LEFTOVERTURE

Sorry, I know this album is so much respected, but in my opinion the music here is very weak. As a rock album maybe I would give it three stars, but we write about prog here.

Almost all the songs are built the same way: take a classic rock song based on a guitar riff (keep in mind that the band's sound is very "american", with references to West Coast and Country music) and enrich it with a bit of pompous and bombastic symphonic arrangement. The result is a strange contrast of styles: very bad taste in my opinion. It 's like taking "Hotel California" by Eagles, and insert in the middle ELP's "The Old Castle". Can someone tell me why? All right, progressive rock means contamination of styles, but please....doing so with elegance!!!

The best songs? Carry On Wayward Son is without doubt the best on the record, a timeless classic of pure '70s rock. Question Of My Childhood is built on a catchy melody (the brief introduction of synthesizer refers to Francis Monkman and Curved Air). Not too bad Miracles Out Of Nowhere with the "proggy" section in the meddle and the "country-style" violin theme (keep in mind that we are light years away from King Crimson of Cross, Wetton, Bruford and Fripp). The rest easily forgotten. I must even say that I don't like the too emphatic way of singing.

Rating: 4/10.

Best song: Carry On Wayward Son

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