World Party - Bang! (1997)

On his previous releases, Wallinger has displayed a social conscience, but never has it taken prominence like it does on Bang!, World Party's third album. Bang! does contain some glorious music that equals his masterpiece Goodbye Jumbo, but the album slows down when he tries to say too much (as in the quasi-operatic "And God Said"). Even then, Wallinger's preaching doesn't obliterate the considerable pleasures of the music. Wallinger has often been accused of recycling the Beatles, but the truth is that he can combine the Beatles, Beach Boys, Sly Stone, Dylan, and Prince into a musical style that is distinctive and unique yet familiar. Bang!, for all of its shortcomings, is as strong an album as any Wallinger has released.