Jagged Edge

I never thought that I would ever NOT be a Gary Numan fan; but this "new" Numan, starting with the Pure album, is utter trash. God bless you if you enjoy this banality. Gone are the haunting yet beautiful soundscapes, melodies, lyrics and vocals. There is nothing resembling any kind of real "music" here at all, which has been the case with anything that came after "Exile." Never had a problem with his voice, either, until Pure came along. Numan's vocal style does not fit this "industrial" crap at all! It sounds HORRIBLE! Gary, Gary... where has all the good music gone? You are better than this... more creative... what has happened to that musical genius I've enjoyed and admired for two decades? Bring him back, PLEASE! This new stuff makes me want to vomit.

Maybe it took him his entire career to get to this point, but what a special album. Thank you, Gary, for your unique, twisted view of reality; a child's perception carried into adulthood.

Finally available in the US without paying for a UK import, Jagged Edge adds several songs to 2006's outstanding Jagged, and expands/tightens the existing material. I saw the live performance of this album/tour in NYC, and it's obvious that Gary Numan was enjoying himself. Heavier than I, Assassin and Warriors, this has the proper edge and atmospherics, mixing heavy synth and rock and industrial influences. I'm loving the Ade Fenton-produced stuff. Imagine the early music of Nine Inch Nails combined with Gary Numan singing vocals. It's great.