BREAKFAST IN AMERICA

The problem with this album isn't the pop direction that's apparent on it. Supertramp have always been a pop-infused band (at least classic Supertramp has - I'm unfamiliar with the real early, real obscure stuff). The problem is that not all the songs are good. But the strong songs on here are among their best and are their most well-known for good reason: they are HOOKY!

The title track is one of the greatest, compactest little pop tunes ever recorded. "Take the Long Way Home" has a great moment, where the piano comes in quiet and real dramatic, then gets louder, then all of a sudden the harmonica solo jumps right in full-force - it's great. And "The Logical Song" is another favorite of mine, with some of their best lyrics and an emotionally charged vocal delivery that can send shivers down your spine if you're in the right mood (especially when Hodgson repeatedly shouts, "Who I am?!?!" before the "solo" section, composed of a bunch of sound effects which don't irritate me at all as such things usually do).

And their prog ambitions haven't been completely abandoned, either. "Child in Time" is on here, and it's great - especially the end. The piano solo rules. I'd have liked a nice, heavy guitar over that, but when listening to the song at home I typically just supply my own. But there's nothing wrong with that piano solo - it just might be a little timid-sounding next to the song's overall grandiosity.

Unfortunately, the rating has to be brought down due to the inclusion of some weak tracks, particularly on Side 2. I can't hum a line from any of them except "Is it Mine?" and that one isn't very good. Still, essential if you're a Supertramp fan, and if you like sophisticated pop but are exhausted on Beatles (or even if you want to see a possible direction the Beatles might have taken had they stayed together), this album is great.