TRACKS FROM THE ALPS

3.5 stars. This is studio album number six for THE WATCH, and I feel that "Tracks From The Alps" is in the middle of the road when it comes to their albums. Released in 2014 we get less than 38 minutes of music over seven tracks. I rate this one about the same as their debut, and their third album "Primitive". For the record I've given up hoping that they will create another album like "Vacuum", that 2004 album that I consider a top ten neo prog album. They got everything right on that one. I got off the bus after "Seven", the album that follows this record I'm reviewing today, and it's also my least favourite of theirs.

I think the biggest surprise with this record is that they covered an obscure demo track from GENESIS from 1969 called "Going Out To Get You". GENESIS recorded it between their debut and "Trespass", and I do have it on the "extra tracks" section on that "1970-1975" GENESIS box set I own. It's kind of funny that it's my least favourite track on here though. I'm not big on the song that follows it either called "Once In A Lifetime". I do like that closer "The Last Mile" the longest at 7 1/2 minutes, but my favourite is "Devil's Bridge" which brings to mind the album "Vacuum" because it is so powerful at times, while the mellotron and Gabriel-like vocals shine.

A good album no doubt, close to 4 stars too, but this is a step down from their three best albums in my opinion.