Vacation
Despite a great cover/title concept, the second album from the Go-Go's is the weakest of their original three. Rushed out after the breakthrough ofBeauty and the Beat,Vacationsounds affecting in retrospect, but suffers nonetheless from one or three too many so-so songs--a shame, given the top-flight writing throughoutBeauty. FrontwomanBelinda Carlislecontinues gaining control of her voice, while drummer Gina Schock all but steals the show. But a murky mix obscures the group's charms this time out, and where the debut was sometimes dark in mood, this follow-up too often sounds simply tired. By no means a must-miss,Vacationis still unmistakably weak compared withTalk Show, which came next.--Rickey Wright