Man @ Work

Rate It! Avg: 4.5 (347 ratings)
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Man @ Work album cover
Album Information
EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 13   Total Length: 51:43

eMusic Review 0

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David Pakman

eMusic Contributor

04.22.11
Former Men at Work frontman ditches the keyboards, heads to Nashville.
Label: Compass Records

OK, I know this sounds crazy, but Colin Hay, the former Men at Work lead singer, is a wonderful songwriter. See, if you listen — really listen — those Men at Work hits were actually great songs disguised by '80s-style gratuitous keyboards and over-production. Like many of those devoted to mastering the craft, Hay got religion and moved to Nashville, then made this record of outstanding songs like the optimistic "Beautiful World" and the assertive "Love Is Innocent" as well as excellent re-interpretations of many of the trio from Down Under's past songs ("Down Under," "Overkill," the nuclear-war fearing "It's a Mistake" and of course, "Who Can It Be Now"). Hay's good-humored personality comes through, and he's not afraid to make mundane references to his everyday life (like the kind of tea he drinks) in his songs. You'll enjoy this, as long as you don't think back to what you were doing in high school when you first heard these songs.

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The best part of Men at Work

silentEcho

Colin Hay's vocals are still beautiful and instantly recognizable after all these years after the breakup of Men at Work. I heard him on an episode of Scrubs singing in 2002 and got this album right away. I didn't even know he was singing as a solo artist.

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Magical Music with a great feel

phillgelling

I listened to this without realising Colin was the main man from Men at Work and was thinking of how he sounded like a mix of Phil Collins, Eddie Grant, Steve Winword and then wham an updated version of Down Under started and blew me away. A master craftsman at his best. Brilliant.

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Its a mistake

notbad442

Kudos to Colin Hay, after all this time he has been able to rebrand and beat the test of time. His music is insighful and wonderful, hits the core. Brings back so many memories of the early 1980s when I was sooo happy and time was worth having. Turns me inside out with joy, ultimately what music is meant to do. He is awesome and so much loved by me. By the way, the Scrubs solo was incredible, I almost fell out of my chair, after all this time he still kicks a$$.

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A solid favorite

Roeffer

There is a lot of reflection in these works that a late thirty-something or older fellow can relate to along the lines of realizing where you are now is a product of where you chose to go years ago. There are some tracks like "Beautiful World" that I listen to over and over. There are other Men at Work tracks here reworked outside of the 80's pop machine and performed in a much, much more interesting way. Colin deserves a great deal of respect for being able to make the listener reflect on oneself and then changing trains to something much more fun and full of hooks just a few moments later.

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The Mna Just Makes You Smile

ctgguy35

Whether you hear him on Scrubs or see him live, songs like Beautiful World and Looking For Jack just suck you in and hold you like a warm blanket. The Down Under and Overkill redos are excellent as well.

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This is the jam

Drake3420

So glad that they have this album on here. I love Colin Hay's voice. His stint on Scrubs was masterful.

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very good

RichardKruspe01

I doubt I ever would have discovered Colin if it wasnt for an episode of scrubs, but now i gotta say, I'm hooked! 10/10 Easy

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just superb

pitt1127

Quite frankly, the best album Ive heard on e-music. Really, Ive not heard of Colin Hay to be honest, but did like Men @ Work when I was young kid... but, these rendidtions knocked me off my chair, just a great blend of vocals and strumming, I'd say its a masterpiece.

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A New View

Huffy

As a young man I never had the opportunity to listen to Men at Work in there heyday. I've heard the biggest hits but didn't pay much attention to them. Hearing this album opened up an appreciation for Colin Hay's musicianship. Great songwriter and I musician. I loved this version of Overkill. Really a great listen for anyone who truly appreciates music even when its not what you've heard from that band or songwriter before.

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Great music

gfb100442

Over the years I forgot what an impact Men at Work made on the music scene. Colin hasn't lost a beat in putting this together. Simple review: Get the album. You'll be glad you did.

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They Say All Music Guide

While he’ll always be best known as the lead singer for early-’80s MTV darlings Men at Work, Colin Hay has been issuing solo releases on a somewhat regular basis, ever since his former band’s disintegration. But for his 2003 release, Man at Work, Hay decided to take a step back and rework several Men at Work classics. While it’s not uncommon for classic rockers to rework their songs (the “unplugged” craze of the ’90s, anyone?), the reasoning as to why Hay would issue such a recording now is a bit puzzling. While such acoustic Men at Work tracks as “Overkill” and “Who Can It Be Now?” are quite charming and worth hearing, the re-recordings of “Be Good Johnny” and “It’s a Mistake” (which are almost identical to the originals) don’t add much to the originals. Hay’s non-Men at Work songs (“Beautiful World,” “Waiting for My Real Life to Begin”) are worth hearing, but of course, they’re not up to the high Business as Usual standards. That said, Hay’s voice is still in fine form all these years later, sounding as good as it did during his commercial heyday. – Greg Prato

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