GENTLE GIANT

It would seem that Gentle Giant was either developing a style or just lacked enough solid material to make a full LP; the record does seem laden with filler, be it mediocre acoustic silliness or drum soloing or avant-garde piano. However, they managed to offer a few exceptionally good songs that, weak production aside, could have fit on an album like In a Glass House. This is not the place for someone new to Gentle Giant to start, but for fans, it's an interesting look at their evolution knowing what they would do moving forward.

'Giant' A regal organ leading into an exhilarating raucous riff and Derek Shulman's unrefined voice begins a decade of musical quirkiness from Gentle Giant. Midway through, the music becomes jazzier, almost Zeuhl, with a rare appearance of a Mellotron and symphonic embellishment. 'Giant' is my favorite from this debut album.

'Funny Ways' The much softer Kerry Minnear makes his first appearance on lead vocals here in this eccentric acoustic song. The halfway mark sees the song becoming a piano and organ-led jaunty jam. Gary Green enters with a penetrating guitar solo.

'Alucard' Dracula backwards, this is a blues-inspired rocker with a huge variety of instruments in tow. In stark contrast to the zaniness, the vocals fade in eerily.

'Isn't it Quiet and Cold?' Here is a carefree acoustic number with cheery fiddle and giddy tuned percussion.

'Nothing at All' Twelve-string guitar and hushed vocals opens the longest piece like a creeping dawn. The second section features a groovy blues riff, while the consists of a drum solo from Martin Smith. After this ill-fitting interlude, the beautiful music from the beginning returns.

'Why Not' 'Why Not' juxtaposes Gentle Giant's hard blues rock with the soft pastoral music they would fuse more credibly in the future. It concludes with a standard blues jam.

'The Queen' The final track is a disappointment- a rather boring rock rendition of 'God Save the Queen' ('America the Beautiful' in the US).