Novo Combo - The Animation Generation

Name: Novo Combo
Album: The Animation Generation
Year: 1982
Style: Power Pop
Similar Bands: Police, Survivor, REO Speedwagon, Journey, ELO
"One-Word" Review: Whispy-Commercial-Ready-AOR
Based Out Of: NYC, NY
Label: Polydor, PolyGram Records

 Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Liner Notes, Record

The Animation Generation (1982)

1. Animation Generation 5:32
2. Too Long Gone 3:51
3. Slow Fade 5:17
4. Keep Your Love Alive 3:28
5. Anyone Can See 4:10 /
6. Welcome Innervision 5:38
7. Chained Man 4:08
8. Follow the Love 3:53
9. She Runs 4:22
10. No Wonder 4:10

Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Elliot Scheiner - Producer, Remix
• Stephen Dees - Vox, Bass (Hall & Oats, Tony Carey, Bandees, Pat Travers, Victor Wainwright)
• Pete Hewlett - Vox, Guirar (Billy Joel, Carly Simon, Joe Jackson, Julian Lennon, Amy Grant, Eric Carmen, Peter's Pipers, Sweet Lightning, Euclid Beach Band, The Hit Men)
• Carlos Rios - Guitar, Backing Vox (Gino Vannelli, Lionel Richie, Boz Scaggs, Herb Alpert)
• Michael Shrieve - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vox (Santana, Abraxas Pool, Automatic Man, HSAS, Stomu Yamashta's Go)
• Sanford "Sandy" Ross - Personal Mgmt
• Glenn Orsher - Personal Mgmt
• Ted Jensen - Mastering
• Rob Mounsey - Synth Programming
• Wayne Yurgelun - Digital Doctor
• Bill Roach - Digital Doctor
• Larry Franke - Asst. Engineer
• Gregory Mann - Asst. Engineer
• Michael Morongell - Asst. Engineer
• Kevin Halpin - Asst. Engineer
• Cheryl Smith - Asst. Engineer
• Dean Janoff- Photography
• SchaefferBoehm - Art Direction
• Ronnie Cooke - Styling

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this band. Based on their name, I assume it is has an adult contemporary sound, with attention to genres that have specific dances, be it Cha-Cha, Foxtrot, Salsa, Mambo, etc. However, the artwork shows a group of four, slightly hipper guys that are trying to look cool, but come off as a bunch of parents trying on their kid's stylistic clothes. They are tapping into the popular-at-the-time idea of animation, but also the popularity of arcade games, further trying to adapt to a youthful culture. I imagine this to be some very light AM radio music trying to fit into a New Wave world.

Album Review: For having some musical greats...or at least folks that worked beside musical greats (Santana, Hall & Oats, Billy Joel, Joe Jackson) , this is a light forgettable album whispy and floating radio pop with nothing that seems challenging or deep. There are some lofty island jams, and musician's musician performances, so i can see why there was comparison to the police. Many of the songs are repetitive and irritating, basically good fodder for advertisements. There are not really any good tracks, but the title track at least has some fun dated lyrics about arcades and computers.

Stand Out Track: Animation Generation

Links:
Wiki
Discogs
Rate your music
Spotify
Glory Daze
Allmusic