Francis Dunnery: Let's Go Do What Happens

Francis Dunnery may be the underappreciated pop genius his supporters claim he is, but Let's Go Do What Happens doesn't do much to back up that theory. Dunnery is best remembered—or, more likely, not remembered at all—as Robert Plant's hired axe for his 1993 Fate Of Nations album and tour, but has since released two solo albums to little fanfare. Unfortunately, despite the presence of some genuinely brilliant pop songs, the irresistible "Sunflowers" chief among them, Dunnery has too many ideas floating around in his head to make a coherent album. Let's Go Do What Happens is best when he keeps it simple: The gentle, acoustic "Home In My Heart," while irredeemably sappy, shows solid pop craftsmanship and an ear for great melodies. "Revolution" is similarly sparse, with just Dunnery and his acoustic guitar, but as the ideas start flowing freely, it goes downhill fast. "Give Up Your Day Job" echoes with the pretentious tones of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," while "Riding On The Back" is filled with woodwinds, horns, and backing vocalists that obscure what might have been a good, jazz-tinged pop song. The slickly produced Let's Go Do What Happens is no worse than any of Sting's recent stuff—in fact, it sounds quite a bit like much of it—but unfortunately for Dunnery, he doesn't have the safety net of a million Police fans who will plunk down 13 bucks for anything bearing his name.