GROWING

The third and final installment of Jonesy is their (last to be) album Growing. Though released in the same year as Keeping up it differs rather alot. Keeping up is clearly the stronger one, in my opinion, but this is a really good album aswell.

I love british prog and Jonesy was one of those numerous bands playing high quality, visionary and exciting music. Unfortunately they fell through for one or several reasons. The point, however, is that they made three wonderful yet very diverse albums. The first one being really a hard rock/prog affair, before they ventured into more symphonic territory on Keeping up (though with a very jazzy edge) and heading straight into jazz-rock on Growing.

Starting off with "Can you get that together", a rather harsh and energetic piece of jazz-rock. Slightly askew and bordering on free-form, just enough to keep it on track, it is an interesting track which I enjoy all the way through. It is a great way to start off an album. Energy, stamina and power. The two coming tracks are a bit on the mellow side. "Know who your friends are" is probably my favorite track on the album. It boasts a great first section, heading into a spacious and jazzy middle part before heading straight back into the sound which opened up the song. "Hard road" is a jazz-rock piece with distorted trumpet and energetic, almost funky feel to it. The track "Jonesy" is an instrumental affair which is a fitting testament to one of the great forgotten bands of the 70's. It leaves them hanging on a high note. (The fact that their fourth to be album got cancelled due to someone stealing the master tapes, really makes Growing their final achievement.)

To me the first album and Keeping up are the very best of the trio they made. Growing is good, there is no doubt about it. However, there is some things missing resulting in the album missing the mark ever so slightly. While it is well produced, played and full of vision I cannot feel the love for Growing as I do for the other two. Maybe I find the songs to be slightly to similar to each other? Anyway, my doubts leads me to rate this album with three stars. Good, but non essential.