IN THE EYE OF THE STORM

Having been such a huge Supertramp fan, I was really excited for this album when it came out, and I wasn't disappointed back then either, I thought the album was terrific. Now, many years later, I still enjoy it, but I don't love it as much as I did. It is a well crafted album, for sure, but it is an album that tends to lose it's draw after time, unlike the Supertramp album released around the same time under the direction of the other Supertramp leader, Rick Davies. That album has definitely withstood the test of time and has actually gotten better over the years. It's too bad that the two leads had to break up because they were perfect together, and they probably would have continued to produce top quality work. While Supertramp's "Brother Where You Bound" was top notch progressive rock, Roger's "In the Eye of the Storm" only retained progressiveness in the length of the songs on this album, but it is definitely a pop album, even though the music is of the best quality of pop.

If this album and "BWYB" had been release together as a double Supertramp album, we would have had a Supertramp album as good as any of their best. That would have been in a perfect world. Alas, the next albums that Roger and Supertramp put out were both mediocre attempts at trying out new sounds to fit with the 80s, and that was a sad thing.

This album, even if it does grow old after a while, is still a great album and shouldn't be totally ignored, especially by Supertramp fans. You will be satisfied with the piano led songs, that sound like they could have been written at the same time as Roger's "Breakfast in America" songs. They are still very listenable and catchy, sometimes very emotional and beautiful. Those of you that missed Roger's voice in the later years of Supertramp should try to find this album. Then do the same thing I did, make a mixtape of this and "BWYB" albums and alternate the tracks of the albums, and you will have a real Supertramp album. The opening track "Had a Dream" is some of the best Roger Hodgson music ever, and the song immediately draws you in with it's infectious rhythm and lyrics. "Give Me Love, Give Me Life", once the rhythm kicks in will also get you happy with it's bright beat and piano hooks. "Only Because of You" is also a beautiful ballad along the lines of Roger's previous lovely ballads "Lord Is it Mine" (from Breakfast in America) and "Fool's Overture" (from Even in the Quietest Moments). Unfortunately, the other tracks take on a lot of the same style and sound. The tracks "In Jeopardy" and "I'm Not Afraid" are just too repetitive, especially for the length of the songs. I think the main problem is we don't have Rick Davies to balance out the music creating more of a dynamic and variable album that was one of Supertramp's strengths.

Anyway, it's a great album, but I can't bring myself to consider it excellent or essential like I once did. It's not progressive music, it's just highly enjoyable, especially with the first several listens. For that reason, it is a worthy purchase. But, it doesn't hold up for me over the years like BWYB does. 3 stars.