BROTHER WHERE YOU BOUND

I'll have to admit, this is not only my favorite Supertramp CD. It is, quite possibly, my favorite album to come out of the 1980's! I love how this band can totally ignore the sound of the pop genre that was of that era and put out such a creative and inventive project. This album is so wonderful that I truly believe it would not be as good if Roger Hodgson had been part of it. For the lack of Hodgson's soft soundly balladry, this Supertramp album comes of naturally darker than previous albums. This title track takes on the theme of Orwell's 1984. Brother, meaning Big Brother. Each line is cleverly written throughout the entire title track and Rick Davies terse anger just pulls this off as rare sound intensity with a powerful message. David Gilmour's obvious guitar lick here is truly appreciated within this track. The long instrumentation of this title track is some of the best challenges for your speakers to endure. On with some of the other tracks..."Cannonball" is a fun jazzy pop track with lilting energy that keeps your heart racing as you listen. The high end and the bass mix together well. The energy of "Better Days" primes for for the title track that follows. And, if you can, check out the video of "Better Days". That video alone makes having the DVD of "Supertramp: The Story So Far", worth having. I never though of Supertramp as a "prog" band, but realistically, I don't know how to define them. In the 1970's, I though that they were just another "arena rock" band that contributed to the sound of that "album rock" of the late seventies. With big names like Boston, Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, Heart, Bob Seger, Fleetwood Mac, and the such...who'd ever thought that Supertramp would be the most creative of them all by 1985. Supertramp ended up being the rocker while the others I have just mentioned totally wimped out and sold out to "Pop" music. It's like..."album rock" of the late 70's meets "ABBA", but NOT Supertramp! I'll close by saying that, I'll probably always think of this album "Brother Where You Bound" by Supertramp, as the most creative by an already established band that didn't give in to the yearnings of the pop media.