Below is a review of George Michael’s 1987 album Faith (Columbia) written by Paul Bennett. The review was published on December 5, 1987, for the British Columbia, Canada paper Times Colonist.
The former punch behind Wham!, George Michael has crossed over the bar of adolescence and come out with a thoroughly mature and engrossing solo album.
There is solid evidence here that Michael, at only 23 years of age, has chewed up what the rest of the best of the pop world can offer, digested it thoroughly and synthesized a sound that is entirely fresh and raw.
This album will wow anyone who’s been listening to the music for the past 30 years. There are echoes of Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Boy George, Michael Jackson and even M-M-Max H-H-H-Headroom here, but heard through George’s unique perspective.
It’s tough to choose winners from the 10 original compositions presented here, but for starters, let’s try the bluntly titled but fairly sensitively written I Want Your Sex, Hard Day with its Jackson-like flashes, or the sad Monkey (Why can’t you do it Why can’t you set your monkey free?)
Kissing a Fool, a sentimental jazz ballad, will probably be the first hit single. This young man is one of the better talents in rock today. Grab him quick!
Paul Bennett
