THE LAST OF THE JUBBLIES

This is not really England´s second album like so many of my friends thought at the time. it is really a collection of demos and out takes that did not made it to their debut Garden Shed and it was released some 20 years later. Of course there is no surprise to find this collection to be a patchy affair with ups and downs. There are some fine musical parts here and there, along with others that seem to be unfinished and/or underarranged.

Strange as it seems I liked several parts more than the band´s debut. Maybe because they sound less Yes clones here than when they hired Martin Henderson as bassist and singer. Not that the vocals are much better: most vocal parts are weak, but at least they are not imitating Jon Anderson. And some instrumental parts are again less derivative. Still it´s hard to think about spending your hard earned money getting this CD when there are so many other fine stuff we have in the market nowadays, new or old (in this case, a friend lended me his copy).

If you liked England´s Garden Shed then you should check this out. But only if liked that album a lot. The last Of The Jubblies is not a bad CD. But certainly this collection of demos is only good enough for hardcore fans and collectors. Two stars.