DECEPTIVE BENDS

Godley and Creme left 10cc at the beginning of the sessions and Eric Stewart, Greg Gouldman and Paul Burgess would give us Deceptive Bends. Obviously, they gave the world a great gift by doing so. I am quite sure that the annoying musical trickery that ruined Sheet Music (excluding "The Wall Street Shuffle") and most of The Original Soundtrack (definitely excluding "I'm Not in Love") was a Godley & Creme thing. Instead, Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart were excellent songwriters who, at this point, needed to lose the shadow of the trickery to stick with the real thing. The result, Deceptive Bends, features the good sides and has lost the bad sides of the 'old' 10cc. This brings it closer to Supertramp, Wings, or ELO with a witty sense of humour.

The opening track "Good Morning Judge" is not very special, but the following three ? "The Things We Do for Love" (the wonderful hit single, a classic), "Marriage Bureau Rendezvous" and "People in Love" ? are all pure gold. "Modern Man Blues" is very different, more rocking, less harmonious, but its rhythmic changes stay within the limits of good taste. The lyrics of "Honeymoon With B Troop" turn annoying now and then but the music is very good. It is followed by a hilarious piece called "I Bought a Flat Guitar Tutor", a more ordinary (but still good) number titled "You've Got a Cold", and finally the magnum opus of the album, "Feel the Benefit" which sure is overlengthy, but sounds good enough to carry the listener through all the way.

Despite not having heard each of those so far, I am very sure that Deceptive Bends is one of he best 10cc albums in my opinion. The quality of the music on this album is very high. Recommended for everyone who likes Breakfast in America, A New World Record, or Band on the Run. It also helps if you like "I'm Not in Love." Stay away if you are looking for a '70s British Mothers of Invention album. At this point that band no longer existed. If you play this you will feel the benefits. 5.0

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