A QUESTION OF BALANCE

The psychedelic sounds of the 60s were a faded dream and now the Moodies enter the 70s with a more commercial sound with one or two good songs and a lot of drivel. The first two tracks blitzed the charts in some small measure but the rest were a forgettable bunch of mediocrity as bad as the band would get. I think they ran out of ideas and this formula of existentialist poetic lyrics, soaring vocals and mellotron was not working anymore. It worked on the debut and the next few albums but this is a dismal failure. I listened to this at some one's house and ended up discarding all but the first two tracks.

"Why do we never get an answer When we're knocking at the door?" I will admit unreservedly that 'Question' is one of the greatest Moody Blues songs and I am stunned by the musicianship and the magical lyrics that never fail to lift my spirits; "And when you stop and think about it, You won't believe it's true, That all the love you've been giving, Has all been meant for you, I'm looking for someone to change my life, I'm looking for a miracle in my life, And if you could see what it's done to me, To lose the love I knew Could safely lead me through..." Beautiful, simply soul stirring stuff. That's where it ended for me I am sorry to say.

"How is it (we are here)" is fair as far as the melody goes, I love Pinder's lyrics on this that are poetic and thought provoking; "Men's mighty mine-machines, Digging in the ground, Stealing rare minerals Where they can be found, Concrete caves with iron doors, Bury it again, While a starving, frightened world Fills the sea with rain."

However, I am perplexed as to why the rest of this album is uninspired mumbo jumbo without a shred of memorable melody unless you count 'Melancholy Man'; "I'm a melancholy man, That's what I am, All the world surrounds me, And my feet are on the ground." This! Coming from the creators of "Nights in White Satin!" when compared to the quintessential classic and the material on this album the band are at polar opposites.

I am lost for words at how disappointing it was to hear this saccharine soaked mediocrity. Let's keep it real. 2 stars for collectors and the opening track.

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