Dwight Twilley - Jungle (Expanded Edition) (2024)

After carving out a moderately successful career as a jangling power pop craftsman, Dwight Twilley jumped headfirst into modern technology on 1984's Jungle. He backgrounds the guitars, trades a thumping live drum sound for a tinny robotic one, switches from analog reverb to digital effects, and adds globs of synths everywhere -- in the process managing to sound up-to-date circa 1984, but losing much of the magic along the way. The hit single "Girls," which features Tom Petty taking over the vocals in the chorus, comes closest to peak Twilley, but even that song sounds muted and plotted out rather than felt. It's a shame that Twilley took the plunge into new recording techniques because the songs themselves aren't bad at all. For example, the chorus of lead track "Little Bit of Love" is super hooky and the vocals sound impressively impassioned, and "To Get to You" has a nice lilting melody and lyrics that really get to the confusion that intense love can bring. Sadly, the former is ruined by clunky sequencer patterns and corny, fake-sounding piano, while the latter is sunk by cornball electronic drums sounds, uninspired guitar work, and an extra, very unnecessary, layer of studio gloss. (The less said about the embarrassing title track the better...) One can't help but feel like if Twilley had stripped the songs down and played them in the studio with his usual crew of musicians, the result would have been more exciting than this wet blanket of an album. Proof of that comes with the one song that keeps the technology at a minimum: "You Can Change It" is the most exciting track by far, "Girls" included. Despite its many flaws, Jungle is still worth checking out for Twilley fanatics and completists, though, because even borderline bad Twilley is better than no Twilley at all.

First time on CD worldwide! / Plus 6 bonus tracks, including outtakes and Dwight’s demos / Liner notes by power pop aficionado Ken Sharp (Cheap Trick, The Raspberries) / Never-before-seen photos from the original cover shoot / Digitally remastered by Maria Triana / Fully endorsed by the Estate of Dwight Twilley Includes 6 bonus tracks, 4 previously unreleased. Jungle is Dwight Twilley’s most successful album, reaching the Top 40 and including the Top 20 hit single and MTV favorite “Girls” featuring a guest appearance from Tom Petty. “Why You Wanna Break My Heart” later achieved fame through its inclusion in the movie Wayne’s World, and “Little Bit of Love” was another popular music video.