Review
Boy Meets Girl hit their full glow-up moment with 'Reel Life', the 1988 album where George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam stepped out from behind the curtain and into the neon lights. This record is pure late-80s pop polish, all glassy synths, sky-high hooks, and that unmistakable sense of romantic drama the era thrived on. Merrill’s all-hands-on-deck approach with synths, pianos, and drum programming locks in perfectly with Rubicam’s clear, emotionally charged vocal delivery. You can hear the songwriter brains at work here, honed from penning smashes for Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson, but now fully aimed at their own spotlight.
The celestial centerpiece 'Waiting for a Star to Fall' still feels like a slow-motion dance floor moment, inspired by a literal meteor streaking overhead and sounding exactly like one. 'Bring Down the Moon' kicks things off with big melodies and Arif Mardin’s sleek production touch, while 'Stormy Love' and 'Is Anybody Out There In Love' keep the pulse racing with glossy urgency. Tracks like 'Stay Forever' and 'One Sweet Dream' balance intimacy and arena-ready emotion without tipping into excess. Dig a little deeper and songs such as 'Restless Dreamer' and 'Someone’s Got to Send Out Love' show how much heart and craft are baked into this album, making 'Reel Life' a seriously satisfying snapshot of pop reaching for the stars. - Cal
