Crush (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album)


Crush is the sixth studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, released on 17 June 1985 by Virgin Records. It was the first of two OMD albums produced by American record producer Stephen Hague.
Aimed primarily at the US market, where the album sold well, Crush is notable for moving the band's sound in a far more commercial direction, although elements of earlier experimentation are still present. Three singles were taken from the album; "So in Love" became the band's first hit single in the US. A long-form video, Crush – The Movie was also released, showing the band talking about their career and performing the songs from the album.

Critical reception

Crush received positive appraisals in the UK, including what Andy McCluskey saw as the band's "first good LP review in NME". Ian Cranna of Smash Hits wrote, "OMD continue their healthy recovery of form... strong, melodic songs in a more lush, or, orchestral setting, while still retaining that passionate punch. It's a welcome return of the thinking-person's dance music, and isn't it good to hear real drums again?" Stateside, Michigan Daily critic Beth Fertig said the album "further confirms that is one of the most creative forces in that synthesizer-band genre." Bill Henderson of the Orlando Sentinel observed "bouncy singing, soulful horns and tape tricks that never become tedious or overbearing". A favourable Bill Merrill in the Altus Times praised the "smooth combination of airy vocals and catchy hooks" found on "Secret" and "Women III".
Retrospectively, AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine said the record "may be less adventurous than earlier work" but is still a "thoroughly winning album". His colleague Dave Connolly commended a handful of tracks, but said that the "lightweight" Crush "represents a nearly complete reinvention of the band's original ideals" and offers "little of substance". Trouser Press found the record to be enjoyable despite a "shortage of really memorable songs". In reviewing The Best of OMD, AllMusic's Mike DeGagne wrote that Crush contained the band's "best work". In a 2013 online poll, the album was voted the 23rd best of 1985 based on the opinions of over 45,000 respondents.
Andy McCluskey said that he would do the record differently in hindsight, and feels that its production does not sound like OMD. Both he and Paul Humphreys expressed regret over not challenging label-enforced time constraints during the making of the album. Humphreys nevertheless remarked, "Still, there's some nice things on there."
"Hold You" was later covered by Color Theory.

Track listing

Credits are adapted from the Crush liner notes.