Fumbling with the Covers is the first
Naked Eyes album since 1984, arriving a whopping 23 years after
Fuel for the Fire. A lot happened in that near-quarter century, including the passing of keyboardist Rob Fisher in 1999, leaving
Naked Eyes as singer
Pete Byrne, who, as the voice of the group, does imbibe this with their personality although this doesn't quite sound like classic
Naked Eyes, due to the absence of Fisher and, along with it, heavy synthesizers. In their place are gentle, almost imperceptible keyboards and lots of acoustic guitars, all giving this a smooth, delicate feel that plays into the pun of the title,
Fumbling with the Covers. This isn't just a covers album -- a covers album where
Byrne covers himself, but also
Elton John and
Jimi Hendrix -- but it's music for time spent underneath the sheets, a smooth romantic album. Of course, "Man out of Time," "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go," and, especially, "Cry Baby Cry" aren't exactly romantic music, but
Byrne turns them into mood music, sustaining a smooth, refined, and relaxed feel throughout the album, even when he's playing tunes that aren't strictly love songs. This does make
Fumbling with the Covers something for a particular taste -- appealing either to longtime
Naked Eyes fans who like the group so much they won't be disappointed this isn't synth pop, or to those who like a fine chardonnay after work -- but it's a charming, understated comeback from a group that seemed destined to reside only in history books. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine