NIGHTINGALES & BOMBERS

This is either Manfred Mann's Earth Band's best album, or at the very least, the best one from the Mick Rodgers era. This is of course coming from someone who has only heard the stuff from their first album through Somewhere In Africa, and only half of Glorified Magnified, Messin', and Solar Fire, not to mention the fact that this was the last one I aquired before losing everything, so I'm less familiar with it than their others. That being said, the album made such a strong impression on me that I don't hesitate to say it's my favorite of theirs that I've heard, and that it seems to encompass all that the band has to offer. If I'm ever able to rise above this dark conspiracy against me, I will buy another copy of Nightengales and Bombers and write a more detailed review, but for the time being, I will say that this one includes some of Chris Slade's best durmming, and Colin Pattenden's most dynamic and creative bass work, and some of their absolute best original songs. The whole album has a very cohesive feel and sound to it, and it's unique in their catalogue as possessing the more thick, layered keyboard sound but with Mick Rodgers searing guitars and lead vocals. Might I also add that some of Rodgers' best singing can be found here as well. I really like "Countdown" and "Crossfade", especially the way Mann uses the moog to portray really outer space-type landscapes, and the song "Time Is Right" is a good combination of this new sound and a throwback to some of their earlier albums. "Visionary Mountains" is, of course, a great cover, but what really stands out to me is that when you're a prog fan and you hear the Earth Band's version of a Springsteen song like "Spirits In the Night", and then you go back and hear how drastically different the original sounded, their skill in taking others' song to their own unique musical worlds is rapturously awakening. I think "As Above So Below" is a great way to end the album, and even "Fat Nelly" is enigmatic: are they actually making fun of someone for being overweight, or is it a jab at the dated idea of making fun of someone for it? Either way, a great jam by the band. This is a highly entertaining album with a wonderfully inviting sound. Long live moog sweeps.