Many eons ago when rock music was undergoing yet another of its bazillion changes, a brash young group of British musicians calling themselves Adam And the Ants were straddling the line between edgy punk rock and catchy singable pop music.

When punk had it's moment in the sun (I think it was on a Thursday), I pretty much wrote it off as low budget, high volume, no talent, short lived garbage performed by losers whose greatest assets were how naturally ugly they were.

So imagine my surprise when I played "Wonderful," Adam Ant's new album on Capitol Records. Fully expecting to be assaulted with updated rantings and ravings about what's wrong with the world, I find that Mr. Ant has goneÉmainstream!

Many of the songs on "Wonderful" take a look back to the Adam And The Ants' early days, giving an approving nod to such groundbreaking albums as "Kings of the Wild Frontier," and "Vive Le Rock."

Other tracks, however, bring us forward thirteen years with a closer look at the here and now. The sexually charged "Beautiful Dream" and the spiritual "Angel" are two examples of Adam Ant's new vision.

If someone gives you this album as a gift (or they let you keep it after reviewing it for a local music magazine), it would not be an embarrassment to the rest of your record collection. Would I spend $12 or $14 for it? Probably not.

Reviewer:  Greg Brown, courtesy of Flash Magazine.