EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR

There's a pattern here and I don't like it. Procession is okay if you like wierd art instrumentals with a storyline. The whole "Desolation, Creation, Communication" thing is a bit trite and compared to their earlier poetry is really a bad effort as far as symbolism goes. Part of the band's charm for me was the cool poetry which seems to be going away quickly. "The Story in Your Eyes" is a pop song, but it's a rockin' heavy pop song and probably the best song on the album. Good strong writing on this song and a catchy rhythm make this CD go quickly into and out of my CD player. "Our Guessing Game" literally sounds like the theme to some crappy 70's television show. I can picture a family of kids with some emasculated father dancing and hugging each other to opening credits when this song is on, really, it isn't good. "Emily's Song" is a little better, but it isn't an awesome song or anything, a bit boring if not pretty. "After You Came" picks the album up a bit with some good rock. However, it lacks anything different to offer from the other pop rock bands in that era. Heck, if you want pop rock get "The Who" they do it well, and with more balls. This song seems to imitate it, and is a good song, not a great song, but a good song. The next song "One More Time to Live" is again, a good song but not a great song. It is almost a REALLY good song as opposed to a good song as the instrumentation finally comes to a level you might expect from this group. However the whole 'Desolation / Creation / Evolution / Polution / Saturation / Population / Annhilation' thing comes up again and again, it comes of as trite in comparison to their earlier works. If I could drown out the words and listen to just the music I would like this song better, but he has such a nice clear voice and announciates very strongly so alas, it is impossible. "Nice to be Here" is an okay song but may not be everyone's cup of tea. I happen to like folkish music so it is listenable to me, however not everyone may feel the same way about this tune. "You Can Never Go Home" to me was actually frustrating to listen to. The melody is mediocre and you hear these potential build ups in the music as if there would be a dramatic instrumental coming soon, but it dies down almost as if the music itself is impotent. A dramatic release to the tensly boring beginning would hav made this a great song but alas, no such luck they just drag it on for 4 minutes. "My Song" at the end is actually refreshing. There are some nice melodies and some very strange synths on this song that make it worth listening to. Overall, this album is not BAD, but it isn't a great album. There is alot missing here in comparison to their four star and five star efforts earlier. It is not a 2 star album though, it just isn't essential for your collection. Again, you can skip if you desire you only lose out on a couple of good tunes and a few mildly pleasing ones. There is nothing on this album you would sorely miss.