OUT OF FOCUS

I prefer their debut "Wake Up !" to this their self titled follow up, but both are excellent. The Jazz flavour is starting to come into their sound on this one. It will get stronger with later albums. I think their calling card on this album is the way they jam, and check out the cover art ! Very cool.

"What Can A Poor Boy Do(But To Be A Streetfighting Man)" is uptempo with vocals. I was going to mention in my review of their debut that the singer really reminds me of Mick Jagger. That is confirmed throughout this album. A raging sax solo after a minute. An organ solo 2 1/2 minutes in as sax comes back and joins in. A bass solo after 3 minutes as it calms right down. Guitar and organ come and go as sax plays on.Then they just jam. Great tune. "It's Your Life" opens with gentle guitar and reserved vocals. Bass comes in as organ comes and goes. Flute 2 minutes in this laid back tune. Piano before 3 minutes.They just continue to play taking turns. "Whispering" opens with organ and whispered vocals. Sax plays tastefully before drums and guitar arrive a minute in as the sound builds. The sax is prominant after 2 minutes.The guitar takes the lead after 4 minutes as the sound gets louder. This trippy sound goes on and on as they jam. Love the guitar but it takes a backseat after 7 minutes. Sax takes the lead after 9 minutes. The song settles down a minute later to the end.

"Blue Sunday Morning" opens with drums, bass then flute.The flute is a real highlight on this one. Vocals,guitar and organ come in.This sounds so good even if the lyrics are a little out there.You know like Jesus rolling a joint in paradise and wanting to go back to earth because he misses drinking and smoking(which he apparently is doing in heaven anyway). The organ 4 minutes in is fantastic for a minute. Vocals after 5 minutes get passionate with more great bass and powerful organ. "Fly Bird Fly" opens with flute before a full sound, then vocals a minute in. Nice organ work 2 minutes in as bass throbs. Guitar before 3 minutes is tasteful. Cool song. "Television Program" opens with flute like the previous song. Gentle guitar, light drums and bass join in. The vocals arrive 1 1/2 minutes in.The lyrics are meaningful.The sound is building 2 1/2 minutes in. Organ a minute later. It settles down 4 minutes in as vocals are spoken. More tasteful guitar after 5 minutes with organ a minute later. A full sound with sax before 8 minutes.The tempo then picks up with guitar as they jam to the end.

This one doesn't grab me at all like their debut does. Still a 4 star record though as it is very enjoyable throughout.