GRAVE NEW WORLD

This album puts on display a more acoustic, more raw rock version of the Strawbs. It also exhibits a more 60s-sounding production value. I happen to enjoy this less-electric enmeshed sound--it makes for a much more consistent sounding and feeling album. Though the band would peak, in my opinion, with the perfectly blended Ghosts in three years, Grave New World is a wonderful album of truly folk-founded progressive rock.

Total Time: 41:07

Five star songs: powerful in its emotional sincerity yet slightly bombastic is the anger-filled lamentation, 5. "New World" (4:13) (10/10); the wonderful anthem of optimism and gratitude, 1. "Benedictus" (4:25) (9.5/10); Dave Cousins' gorgeous, sensitive folk solo, 2. "Hey Little Man... Thursday's Child" (1:06) (9/10), and; the Jethro Tull/"Norwegian Wood"/Bob Dylan-like, 4. "Heavy Disguise" (2:53) (9/10).

Four star songs: the keyboard-driven rocker, 8. "Tomorrow" (4:49) (8.5/10); the pop harmony vocals, lyrics, and guitar base of 9. "On Growing Older" (1:56) (8.5/10); the nice Blue Weaver piano-accompanied solo, 12. "The Journey's End" (1:35) (8.5/10); 3. "Queen of Dreams" (5:32) with it's spooky middle interlude of psychedelia (8/10); the reprise of #2, 6. "Hey Little Man... Wednesday's Child" (1:07) (8/10); tho oft-verlooked anti-war song, 7. "The Flower and the " (4:18) with its wonderful harmonies and in the lead vocal (8/10); the Indian instrumented (sitar, harmonium, & tablas) George Harrison-influenced, 11. "Is It Today, Lord" (3:08) (8/10), and; the fun, Monty Python-like farming whist, 10. "Ah Me, Ah My" (1:26) (8/10).

A solid four star album; B; an excellent addition to any prog rocker's music collection.