SMALLCREEP'S DAY

This solo entry from Rutherford is the only good one he put out and it was the first. Often a band or solo artist's first attempt is not as good as ones that follow but in his case he got it right. I bought this album a long time ago and found it to have a certain atmosphere instrumentally that I really liked. The concept story is fine but my musical leanings are always focused on instrumentation and the voice is one of those instruments (not so much the words). He is not a lead guitarist and I was saddened when Hacket left due to his input being very limited and they did not recruit another lead guitarist. He does admit that he is not as much a player as he is a songwriter and there is good stuff on here. The keyboards being played by his old pal Ant Phillips displays a talent I had not known he had. I again applaud the atmosphere that the keys create. The bass lines and pedals are solid and Simon Phillips in his early days is still better than many drummers with much more time behind the kit. Between the Tick and the Tock starts the album and the overall instrumental theme and the last part of Working In Line sounds much like Genesis in the era this was recorded. After Hours and Smallcreep Alone are examples of mellow atmosphere that have their appeal. Cats and Rats (In This Neighbourhood) is again a track that could have been a Genesis song. The more proggy instrumental Out into the Daylight shows Rutherford's best guitar work that is better than anything he did on a Genesis album. I like the emotional climax. At the End of the Day is a mellow track that is a not as memorable. Moonshine is a unique track with the heavy synth bass line. Time And Time Again and Every Road are the low point tracks for me. Romani recovers that nicely with the keyboards and the time signature shifts. I like the first part of it the best. My favorite track is the ending Overnight Job. All the instrumentation is well orchestrated and the combination of keys, bass and guitar is great. The chorus sections almost have that Spector Wall Of Sound quality as it fills up the spectrum. After being in Genesis since the beginning and seeing them through some of the best prog from 1971-1977, this was a good way for him to end his prog leanings. After this he put out the forgettable Acting Very Strange and Mike And The Mechanics for me is simply pop. 3 stars is too little and 4 is too many so 3.5

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Sidscrat
• Report this review (#3159907)
• Buy MIKE RUTHERFORD music online with PA partners
• Show all MIKE RUTHERFORD MP3/Stream
• Go to MIKE RUTHERFORD page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Smallcreep's Day page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for MIKE RUTHERFORD related discussions