TOMORROW'S BLUES

Just as the studio album that was released after the '94-reunion concert, this one is just as unsurprising as its predecessor. This album will likely remain the last one (in studio anyway) with Colosseum's No 2-man Dick Hecktall-Smith's recent passing away. Although the sextet were still touring regularly around the world since that reunion (this writer saw them three times after the turning of the century) and for the last 12 years, these guys concentrated mostly on their historical tracks in concert, and they rocked solidly.

Much cannot be said of their latest two studio albums, even if they arte impeccably played, the songwriting is a far cry from what is used to be in their heyday. As the title will hint at you, you should not expect any thing wild or progressive on this one as their previous: you get warned it is blues and you get blues. Not that the album is bad, quite on the contrary, but their studio writings and the energy of their songs are nothing that a proghead might want to consider anything remotely close to essential. The two Greenslade-penned instrumentals being the highlights of the album, but by no means are they any prog even if Arena In The Sun has jazzy twists and . An amusing and surprising fact is that Colosseum still require Beat Poet Pete Brown's lyrics on a few tracks (four I think), but his lyrics are not quite as impressionistic as in his heyday also

Do not get me wrong, if you are to acquire the album, the fan will find many good qualities to this record and as time goes by with repeated listening, he might even have a place in his heart for such an album, but the the demanding fan will likely avoid spinning this album more than a few times. Only my utter respect for these guys will make me say that I like the album enough for a three star, but by no means is it essential for the proghead in any way, shape or form!!