MUSIC IN A DOLL'S HOUSE / FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

Interesting, most folks go for the bonuses at the end. Of course, this compilation is chronological, ain't it? And so, before Doll's House, the saga of Family begins with these two sides of a single, both quite nice.

First things first, the opening to "Scene Through the Eye of a Lens" is remarkably pretty. Folksy little bits here and there...and then it transfoms into a psycho rocker! Emphasis on "psycho," mind you, not on "rocker." Don't want you expectin' nothing too heavy. Big ole Eastern influence, goofy woodwinds, cool drum bashing. Doesn't last long enough to become anything though.

"Gypsy Woman," despite the mystical name, is a down and dirty blooz rocker. It's the better of the two for sure, with some very cool guitar and harmonica, and plenty more kit bashing. It also doesn't last too long, but it doesn't need to.

Oddly (or perhaps not so oddly) enough, you can hear the roots of the masterful bombast of Music in a Doll's House (which you'll hear next anyway) in these tracks. In fact, were they on that album, perhaps I'd think more of them (yeah, I know, I'm biased. Show me a reviewer who ain't, I dares ya!).

All in all, this compilation is a very nice way to get both of Family's first albums. Suitably pretentious (excuse me, I mean "fairly extensive") liner notes to boot. But I somehow doubt that anyone but the Family diehards (are you out there?) would truly need to hear either of the bonuses, or honestly want to look at THAT many pictures of Roger Chapman's balding pate.