BROTHER WHERE YOU BOUND

It's quite rare for a band to lose a member as integral as Roger Hodgson was to Supertramp and survive, never mind get better. Sure, losing Hodgson, the singer of a large number of their biggest hits, caused "the masses" (put the space where you want) to mostly ignore this album. But from an artistic standpoint, this album is much better than "Breakfast In America".

First, the production is every bit as good as the previous (okay, six years previous) album. But the songs are the key. Cannonball, the single that received airplay from this album, is a straightforward rocker. Not bad, but not outstanding. The next two tracks are a more familiar Rick Davies jazzy pop style. John Helliwell adds some nice sax work (I wonder why he abandoned the clarinet for this album).

The album steps up with Better Days, a slightly proggier piece. But the album earns it's spot with the title track, Brother Where You Bound (what else?), a sixteen minute epic, with some beautiful guitar work by some guests, most foremest one David Gilmour.

Ever Open Door seems to be an attempt to end the album on a soft note, but for my ears, it's too soft.

Anyway, if you dismissed the album for not being Supertramp without Hodgson, you should reconsider.

High 3.5 stars, rounded up.