"Detonation Boulevard," "Dr. Jeep," all these songs try to capture the turmoil that was really going on in the world at the time, with driving guitar lines and a more industrial sound, but the feeling just isn't there.
Don't get me wrong, Eldritch is a master of gibberish lyrics, but Floodland at least sounds likes it's about something. It feels like a personal journey somewhere, where Vision Thing is just someone shouting at us like a coked up poly-sci major at a spring-break party.
Rewind:
The Five Most Disappointing Goth Albums: Siousxie & the Banshees, The Rapture
Vision Thing is mostly disappointing because in a way it's both the last word and the middle of a sentence. Since 1993, Eldritch has waged an endless war against the recording industry, preferring to play live and never release another album or even singles. He's all on his own now. He could drop something on iTunes tomorrow and a million goths would eat it up. All he has to do is look at the state of Trent Reznor and see exactly where he could be.
But that's Uncle Andy for you, as contrary as he is a genius. All we have left of him was a stutter of a political, pissed-off throwaway third album. Every time I hear Vision Thing all I can do is shake my head and wonder why a man so possessed of such singular dark brilliance would stop here.
In the end, Vision Thing was a cobbled-together effort with none of the majesty that marked the beginning of The Sisters. It's almost petulant, and a poor note to go out on.
Jef With One F is a recovering rock star taking it one day at a time. You can read about his adventures in The Bible Spelled Backwards or connect with him on Facebook.
Follow @hprocksoff