THE BRIDGE

I almost wrote a two star review of this album half a year ago. I thought better off it and I hoped I was going to find something of any value if I gave it another six months. I was wrong.

This band does not need any introduction. Their Stained Glass album thirty years ago is rightly regarded as a classic. I love that album. Where that album was very confined and strict; The Bridge branches out everywhere. The result is no good songs and a bland sound. The vocals from Stained Glass is thankfully still there. The songs are anonyme and does not register. The lack of good songs are simply the biggest problem here. The lack of charm and identity does not make this album any better. I love this band and I therefore hate this album. It simply falls flat on it's face. The frequent aimless accoustic guitar based songs does not make this album any better. There are some OK pieces here. But there is not enough of them. I wish the band had stucked to their guns and not released this bland, bland album. This is the letdown of the year.

2 stars