Eugene Kelly will always be best known for his work with the brilliant Vaselines. I loved the Vaselines in my youth (still do, actually), so I am always very excited when Kelly has a new project. This album (which has only been released in Japan, apparently) is his first full length solo recording. His past projects such as the underrated Eugenius were always responsible for making some of the most interesting and catchy pop music around. "Man Alive" is a pop record. As far as pop records go, it's fairly generic. Kelly's wonderful voice sets apart, a bit, but for the most part it's hard to call it great. I like the rhodes on "Seven Out," the humor to the adultery-tinged "You're Having My Sex," and the country-style, harmonica-tinged "I Done Something Wrong." There are a lot of things to like on this record, just not many to love. He proves he can still write a good song filled with hooks with good lyrics, but it doesn't set itself apart from other pop record. Still, if I'm in the mood for pop music, I'd choose Eugene Kelly over just about anyone else. 6/10 -- Brad Rose (11 June, 2005)