Description

Rare original German 1992 Polydor press

Magnum’s Sleepwalking is the band’s final record as a potentially-lucrative mainstream act. “Only in America” was the last concerted attempt at an overseas single, earnestly trying to capitalize on the marginal success of the last record. Sadly it just didn’t pan out as expected, swiftly driving yet another nail in Magnum’s coffin, a seal finally secured in an airtight manner with Rock Art two years later. So while Sleepwalking itself welcomed in a rather depressing era for the band, as a collective entity it is quite strong, solidified by a slight loosening of the experimental reins in comparison to Goodnight L.A. There are still a fair number of simple, safe and largely inoffensive rockers, but while Magnum’s post-reformation albums are typical dogged by unnecessary balladry, this album’s brilliance is largely indebted to variety concerning its progression. This couldn’t be more evident than on the well-loved (for damn good reason) opener “Stormy Weather,” which while atypical concerning its placement in the track listing, really stands out as one of Magnum’s greatest pseudo-ballads of all time. Atmospheric, morose and drenched in late ’80s-early ’90s tropes, this is not one to miss for fans of Catley’s more emotive side. And then there is the equally gloomy “Broken Wheel,” which finally gives Stanway some room to tug at our heartstrings with his always-venerable chops. Instrumentally, the entire band is in fine form here, and the lack of overt record company pressure honestly saved them from an uglier fate than what befell them a few years later. This tends to be an album that gets washed over more than necessary, primarily because many fans figured that the band was cooked after Goodnight L.A.. Given the fact that many (as myself) appreciate said record, Sleepwalking gives us most of what works and squeezes by with a decent rating. A final mention has to be made of the artwork, which while appearing cluttered and overdone at first, is fun to look at due to the large number of references to earlier records Matthews’ inserted within. I can dig this one, and take Sleepwalking over just about anything the band has done since the reunion. A fair effort from an irrefutably ’80s hard rock act left out in the cold.

Track list:
1. Stormy Weather
2. Too Much To Ask
3. You’re The One
4. The Flood
5. Broken Wheel
6. Just One More Heartbreak
7. Every Woman, Every Man
8. Only In America
9. Sleepwalking
10. Prayer For A Stranger
11. The Long Ride