UK’s Debut Album

I was there. As far as I know they were but a ripple in the Prog Sea! Great album though!

Hi sigod

I wasn't there. It's clear that I'm considerably younger than snowdog....

I bought this album about 5 years ago, and to be honest I've always struggled with it. Not sure why. I was never a massive fan of Wettons voice for a start. My feeling is that this was music for the sake of it. A group of famous very talented musos, in between bands - if that were the case - making some cash on the strength of their names, rather than on the strength of the material on the album.

But it's all subjective, I guess.

I'll give it another listern, because as you say many of the reviews are indeed glowing.

Blacksword/Chopper

I think this album might be a bit of a 'Blade Runner' in that it didn't seem to make a big splash at the time but has garnered more and more plaudits as the years have gone by. I've given it another spin today and I don't think it's that bad (I really like Holdsworth's contribution) but I'm not sure it's going to make it into my top ten any time soon.



Edited by sigod

Snow Dog wrote: I was there. As far as I know they were but a ripple in the Prog Sea! Great album though!

I was there too - give me your address privately  SD and I might be tempted to send you the full page article Melody Maker wrote................ not supporting your case. As such, I've always felt UK to be  the last  of proper prog rock bands.  I noticed too the latest 'scathing' review on the opening page of Progarchives in the last 48hours - everybody's entitled to their opinion - but that's not what I hear. I think Bill Bruford recently called Holdsworth's In the Dead Of Night solo the best he had ever heard - and considering the date of recording startling innovative

In my ever so humble  opinion the 1st UK album is very good. Maybe even among my top 10 of all time favourite albums.

Great album if you ask me, not that you did of course...

Vocal harmonies in abundance, guitar playing is incredible

 but it's that groove that shines through again..........now that's prog

 

I issued a review of the album, in short this is my view on the album :D

UK U.K.
Review (Permanent link) by PEACE OUT @ 4:49:19 PM EST, 8/2/2005

— Some nice moments, but basicaly it's an attempt at commercial mainstream succes, nothing wrong with that, but after reading some very excited reviews I expected something better. The vocals from John Wetton are alright, but it seems so flat and uninspired, he did better on Asia's debut, or with his participation on Uriah Heep. Holdsworth obviously is a great guitar player, but only on occasion does he let it rip, and adds more than just basic background noodling, combined with the synthesiser sound it is nice but not really exciting. Bill Bruford adds his five percent for nothing lay low drum rhythms to the mix, and wettons bass is hardly present.
Harsh statement I can hear you all think, well maybe it is, but aside some good moments I am quite bored by this album. Let's see if I can find some light on this album, to counterpoint the negative vibes I've been giving this in nature fine band. For the most part U.K. plays a very accesable pop/jazz/fusion type of rock music, larded with pointy keyboard rhythmics, with some very fine guitar play on occasion.

The Good songs 1. In The Dead Of Night, a poppish keyboard intro, with some nice bass and good singing from wetton, this song already reminds me of Wetton's later band Asia, but more focused on Jazz than the plain rock of that. 3. Presto Vivace and reprise, as the name indicates this song is actually a continuation from In The Dead of Night, so logically I find it equally good, well slightly better actually since the rock aspect of Holdsworth guitar are a bit more upfront. 8. Mental Medication starts very soft, but the instrumental section in the middle features some great guitar parts, very nice really.

The rest of the songs each have some nice moments scattered through the songs, but bassicaly the most parts are quite boring. since the average rating is quite high, I might be missing something, but you can't like everything. try it if you like soft melodic pop/fusion, or Holdsworth guitar play, maybe you'll hear what I am missing.




easier to copy-paste than restating what I already wrote

Although I was there when the album was released, I only got familiar with it much later - as a matter of fact, I bought it last year. Do I enjoy it? Yes and no - it's true that I don't listen to it very often, and when I do I have to be in the mood for sitting down and listening. The musicianship is amazing and I really like the first three song - a sort of mini-suite. I'm not a big fan of Wetton's voice (he's not in Greg Lake's league, though he tries to sound like him), but he sings rather well there. All in all, though, there are dozens of prog albums I definitely prefer.

xhouse wrote: (Too bad Holdsworth is like the Larry Brown of prog...imagine if he could stick with one band for more than an album or two)(And check out K2... a great recent release)

Since 1979 Allan Holdsworth has stuck to one band and independence - his own, (which more often than not, means he doesn't get publicity because there isn't a  big record company nor publicity machine behind him), everything else  is guest appearances, more often as not favours to friends in the music business.

I was there too... I picked it up at the time having recently become educated on King Crimson, so anyting with both Bruford and Wetton sounded good to me. I had never heard of Jobson or Holdsworth (was just getting into Roxy Music at the time and didn't recognize Jobson's name). I instantly loved the album, and thought that it would point the way for prog to come. Didn't happen. Instead Holdsworth & Bruford left, Bozzio joined, and Jobson tried to mold the band into another ELP (there was a recent ELP void) by forgoing guitar and focusing on organ for the 2nd album, Danger Money. Didn't work out that way and they folded. In the twilight of the 70's, UK was far and away the best prog being produced other than Happy the Man. I loved both UK albums but definitely the 1st self-titled is the most unique and ground-breaking. IMO Jobson had the chops of Emerson/Wakeman but the good taste and composing skills of Banks. Therefore to me, Jobson is the best prog keyboardist ever, personifying a combination of unbelievable chops, taste, and compositional skills.