Simple Minds - Graffiti Soul (2CD Deluxe Edition) (2009)

It's easy to forget that during the era of Brat Pack movies and Live Aid, Glaswegian outfit Simple Minds was U2's biggest challenger for the globe-straddling stadium rock crown. But while Bono and co. went on to take over the world, the status of Jim Kerr and his ever-changing lineup has since been relegated to the kind of VH1 Remember the '80s nostalgia territory. They may have slipped under the radar since their last genuine hit, 1995's Good News from the Next World, but contrary to belief, the band hasn't just been sitting on the royalties from its iconic '80s anthems, but have continued to carve out a rather prolific, if largely unnoticed, recording career. Following 2005's return to form, Black & White -- their 15th studio album -- and their fifth 2000s effort, Graffiti Soul, they continue to rehabilitate their reputation, which was slightly sullied by their sometimes overwrought and pompous '90s efforts. Produced by longtime collaborator Jez Coad, and featuring original members Charlie Burchill and Mel Gaynor, alongside bassist Eddy Duffy, several of its ten tracks were written on the same kitchen table in Glasgow where Kerr penned most of their early material, giving the album a reassuring back-to-basics feel which echoes the glossy art rock of their early-'80s prime.