NICE [AKA: EVERYTHING AS NICE AS MOTHER MAKES IT]

The problem with most of the reviews is that they take the Nice out of context, and having only hindsight missed the unfolding story. Firstly these guys where pioneers, and there simply wasn't anybody doing what the NICE made their bread and butter. This is not techno-flash, but rather some young men learning how to play progressively. Who cares if Lee's vocals are not up to the standard of Greg Lake, he wasn't yet around, but when ELP played they played on the shoulders of the work done here. And what a body of work it is, this was the period when bands worked their nuts off to make a honest living. There wasn't yet stadium rock, but there was this impressive little Jazz-rock band from England, that managed to shock the Americans.

The Nice was a whopping great statement of intent, and we should recognize their importance in the history of Progressive Rock Music.

So lets review the CD.

There are several variations available, but the Majority have additional tracks.

Much of the material on this collection is quite late in the bands history. She belongs to me is by far my favorite track, but other highlights include Hang on to a dream, which showcases Emerson's wonderfully lyrical piano. Rondo 69, is a joy and would be one of the few tracks to make the jump to ELP. Diary of an empty, indeed has some rather raw vocals.

The recordings are rather muddy which is a shame, and this sometimes lets the set down. Worth 4 Stars, but only just, and there are better The Nice Records and anthologies.