6 of 22 customers found the following review helpful:
 Steve Winwood's Low Point, 2002-07-22
I'm a big Steve Winwood fan, and most Winwood fans like (if not love) "Arc of a Diver." I guess I just don't get it. "Arc," for this reviewer, represents the absolute low point of Steve Winwood's career. Gone is the high-octane British R&B of the Spencer Davis Group. Gone is the eclectic experimentation of Traffic and Blind Faith. And the later pop-rock genius of "Back in the High Life" and "Roll With It" are still far off on the horizon. Instead, "Arc" reveals an experienced rock icon who's run out of ideas but wants to record something anyway. And, to make matters worse, instead of getting some other musicians or a talented producer to help him along, he tries doing it all himself in his home studio. The result is a synthesizer & drum-machine adult-contemporary sludge with virtually no redeeming qualities. The radio hit "While You See a Chance" and the plaintive ballad "Slowdown Sundown" are the highlights - but only by comparison with the rest of the album, which is almost unlistenable. "Second Hand Woman" is a bad attempt at disco, "Night Train" is tedious attempt at a hard-edged sound (which Winwood would unfortunately perfect on the title track of "Talking Back to the Night"), and Winwood has to almost drag the lifeless beat of "Spanish Dancer." As a Steve Winwood fan, I can only say this is one album that should never have seen the light of day.
 The big hands of freedom, 2000-10-24
After a rather mediocre first solo album in 1977, "AOAD" was the first in a series of commercially successful '80s records by Steve Winwood. Considering that he played all the instruments and did the production, "AOAD" is a remarkable effort, even if it's not miles away from the then-modern brand of synth-centered, danceable wave pop. It's a continuation of the introverted style found on Steve's first solo outing, with typically soulful vocals but more progressive studio technology and better developed melodies. Generally, some songs are among the best of Steve's solo work. "While you.." does an excellent job of creating a hopeful and uplifting atmosphere, just as the funny pop bubble of "Second-hand woman". The 8-minute "Night train" is more energetic and intricate, with its edgy rhythms and jagged guitars, it even sounds a bit like Talking Heads. Like other Winwood solo releases, "AOAD" isn't without some problems, though. This album hasn't enough great songs to support its ambitions, and it does never provide a knock-out punch like "Valerie" or "One and only man". The title cut, "Slowdown sundown", and "Dust" are fairly subdued soul-pop songs and, as such, are quite boring and forgettable. Lyrically, the album is strong, and although the words may seem a little awkward at times, they often contain intriguing takes on life and love. Overall, I think that "AOAD" could've been much greater if Steve had enlisted the help of his old Traffic fellows. Fans will still find plenty to like, but for those checking out Winwood for the first time, "Chronicles" or "Back in.." would be a wiser investment.
5 of 5 customers found the following review helpful:
 Winwood's best solo album, 2000-09-06
The 1986 album "Back in the High Life" may have sold more copies, but "Arc of a Diver" is Steve Winwood's best solo album. It contains the smash hit "While You See a Chance," and plenty of other smooth jazzy pop songs in the same mode. There is not a bad song in the mix, though the standouts are "Slowdown Sundown," "Spanish Dancer," and "Dust." Though fans of Winwood's days with Traffic may lament the lack of adventurism on this album, those who love great songcraft will feel right at home.
2 of 3 customers found the following review helpful:
 A BURIED TREASURE, 1999-04-26
A long long time ago, in a consciousness far far away...STEVE WINWOOD. I basically remember hm as the leader of a 70's group called TRAFFIC - one of those rare rock bands with a country club following. At my High School, only the NHS types liked them...writing smarmy reviews in the school rag. So I figured they were no damn good. Then, one day I heard a song on the radio, and the tune would not leave my head. It was terrifying! I liked the song a lot, but it would not leave my head. My doctor said I was a hopeless case, and said he could do nothing for me. So then, I saw a psychologist who recommended I track down that song, buy it/borrow it/steal it...whatever, load it, turn it up full blast, and listen to it until I throw up. I thought his advice was so crazy that it just... I called the radio station, sang it to him, and he ID'd it right away. Then, it was off to the mall where I scored "Arc of a Diver" by Steve Winwood, who used to be the head of TRAFFIC. The first song! "WHILE YOU SEE A CHANCE" is the greatest rock song ever. My daughter calls it "that funeral song". Well, it can be my funeral dirge! A true life enlightening experience.
The Essence of Solo Steve Winwood, 1998-12-26
While many people think of Steve Winwoood's second "career", they think of "Higher Love" as the song that launched it. However, in reality, after several years of obsurity, in fact it was the single "While You See A Chance" that originally broke him in the 80's. A bit melancholy, yes, a bit to fast to slow dance to but to slow to crank up, yes. But a wonderful, eerily catchy composition, nenetheless.Even better then that song is the masterpiece title track, "Arc of a Diver", which is arguably one of his best songs ever. The beginning of "Night Train" is used as the theme music for Radio Lightning 100 in Nashville, TN, where Steve Currently resides. With "Arc" and "Night Train" flowing so seamlessly, the latter even rocking out, it is hard to believe that Steve played all the instruments himself in a studio. The lyrics are a bit obtuse, yet they fit the mood of the music perfectly. "Spanish Dancer", although less lyrically interesting, catches fire in a similar vein. That said, it seems like the rest of the album is comprised of afterthoughts. "Slowdown Sundown" is a good afterthought mind you, and "Dues" does manage to make a poignant statement. "Secont Hand Woman", however, is inexcusable. It is not only boring and stilted musically, but it is blatantly sexist. Steve was going through a bit a a tough time in his personal life at the moment, so for that he can be forgiven partially, but the wrenching bias can be too great for even this male Republican to bear at some times. This is the album to get if you want to get the "pure essence" of Steve Winwood's solo music, espcially before he started making his music with large and diverse bands circa the mid 80's. It is also overall still probably, if you don't have his box set, the second album of his to purchase after the incredible breakthrough "Back in the High Life".
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