GIANT FOR A DAY

The end of the 70s was a bit of a mixed bag for rock fans. As new acts flooded the airwaves, revitalizing what had become a somewhat stagnant, insular popular music scene, older acts were dropping like obsolete dinosaurs unable to cope in the new climate. Gentle Giant tried to metamorphose into an accessible, radio-friendly band in an effort to survive and thrive, but their attempted transformation from unique prog pioneers to purveyors of pop was largely a failure (the later CIVILIAN was arguably a more successful change in direction), and the writing was on the wall.

Now, looking back upon what has always been my least favourite GG disc, I find that 1978's GIANT FOR A DAY is not quite as lame as I had remembered it -- but neither is it particularly good. While those who came late to the band's camp may find much to praise here, long-term fans will almost certainly be disappointed with this lightweight, too-gentle Giant.

The album gets off to a rousing and promising-enough start with the infectious "Words From the Wise." It's hardly "Knots," but it's a fun, worthy enough (if "safe") addition to the Giant canon.

Things take a slower, sentimental turn on the likeable, acoustic-strummed "Thank You," which, though ostensibly a love song, could well be seen as being sheepishly directed toward the band's long-term fan base: "Thank you, for staying around so long -- though it's been hard...." A nice enough ditty, if a trifle disposable (much like the tacky "make your own mask" album art).

Next up, the rocking title cut shows flashes of the band's trademark eclecticism and humour in the manic vocals and statacco keys, and Gary Green provides some nice ringing lead guitar. Not too bad!

The instrumental (with the focus on the "mental") "Spooky Boogie" is a campy, throw-away novelty tune that evokes dancing spectres and skeleton-rib percussion. Best unearthed only for Halloween parties, this one quickly wears thin in the sober light of day.

"Take Me," despite an organ-riff intro that hearkens back to the group's heyday, is just an average pop song that again could be construed as a bit of wishful thinking on the part of the band. (I suppose even aging egghead proggers get randy at times....)

"Little Brown Bag" is an up-tempo piece with some good guitar, a driving chorus, pounding drums, and energetic vocals. One of the album's stronger tracks, this one could actually be quite good live.

The short, ballad-like "Friends'" expresses a nice-enough sentiment, but is strictly commercial, and eminently forgettable in a mediocre, innocuous way.

The reggae-tinged "No Stranger" is another mostly meatless effort that passes quickly by without making much of an impression.

"It's Only Goodbye" seems to be a sort of stab at the power ballad, but misses the mark, and overstays its welcome. The band seem to be only going through the motions with this frankly insipid piece of songwriting.

Finally, "Rock Climber" presents another take on the arena rocker, and deals (as the title suggests) with the "ladies of the road" known as groupies. Like its subject matter, this one can bring pleasure, for a time, but isn't necessarily one to "bring home to mother," and will likely leave you yearning for something deeper and more meaningful -- like FREE HAND, for instance.

So, not a terrible album, in its context, but certainly not an essential one, either. As other reviewers have indicated, GIANT FOR A DAY can "cap off" the collection of a completist, but fails to come close to the bold and brilliant progressive rock that preceded it. I thus give this music two and a half stars, but round it down to two in view of its source in a band that used to light the way, but was now content to follow. Get all the rest first -- this one is for collectors and very dedicated fans only.