Winds of Change
is, along with its predecessor
Modern Times
, one of the weakest entries in the
Jefferson Starship
catalog. The dearth of
Paul Kantner
material (save for "Out of Control" and the obtuse and confused politics of
"I Came Back from the Jaws of the Dragon"
) means that this album, more than any previous effort, relies on the input of outside songwriters. Primary among these writers is
Jeannette Sears
, wife of band guitarist/keyboardist
Pete Sears
, whose four efforts are pleasantly structured but lyrically trite and blandly executed by the group.
Grace Slick
, who officially returned to the band for this album after guesting on
, offers an engaging performance on the sultry
"Black Widow,"
only to counteract it with the utter train wreck
"Out of Control."
Meanwhile,
Mickey Thomas
is his predictable, consistent self, generally heartless in his lead vocals but filling in the high lead nicely on the moderate hit singles
"Be My Lady"
and the title track. In the hands of another band,
might be passable '80s fare, but in light of the vast
Jefferson
family discography, the album is strikingly unadventurous and hardly worthy of the band's legacy. ~ Joseph McCombs