No Stranger to Danger

Tagged new wave on the basis of their debut, the Payola$ moved toward a slightly more radio-friendly sound for the follow-up, which was their first outing with producer Mick Ronson. Although there's a nod to the past with a few catchy, guitar-driven rock numbers, it's the deviations that get the attention this time out. First, there's the reggae influence in numbers like "Rose," "Lights to Change," and the Canadian hit single "Eyes of a Stranger." The more restrained "Hastings Street," named after Vancouver's skid row, is a poignant look at losing it all, while "Rockers" is a rockabilly romp with a new wave sheen. While it sounds like it could be a hodgepodge, the variety actually works fairly well, breaking things up at the appropriate places and keeping your interest all the way through the album.