AMG Review of Lullaby

William Ruhlmann
All Music Guide

Book of Love's Ted Ottaviano was credited with playing "tubular bells" on the band's self-titled debut album. On their second album, Book of Love opened the proceedings with their own danceable version of the 1973 Mike Oldfield instrumental hit as a way of launching into a somewhat harder-edged album. Producer Flood (of Depeche Mode fame) brought his ominous, beat-heavy approach to the group's already street-smart disco persona, with the result that tracks like "Pretty Boys and Pretty Girls" had an urgency lacking on the more pop-oriented debut. This was not, however, the way to break Book of Love beyond the dance clubs, and Lullaby did little to advance their career.