THE SNOW GOOSE

(3.5 really) I don't know how so many people believe this album is as great as they say it is. I bought this album based off all the reviews I had read and how high of a rating it had earned, and I am sad to say that I disagree with about 150 people who gave "The Snow Goose" a 4+ rating. After my fourth go-around with this album I feel that I have listened to it enough to make an adequate review. I am going to set aside the "impact on prog" factor and judge it on musical content alone (as I believe all music should be judged). This album does have its moments, but I have found that there are way too many parts that sound..... corny (for lack of a better term). It seems to occur when they try to pick up the music up to a fact tempo in songs like "The Flight of the Snow Goose," "Rhayadar" and "Rhayadar Goes to Town." I also feel this way about "Friendship." My favorite tracks are "Migration" and "Dunkirk," not including the bonus tracks. There are five bonus tracks on my CD, "Flight Of The Snow Goose (alternate single edit)," "Rhayader Goes To Town (Live 10-30-1974)," "The Snow Goose / Freefall (Live 10-30-1974)" are my other favorites. Most of the other tracks that I didn't mention ARE good, but only contribute to the feel and cycle of the album, not to its greatness (or lack of). I recommend it, but not as highly as some other reviewers would.