There are those who find the voice of Richard Butler, lead singer of the Psychedelic Furs, ineffably fascinating. There are also those who run from the room upon hearing his unique vocal cords. Butler sounds like George Jones imitating Bryan Ferry: the sound escapes through clenched teeth, a thin croon that's rough and buzzy in the high notes, fruity and fulsome in the low ones.

Butler's voice carries Forever Now, the Furs' third album. Produced by Todd Rundgren, the LP is pervaded by the most salient characteristic of the Furs' music: the thick, viscous smear of guitars, drums and vocals that streams across their melodies. But although most of Forever Now is alluring and amusing, only once does the band come up with something really new. "Danger" is the most ferocious, impassioned song the Furs have ever recorded. The song's headlong pace and slamming beat are a thrilling departure for the band, which as a matter of faith usually never tries to exceed the tempo of "Strawberry Fields Forever." On "Danger," however, the Psychedelic Furs lay themselves on the line, and all of Richard Butler's simmering romanticism comes to a boil. Let's hope their next album uses this performance as its inspiration. (RS 382)

KEN TUCKER