MCDONALD & GILES

I liken this album to a great-looking highway that ultimately only leads you back to where you started. In other words, it doesn't take you anywhere. When this album came out in 71 it was a highly anticipated offshoot from King Crimson that promised more of the groundbreaking music that characterized that group's stellar debut record. Unfortunately, it turned out to be like your plain Jane sister in that all you can say about her to a potential suitor is that "she's really, really nice and has a sweet personality." Even the presence of the talented Steve Winwood (who succeeded with this kind of music on "John Barleycorn") couldn't breathe life into this flat piece of vinyl. It's a sure-fire cure for insomnia. I take it as a bad sign if the presence of your girlfriends/wives/mistresses on the sleeve is the best thing on the album. Obviously there are others who like this collection of songs a lot more than I do but I can honestly say I've avoided listening to it for more than three decades.