OTHER VOICES

As I remember, Morrison hadn't been dead too long before the release of this one. Actually, I was pleasantly surprized at how good the overall sound was. It was still painfully apparent that Morrison was absent though. Manzarek can sing, but his sound is harsh by comparision. It was hard to get used to. I think if Ray didn't try so hard he would have gotten better results.

My favorite song is Ships w/Sails. It is a real standout, even with Ray's piercing vocals. It puts me to mind of "Riders on the Storm." You get a sort of south seas vibe here and it is a nice change of direction for the new Doors.

The next fave is "Tightrope Ride." It is a disturbing rocker. The lyrics seem to crack on Jimbo quite a bit. It is not so much that anyone is trying to get back at him per sey, but I sense a great deal of frustration on attempts to get through to him, by at least Manzarek. I read his account of his life with the Doors and the song seems to purfectly reflect what Ray was experiencing with the volatile icon.

"Wandering Musician" is also a good tune that doesn't stay too far from the main idea, although it has a touch of prog to it.

The last song is another catchy song and does a little more, as far as prog goes. It changes direction and speed and also has that tropical sound that I like. All the other songs can be deleted, as far as I'm concerned.

Overall, this release is not too bad, but it is lacking in the lyric department. I give it 2.4 stars. Some people may enjoy the album, but if you are a real prog fan, you will stay well away from "Other Voices." Don't waste your money. For Prog archives it gets 2 stars.