Waiting

For fans bowled over by their debut disc's heady and minimalist mix of tribal percussion, expressionist camp, and distinctly un-ska-like songs (scant residuals here from the trio's time with the Specials), Fun Boy Three's second album, Waiting, with its slicker production and decidedly more pop-flavored sound, was probably something of a shock. But what an enjoyable jolt it was. Along with the Terry Hall-penned "Our Lips Are Sealed" (also a Go-Go's hit), other highlights include the cinematically tango-tinged "Things We Do" and the spookily playful "We're Having All the Fun." The disc also features plenty of the band's wry and spot-on lyrics, which range from the comical strains of the ganja cut "Farm Yard Connecting" to an account of child molestation in "Fancy That." Topped off with David Byrne's fine production work, Waiting ranks way beyond the second-rate status it often gets saddled with.