JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH

I was never sure what to make of this album when I first purchased it. On the one hand, I love orchestral music, but on the other, the thought of an ostentatious orchestra with Moog solos and clavichord somehow didn't quite appeal to me. That said, I wasn't utterly disappointed, but there are two very dreadful aspects to this album: The first is the narration. I'm sorry, but narration is generally awfully cheesy, especially when a story should be effectively conveyed in the music and lyrics (if applicable). Otherwise, I'll read the book, thanks. The second is the vocal sections. I remember thinking that I was listening to Linda Ronstadt music ("Blue Lagoon" occasionally would spring to mind), and the vocals are garbled and not very good at all. While that doesn't mean I don't like it necessarily, the vocal passages simply do not fit the overall tenor of the album. Then again, a lot of the music doesn't exactly fit, such as how one part is a bluesy section with a guitar solo backed by a clavichord. The second half is more symphonic, yet somehow not as interesting, as the synthesizer solos seem forced upon the opus. An orchestra doesn't necessarily make something breathtaking. A dozen keyboards with a master player doesn't necessarily make something grand. A piece of literature doesn't necessarily make for a marvelous musical interpretation. And, as I learned a long time ago, capes don't make heroes, even if they have sequins. Much like tossing a large supreme pizza, a Samuel Adams, an ice cream cone, and a beautiful woman in a blender, combining so many good things doesn't necessarily produce a wonderful result.