Business As Usual is an exercise in deceptive brightness.
On the surface, it carries the sun-drenched, rhythmic energy of the early 1980s Australian coast, but beneath the catchy woodwind hooks lies a profound sense of unease. Colin Hay’s soulful baritone delivers lyrics that dwell on agoraphobia, social pressure, and the strange disconnect of modern life.
Unlike the maximalist synth-pop that would soon dominate the decade, this album is remarkably sparse. Every instrument has its own pocket of air, from the dry, snapping snare to the clean, staccato guitar stabs that owe as much to reggae as they do to post-punk.
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How does Business As Usual sound next to the rest of Men at Work's catalogue?
This album stays in step with the catalogue across the board — no axis departs enough to be worth its own note. Hover the dots to see where each one sits.
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