THREE FRIENDS

Man, do you know how much I paid for this record? 6 bucks! Amazing how 4 stars albums (almost classics) are sometimes cheap. It's funny how Acquiring the Taste's cost is higher and so is Octopus's. I imagine why. The same cover from the original album. But the colors are different, more light? Anyway, this album is way too snobbed. The steps are different this time. Acquiring the Taste was sounding more contemporary, experimental and darker. The feel was smoother too. This one rocks harder and the keyboards are less in front to create the atmosphere. Greene is giving all he can on Peel the Paint and so is Phil Shulmann's saxophones. But I feel sad when I see the lack of attention (and such low cost) for this record. But it's still the early Gentle Giant, which means the musicianship is at is best and this time, more rocky. It suffers maybe of the concept it contains. It's not the most captivating story indeed. But, let me ask to you the Gentle Giant connaisseur: when on another album have you ever heard something like the last track, Three Friends? A sea of keyboards that slowly rocks you like a gentle wave. The voices that resonnates with a cathedral feeling. That song only, is worth the try. Briefly, less for the beginner, but a true Gentle Giant fan will listen over and over...and will, like me, smile like the Giant on the cover. Doesn't he look happy? (he should, he's friend with Gentle Giant for the love of god...).