound which compares favorably to the late work of T. Rex. Mixing Bolanesque lyrical nonsense with twangy, Duane Eddy-like guitars, especially notable on the title track, "Miss Thing," and the downright bizarre "Apollo 9," also included in an a cappella version, VIVE LE ROCK is a frothy pop album which succeeds well on its own terms.