In a career that has spanned 25 years (a quarter of a century, for those who like to emphasize the passage of time) Robert Palmer has experimented with just about every possible music style known. From basic rock and roll to R&B, from big band and jazz to Calypso, he has done it all, merging various musical elements to create a sound that is distinctly his own.

It's always interesting when Palmer releases a new album. You can never guess which musical direction he has gone into. On his latest album, "Honey", as in the past, he manages to combine African JuJu, Calypso, Samba, funk, pop and rock; switching constantly from one style to the next with scant little warning.

The songs on "Honey" all harken back to Palmer's early days. Tunes like "Know By Now," "Closer to the Edge," and "Wham Bam Bogie" are destined to become classics alongside the likes of "Sneakin' Sally Though the Alley" and "Every Kinda People." Similar though they may be left to the early stuff, the new songs have a definite '90s feel to them.

One of the more interesting songs on the new album is a cover of Devo's quirky "Girl U Want." The original was not all that inspiring, yet somehow it works here.

Always willing to experiment and explore new avenues through which he can express his music, Palmer employs cutting edge guitarist Nuno Bettencourt of the rock band Extreme to help expand his realm of musical experiences. Bettencourt's appearance on the album takes Robert Palmer in yet another direction.

In 25 years, Robert Palmer has done just about everything. With the release of "Honey", he is continuing to do it in fine eclectic style.

Reviewer:  Greg Brown, courtesy of Flash Magazine.