THE PLEASURE AND THE PAIN

After their breakout with Closer Together, the Box seemed on the verge of stardom in Canada, with doors opening for them in Europe. Their singles & videos were regularly played on radio & our own MTV - Much Music. Indeed, Much Music had even produced a one hour special on the band. Part retrospective & bio, but also an overview of this new release, that was expected to send the little band from Quebec onto the world stage.

The lead single - Carry On - was catchy. At least the first few times you heard it. But the enthusiasm faded quickly as the song didn't have the substance to bear repeated listens.

The rest of the album ... well as much as it continued on the european sophistication in sound that they had achieved on much of Closer Together, the songs themselves never quite matched the symphonic beauty of compositions like Crying Out Loud For Love or Emilie. Yes, there was still a melancholic & romantic air about, but the style was not supported by the substance that they had shown in the previous release. As if what had flowed naturally from the music, now was squelched by thinking about it.

So, it's not a bad album. If you enjoy the last few Marillion albums, especially the moods created, and you have a taste for quality pop music, you may find this to be worth a listen.

But for me, it's ended up as the fall off the cliff in a very promising band's upward ascent.