Nick Heyward - Postcards From Home (1986)

Within the context of Nick Heyward's discography, Postcards From Home is trifle; while it cannot be completely dismissed, the album is the weak link in Heyward's otherwise respectable catalog of albums. There aren't any tracks on Postcards From Home as indelibly touching as "Whistle Down the Wind" or as delightfully hummable as "Kite." Nevertheless, the artist's coy, mellifluous voice is already a hook; even when his songs are saddled with pedestrian lyrics, his vocals are attractive enough to sustain interest. With its bouncy synths and repetitive, upbeat lyrics, "Move It Up" sounds like it was made to capitalize on the '80s aerobics craze; however, its superficiality is redeemed by the sincerity in Heyward's voice. "Over the Weekend," "Goodbye Yesterday," and "Teach Til You Reach" fare better in exposing Heyward's knack for writing chewy bubblegum. "Again in My Heart" is a likable ballad, but far from his best. The remainder of the LP is inoffensive fluff. None of the tracks here feature unpalatable deviations from Heyward's formula; however, there is an overabundance of studio gloss. Perhaps the slickness was meant to disguise the album's relatively anemic songs, but the high quality of Heyward's other work easily reveals Postcards From Home's shortcomings.