My biggest regret concerning the band Adam Again is having discovered them too late. Trying to find any of their albums is surely a feat! Those who bought Adam Again's projects before they went out of print (which usually happened fairly quickly), hold on to them because, like fellow Californians Daniel Amos, they're a topnotch band that simply never seemed to get the fame or adulation they deserved. The collaboration of Gene Eugene's pensive lyrics and mellow vocals, Riki Michele's support vocals, Greg Lawless's unique guitar style, Jon Knox' drumming, and Paul Valadez' bass playing yields funky, groove-laden rock, making Adam Again a peerless band. It was with great joy, then, that I heard of Worldwide Favorites, a "greatest-of" Adam Again package.
However, as with most best-of releases, this one leaves something to be desired. Nothing is lacking with regards to sound quality (the mastering is clean and sound is good), or with the overall caliber of the music chosen, it's strictly the song selection that I found wanting. While Adam Again's two most recent releases are filled with deep material, Ten Songs, In A New World Of Time, and Homeboys definitely boast rarer gems. Thus, the fact that there are 5 tracks from Perfecta, four from Dig, Homeboys gets three, two from Ten Songs, and only one from In A New World is curious. This is an inverted pyramid, which left me wanting more of the early material.
Fortunately, the absolutely crucial Adam Again songs are here: "The Tenth Song" (one of the prettiest and most haunting songs that Adam Again recorded), "Worldwide," "River On Fire," and "Perfecta." And, the new track, "Sleepwalk," is quite good. Still, I just can't help wondering why such tracks as "Angels We Have Heard On High," from the underrated Broken Christmas album, "Harsh," from Perfecta, "Hopeless, Etc." from Dig, and other such tracks were overlooked in favor of tunes like "Strobe." I guess my favorites aren't necessarily the "Worldwide Favorites!"
Having questioned the song choices, let me state that there isn't a bad track on the album. As always, the lyrics are insightful, exploring terrain that's often unexplored in Christian circles. And on the whole, as on Adam Again's albums, the music is good. It's of a funky strain that only this group ever seems to fully exploit. Accordingly, Worldwide Favorites has a flow that is rarely found on these sort of compilations.
Consequently, until Guadaloupe surfaces at long last, and Homeboys, Ten Songs, and In A New World Of Time are re-released, Worldwide Favorites will have to satisfy the many longtime Adam Again fans. Along the way, it may even win them a few new ones. If you are interested in music that deals with the heart of mankind, or if you like bands that value honesty, both musically and lyrically, more than marketability, seek out Adam Again - you will be glad you did.
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #76Reviewed by Doug Van PeltWhat do you do when you acquire huge catalogs of music? Why, re-release them to the frustrated-because-it's- out-of-print public. While many an Adam Again fan may have their entire catalog, this first best-of from this band showcases tunes especially from their dirty stripped-down post-New World Of Time era. Unlike most best-of albums, this one "goes backwards," saving the oldest material for the…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Steven S. BaldwinAdam Again has been called one of the very best bands in the world. Whereas that is quite likely true, at the very least they are Christendom's tightest and funkiest outfits, as well as one of the most interesting. With only five albums from 1986 to 1995 to their credit, their overall output is hardly considerable, yet each of those albums is chock-full of finely crafted songs ranging from…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by James StewartKMG's series of retrospectives for key artists in alternative Christian music continues with this volume from Gene Eugene and company. No-one is ever quite satisfied with the selection of songs included in such a compilation as this, but while fans may be dismayed at the absence of one cut or another, this is a worthy showcase for one of the funkiest bands ever to combine organs and guitars. Adam…The Phantom Tollbooth 1999Reviewed by Shari LloydThis album makes me wonder why I never really got into Adam Again's music. There is some really great stuff here, especially the funkier songs like "Strobe" and "Eyes Wide Open." Worldwide Favourites should serve as an excellent introduction to a new generation of fans. 4 tocksSimilar sounding releases
1998Mule DavisMule Davis
1995Chris LizotteHuman Kind
2003Spock's BeardFeel Euphoria
1998SemisonicFeeling Strangely Fine
2000HomeXIV
2002Tanya DonellyBeautysleepMore from Adam Again
1995Perfecta
1990Homeboys
2000Live At Cornerstone 2000: Gene Eugene / Adam Again Tribute
2000Live at Cornerstone 2000
1988Ten Songs
