Richard Butler, singer for the Psychedelic Furs, called this album "hollow, vapid and weak", a commercial abomination that reflects poorly on the band. Their followup album "Book of Days" jerks the band in such a radically opposite direction you can practically hear the gears grinding and tires squealing on asphalt. It's clear where The Furs themselves stand on this album. I wholeheartedly disagree. You might say, yes, this album is stewed in the cheap cologne and saxophones of Patrick Bateman's New York circa 1987. Cocaine, hardbodied blondes in tight black dresses, tons of hairspray, fast cars and fast money, it's all in there. There's even a song about Crack. Yes I said it, Crack. "Shock" is a song about Crack, oh excuse me, when white people do it it's called "freebase". On the surface, this album is complete and total kitsch, a John Hughes movie for hedonistic adults doing lines off the toilet seat of some overpriced club in Manhattan. But that also makes it kind of amazing. What's even more amazing, is that in spite of the ritzy/seedy veneer that's been pasted over it, this album does have a lot of depth. Butler, as narrator, seems the reluctant party boy in this saga. It's clear from the tone of the song lyrics that this scene just isn't for him. He clearly doesn't belong in the box his mid 80s success has forced him into. And it's precisely this push/pull dynamic that makes this a remarkable album. It's almost unbearably cheesy and false at times, but the feelings of alienation, reluctance, and regret are all very authentic. I can see why this album often doesn't get the admiration it deserves. With so many other great albums The Furs have put out over the years, it easy to hold your nose when Midnight to Midnight shows up, reeking of Ralph Lauren Polo and coked out of its mind. But if you can get into its commercial groove and look a little deeper into the lyrics, it's a fantastic snapshot from the penthouse of a notorious era.

This is a strong album, first 3 songs are classic Furs sound. Later in the album, it sounds more mainstream rock with heavy guitars. For me, second only to Mirror Moves.