GENTLE GIANT

After listening to the Phil Shulman interview series of podcasts as collected by Phil's son, Damon, and grandson, Elliot, I felt inspired to review all of the Phil-era Gentle Giant albums, starting with this one. Then I was surprised to find that I had never written a review of this album.

My impressions, as I now listen to this debut album, cover how I can now hear the acknowledged influences of bands like The Beatles, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, and Black Sabbath (and even uncredited bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, as well as standard blues and blues-rock bands--especially when guitarist Gary Green is given the front-and-center position). I can also hear, at times, the incredible diversity of influences/training in Kerry Minnear's background coming out in the music here.

What I hear that is so innovative is the intricacies and subtleties in the music, instrumental performances, and multi-voiced vocal arrangements. Like listening to the youthful exuberance of contemporaries, Mont (later "Dirk") Campbell, Clive Brooks, and Dave Stewart in the band EGG, I am blown away by the vision and virtuosity of these musicians. I like the lyrical content, too, literature-inspired as they are. As always, I feel so blown away and privileged to hear the vocal and compositional talents of Kerry Minnear. He should be revered as an Olympian-- maybe Orpheus.

The talent and innovative courage of these artists, as expressed collaboratively in these eight songs, I feel are fully deserving of a five star rating; there are not many debut albums in history that are as polished and groundbreaking as this one--yet one can also feel how all of these experiments and adventures are being pieced together by youths who were trying to find their style, their voice--who were fully aware of the experimental nature of their song productions--perhaps even experimenting for the sake of experimenting. Also, with the advantage of hindsight (knowing the band's full discography and, thus, arc of evolution), I know that the music on this album is very loose and unpolished when compared to the songs to come on future albums. Again, when you get virtuosos collaborating and performing together, there are bound to be impressive and magical moments and passages.

While I appreciate the talent and skill of blues-trained guitarist Gary Green, I am not a fan of this Martin Barre sound/style in progressive rock music. The final two songs of this album, therefore, are, to my tastes, the two weakest songs on the album--despite "Why Not?"'s virtuosity and innovative splicing together of multiple styles.

I actually really like the flanged drum solo in the middle of the otherwise gorgeous C,S,N&Y-like "Nothing at All." Also, as I listen to this song, I lose a little respect for the band Wobbler because of their lifting parts of this, almost note for note, for use on several songs on their "Rites at Dawn" album (especially considering these passages happen to be the absolute high points for me on that album).

Had this been the band's only album, we may all be talking about the "untapped potential" exhibited herein. If this were The Beatles' final album, I have no doubt that we would be lauding it as "yet another masterpiece." I feel thankful that Gentle Giant stuck together another ten years (even making it through eldest brother Phil's departure in 1973). The fact that the Shulman brothers, Kerry Minnear, and Gary Green were able to find common enough ground to produce eight masterful albums over the decade is not only remarkable in and of itself but also a gift to posterity whose value is, in my opinion, of inestimable value. And it all starts here!

As evidence of the genius of the creative spirit of the "new" progressive rock music "movement," I cannot see calling this landmark album anything less than "essential" and, therefore, it must also be considered a masterpiece.