Venus in Overdrive [Digipak] (CD - 2008)

Personnel: Rick Springfield (vocals, guitars); Chariya Bissonette, Dacara Seward, Kulani Seward, Joshua Bissonette (vocals); George Bernhardt (guitar); Stevie Blacke (strings); Dino Soldo (saxophone); Lee Thornburg (trumpet, trombone); Derek Hilland, Rob Rinderer (keyboards); Matt Bissonette (bass guitar, background vocals); Rodger Carter (drums); Luis Conte (percussion); John Magnus (loops).

Few would have guessed at any point over the last 20 years or so that '80s heartthrob Rick Springfield would release a major-label album in 2008 featuring new material that sounded completely contemporary. And yet VENUS IN OVERDRIVE is populated, for the most part, by concise, hard-hitting, hooky tunes that would be completely at home on mainstream pop-rock radio circa '08. It's not so much that Springfield has reinvented himself--"What's Victoria's Secret?" in fact bears a distinct resemblance to Springfield's '80s smash "Jessie's Girl"--but, more that, the timeless power-pop values that were always a part of the Aussie rocker's sound stand up as well now as they ever did. minimize