I really like the band, though they seem like one of those bands that get critically punished for finding commercial success through lightening their sound. Their earlier albums were really good. With the second Labour of Love album they sort of went downhill. The last couple of albums with original material were good.

They had their moments.

Kingston Town, Don't Break My Heart, Labour of Love, some of the early singles...

...but what I find odd about them is that considering how many members of the band there are (8 or 9, no?) how come their later records sound like they were recorded by drum machine, one synth and a computer? There's just so little 'depth' to the production.

A band with 8 or 9 members ought to sound 'big', no?

I agree and in the Campell brothers' autobiography they mentioned that their drummer and bass player opted to use machines instead of play the actual instruments. I'm guessing that most of the band members who played instruments chose to do that.

They're less commercial stuff is actually their better material, in my opinion. In the beginning, everyone was playing their instruments and it sounded like it.