Erasure — Union Street

The latest offering from the Brit duo known for their Depeche Mode-ian roots and downright kitschy live shows might come as a shock to longtime fans. Having garnered considerable success on the top 40 charts with lovesick electro-pop throughout the late '80s and early '90s, Vince Clark and Andy Bell have revamped some of Erasure's biggest singles from the past 20 years as totally unplugged folk ditties. If the point was to show the versatility of what they dub "shamelessly pop" songs, they've succeeded. But to what end? The chemistry of Bell's soulful crooning with Clark's melodic synth landscapes is what made their work worth noticing in the first place. This collection, which loses its shock value about three songs in, just feels like a cash grab. After two best-ofs and a tribute to ABBA, it's high time to quit coasting on past achievements and head in a new direction.