SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: SWEET – THE ANSWER

SWEET
THE ANSWER
METALVILLE

The Answer was originally released in 1992 under the name Andy Scott’s Sweet rather than just Sweet. It was also originally released with the title A and was originally Sweet’s 10th album. It was released only in Germany, Australia, and Japan, making it quite a collector’s item, as it has been out of circulation for a number of years. Metalville Records continues its series of re-releasing Sweet albums with bonus tracks. A is now The Answer and a fun document. For the record, A (aka The Answer) was the first album released as Andy Scott’s Sweet and as that incarnation of the band.

The album is very much straight-ahead 1980s – 1990s heavy metal. “Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again” is the closest thing to a classic-sounding Sweet. The song is not glam; it is more pop-rock and less heavy metal. The Answer is full of great songs and hard-driving music. Slade’s Mal McNulty does a fine job singing lead, and he does bring his own energy to the songs. Guitar solos and heavy drumming compete with him, but he wins. Andy Scott and the band’s backing vocals are also essential throughout the album, often lending an anthemic quality. “When Friends Fall Out” is a bit on the mellow side, not a ballad, but it does give a break from the heavier material. The full-blown power ballad “Is It True” ends the original album.

Six bonus tracks, three alternative versions, and the inclusion of three songs from the era (B-sides to singles released at the time). The music may be a little dated, but it still packs a punch. This is a fun album, perfect for air-punching while listening to quality metal.

When The Answer was originally released 34 years ago, Sweet was trying to navigate the music landscape of the 1990s. CDs had replaced albums, radio had changed beyond recognition, and music had been through many changes over the years. The Answer is not Sweet’s best album; it is still excellent, and it shows a band willing to make changes and produce solid rock that will not only please their fans but may also attract new ones. The Answer (aka A) did not alienate their old fans, and maybe it is time to re-evaluate it, and perhaps new fans will discover Sweet’s harder side.

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