Bob Geldof’s ‘Deep in the Heart of Nowhere’: Ambitious yet unremarkable

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As a long-time fan of The Boomtown Rats and Bob Geldof, I was eagerly anticipating his solo debut album, “Deep in the Heart of Nowhere,” released back in 1986. Having grown up with the raw energy and punk spirit of The Boomtown Rats’ music, I was excited to see where Geldof would take his sound as a solo artist.

In the depths of Obscurity, Bob Geldof unveiled his initial solo effort, titled “Deep in the Heart of Nowhere” back in 1986. Following the disbandment of his former group, The Boomtown Rats, Geldof struck out on his own and produced this album as his first solo project. While it didn’t make a significant impact on listeners at the time, “Deep in the Heart of Nowhere” was released on November 24, 1986 – coincidentally sharing a release date with Eric Clapton’s album “August” where they collaborated.

As a seasoned music enthusiast with decades of listening under my belt, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring a vast array of genres and subgenres. And while I appreciate the blending of various styles like rock, pop, and new wave in an album, there are instances where such fusion strays far from its original roots.

Directly, I found it challenging to connect with this album due to the lack of captivating elements for me. In contrast, “Rat Trap” stands out with its distinctive classic rock energy that I find more appealing. Feel free to make the comparison! Frankly speaking, my assessment of this album would be a mild “Meh,” as it failed to leave a lasting impression on me.

Track Listing for Deep in the Heart of Nowhere

“This Is the World Calling”
“In the Pouring Rain”
“August Was a Heavy Month”
“Love Like a Rocket”
“I Cry Too”
“When I Was Young”
“This Heartless Heart”
“The Beat of the Night”
“Truly, True Blue”
“Pulled Apart by Horses”
“Words from Heaven”
“Good Boys in the Wrong”
“Night Turns to Day”
“Deep in the Heart of Nowhere”

Most notable tracks from Deep in the Heart of Nowhere

This track “This Is the World Calling” from the album may not be particularly thrilling, but it holds a special place for me. While it’s not my favorite, I can appreciate its purpose within the context of the album. However, being conventionally likable doesn’t necessarily guarantee repeated listens. Nonetheless, it represents one of the album’s memorable moments that I don’t dislike but didn’t feel strongly about. The accompanying music video is also worth mentioning as a positive aspect.

I was deeply involved in creating “This Is the World Calling,” a song that saw me join forces with Dave Stewart of Eurythmics. The track boasts beautiful backing vocals courtesy of Maria McKee and Annie Lennox. Moving on, there’s “Love Like a Rocket” – its 1980s vibe is undeniable, yet it feels somewhat generic in terms of songwriting. While it may not be an instantly catchy tune for me, I believe it had the potential to become one with a little more polish. The guitar solo on this track is absolutely stellar and can be attributed to none other than Eric Clapton. This solo stands out as one of the album’s most captivating moments.

Instead of extolling Geldof’s songwriting and production skills, I personally find his solo work less impactful compared to his tenure with The Boomtown Rats. Notably, they put out a new album in 2020, implying that Bob recognized the need to rejuvenate that band. However, I want to clarify that it’s not my intention to criticize Geldof unfairly; his philanthropic endeavors have been subjected to unjust scrutiny. Nonetheless, in this review, I aim for transparency.

Commercial performance?

Based on my observation, the album didn’t sell well commercially and didn’t seem to gain a devoted fan base among Bob Geldof and The Boomtown Rats enthusiasts. The “This Is the World Calling” music video did receive some airtime on MTV, but the album may have been too conventional creatively to capture people’s interest, and it lacked the catchy appeal that is typical of pop music.

Although some people had reservations about it at first, and I wasn’t overly impressed myself, “Deep in the Heart” of Nowhere” might be worth reconsidering for its grand production and the deeply personal topics that Geldof tackled following his band’s split. It would have been great if there were a few scenes that left me utterly amazed by the skill and creativity involved.

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2024-07-22 03:01