CRIME OF THE CENTURY

Supertramp never were very progressive, but they have the capability to make very catchy songs. The Wurlitzer piano is quite present, as usual. On "School", the famous harmonica in the intro, the kids screaming while Roger Hodgson makes spacy electric guitar effects, the saxes, the vibraphone and the catchy rhythmic piano make this song an elaborated international number one hit! The almost hard rock "Bloody well right" has a funny wah wah guitar solo, some relax rhythmic piano & saloon piano and a couples of excellent sax solos. "Hide in your shell" has one of the most catchy refrains Supertramp made: GRAND! "Asylum" has a quite mellow and relaxing piano & lead vocals on the intro; it is a less catchy track than the other ones: it seems to have some subtle orchestral arrangements in the background: the Supertramp's style is harder to recognize on this track. The typical hammering Wurlitzer piano takes all its grandeur on the catchy "Dreamer". "Rudy" starts again with mellow & relax piano; it has some very subtle & discrete clarinet and orchestral arrangements: it almost ends with a catchy disco style: it sounds a bit like some Alan Parsons' stuff of the 70's. "If everyone was listening" has OUTSTANDING classical arrangements; a catchy echoed piano and beautiful clarinet precede a very good rhythmic refrain. "Crime of the century" has maybe a too repetitive hammering piano.

Rating: 4.5 stars