This makes for some interesting listening, especially at first. Generally speaking the first side of We Care a Lot is strong, while the second is weak. This is unsurprising because back in the dark ages of cassette tapes - and indeed often still - the good songs were stacked at the front, while the poorer efforts tried to escape unnoticed at the back.
The first half starts with the title track "We Care a Lot." Apart from being a good song it reveals another point about the band - lead singer Chuck Mosley yells a lot. Vocals are shouted, not sung, and this is a good reflection of the tone of the album. "The Jungle" follows and this is also a strong track with the band providing strong support to Mosley. "Mark Bowen" is one the same lines and probably the best song on the album.
Following these three loud and powerful songs is "Jim," a cute, quiet little instrumental piece that is very nicely placed as it adds some much needed variety. It is only a minute long so it quickly ushers in more noise in the form of "Why do You Bother." Still it is a good song and has a wonderful piano ending. This piano brings Side A to a close.
Side B is not nearly as strong. While there is nothing embarrassingly bad, only "As the Worm Turns" matches the standards of the first half. "Greed," "Pills for Breakfast," "Arabian Disco" and "New Beginnings" are average at best and bring down the quality of the album. Even as b-sides they probably still sound weak and out of place.
So while We Care a Lot begins on a very promising note, it ends in just the opposite fashion. It's hard to judge an album like this when the band shows obvious talent and obvious mediocrity in the same breath. It is fair to say that the album is not as good as it should be.
RATING: 5/10
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