TUBULAR BELLS

Known as "The Theme from 'The Exorcist' ", the intro is a very good place to start on the record. Hey, why is it the intro of the record, after all. But to me, really, the nature of that intro has nothing to do with the nature of the film. So, let's discuss the music itself.

I like both parts. According to their individual ratings given by me, they are both equally good, but in different ways. Here go the details:

I like everything on the first part, particularly the rough, rocksy rhythm guitar strumming at about 14:20. The ridiculous, unnecessary repetition of the same dull theme on various instruments and the inept stitching of the myriad of snippets only justifies the rating instead of pulling it down. Why? Because some of those snippets are good and some are really good.

The second part enthralls me all the way through 11:40, capturing two musical ideas, each one of which I would give a five. They truly show one of the many points of what prog-rock can be about: that New Age can be essential to the whole prog-rock development. Unfortunately, this whole bulk comes to an end, only to be interrupted by Mike's ludicrously comic vocal mix that is just totally out of place.

For a very long time I thought that if you really want to know what prog-rock is really about, listen to the quintessential classics of the genre. If you heard those, you don't have to listen to Mike Oldfield's debut, because you have heard all that before. Themes, riffs, and ambient "filler" gets stuck together to create a proper work of art, and "Tubular Bells" does not have that special something. Now, after writing this review, I have realized that there are actually some very valuable moments on this album too. It's not some kind of an average prog-rock record. It's just that the special something is in the ocean of other ideas, that is, lost in Oldfield's ambitions.

If you ask me which part I like better, I would say: "It used to be the first one. Now it's the second one, he-he!"

Ratings and comments:

'Tubular Bells, pt. 1' - ****

'Tubular Bells, pt. 2' - ****

Stamp: "I like it."