CRIME OF THE CENTURY

I'm really amazed to see so much praise for this band and album by so many prog reviewers. Not that this is a poor album by any means. But I would expect such scores on a similar site but then for pop albums. It's still beyond me what this band is doing on our site. I will not go into this too deep because that's against the rules but to me Supertramp is indeed a prog related band at best.

And therefore I don't understand why our prolific reviewers get carried away by this release. I will go into the songs briefly and then mainly about their progressive content.

School is actually one of the most popular songs ever in Holland if a top 100 of all time is played on the radio here. It's always there and sometimes even amongst the first twenty. But that's for at least 90% pop music, albeit the better pop music in history, I will not deny that. School is a very good pop song with prog leanings. But that's about it. 3*.

Bloody well Right is a different ball game. This is plain pop to me. Maybe nice as well but where progressiveness is concerned this scores very low. 2* for PA.

Hide in your Shell has a little bit of progressiveness in it but not much. Kind of catchy and nice for the ears but nothing groundbreaking. 2,75*.

Asylum is a bit more suited for a progressive website but still it's miles away from what it should be. Well, at least it's not a downright chorus stanza chorus stanza song. I can't deny there's a certain class about this album but that't not enough I feel. 3*.

Dreamer is the most poppy track on the album. Can't believe some give even this one the benefit of the doubt. Forgettable track. 1,5*.

Rudy is the fourth track that deserves respect and belongs to the better half of the album. Good composition but still more like pop in Van Morrison style than prog. After 4 minutes one suddenly gets treated at Philly sound believe it or not. Versatile track but no more than 3 stars.

If Everyone was Listening is a nice ballad but also here I fail to see where the prog is to be heard. So again just 2,5*.

Crime of the Century. This title track is the only song I can understand why it's legitimate to call Supertramp at least somewhat progressive. This is one of my all time favourite tracks by the band . But even this can't be called a die hard prog song, just slightly. But it's very good at least. 3,5*.

But it will not be able to save the album from a poor rating. For a pop site I could rate this 3 or 3,5 but if I realize this is progarchives I will have to round down I'm afraid. Good album though especially for their fans.