SHEET MUSIC

What a great album from 10cc. Their debut was really a good album, but it is with Sheet Music that they earn their place in prog archives.

The music is very elaborate and intricate when you dig into it. On first listen Sheet Music seems very commercial and not really that exciting to a prog rock fan, but try a little harder and you´ll discover that this album is more complex than many of the bands we normally consider to be progressive. There are many parts in every song but somehow 10cc makes it all sound nice and commercial. This is something really special in my opinion and something that rarely happens in pop music.

The Wall Street Shuffle starts with a rocking riff which is also played during the chorus. The vocals are really impressive in this song there are used many styles and ranges. There are also some really beautiful harmony vocals in some of the sections. The middle section with the piano reminds me of ABBA which is another very commercial band that had lots of progressive/ symphonic tendencies in their music.

The Worst Band in the World is a great song with lots on intricate vocals and vocal harmonies. There are also some time changes here to make the song exciting. This is one of the less commercial songs here. I really think this song is great.

Hotel is a crazy song with lots of wild vocals and calypso style moods. This might turn the hardcore prog rocker off but just listen to the complexity hiding behind.

Old Wild Men is a beautiful song but it´s probably one of the less progressive songs here.

Clockwork Creep might be one of the most progressive songs here. It´s complex and exciting. The vocals are outstanding and intricate and the lyrics are funny.

Silly Love is a really great rocker. It reminds me of the swedish band The Ark who probably have Sheet Music as one of their influences. It rocks really well.

Somewhere in Hollywood is a complex song in it´s own right. Very diverse.

Baron Samedi has some funny lyrics about woodoo and some great vocal harmonies. This song always gets me in a good mood.

The Sacro-Iliac took me a while to like and it´s probably the song here that sounds most like it´s a leftoer from the debut. Beautiful vocal harmonies again.

Oh Effendi is another favorite of mine. It´s just the most cheerful tune. Really a mood lifter if I ever heard one. Again there are complex parts and time signature and tempo changes.

The bonus tracks Carat Man of Means and Gismo My Way are different entities. Carat Man of Means are the least exciting song on Sheet Music but Gismo My Way is a great instrumental track that I find strange wasn´t included on the original LP. It actually sounds like the melody from Frank Zappa´s Watermellon in Easter Hay.

The lyrics has to be mentioned here too as they are of high standard and they are always delivered with a gleam in the eye not unlike Zappa at times.

The musicians playing here are outstanding and especially Eric Stewart who also mixed and produced Sheet Music is really impressive. The playing throughout the album is of high standard.

The production is godly I tell you. One of the best productions I have ever heard. It´s really enjoyable and elaborate.

This might be the best commercial album I have ever listened to and I´ve debated with myself wether this deserved 4 or 5 stars, but I have come to the conclusion that it deserves 4. This comes highly recommended from me. You´ll have to listen to believe it.