Guns in the Ghetto finds UB40 moving even further into adult contemporary territory than they did on Promises and Lies. There's only the occasional hint of the politically charged, vibrant reggae that earned the band a dedicated following in the '80s. In its place is pleasant, completely inoffensive pop that occasionally has a skanking backbeat. Since the band is no longer capable of writing catchy melodies, the music comes across as aural wallpaper, and while that can make for pleasant listening, it makes Guns in the Ghetto a disappointment for most long-term fans.