CRIME OF THE CENTURY

Crime of the century is one of those "special" albums. It comes from a band that isn't progressive by definition, and the album itself isn't pure progressive, but there's just something about this album that catches people, including me, and makes them fall in love with it. I can't put my finger on what it is, maybe it's the overly catchy songs, piano riffs and guitar leads, maybe it's the diversity in sound ranging from each song, I don't know, what I do know is that it's one of my favourite albums of all time. Each song, yes. even dreamer, is amazing in its own respect; maybe you're bloody well right to a lesser extent.

School is incredible, it's catchy, heavy, melodic, and soft, it's everything. I fell in love with the two sounds that book this album, one of them being the harmonica riff at the beginning of school; it fits so well and adds so much to the album, the other being the piano riff at the end of crime of the century.

You're bloody well right is a very good song, but falls short in quality when compared to the rest of the album. I like the middle section of this song a lot, but like I said nothing incredible.

Hide in your shell is possibly my favourite song on this album. It has so much passion and emotion, the simplicity of it always catches me off guard, I ask myself how such a simple song could be this incredible, well it is and I love it.

Asylum is another very good song with a lot of passion and emotion once again. Like every other song, it's very catchy, yet you never get bored of it, incredible.

Dreamer begins side two. Many people bash this song, saying it's too poppy. I like it; I think you need to hear it in context, with all the other songs to appreciate it. Don't get me wrong, I don't see this song as a masterpiece of music, but it is very good in its own respect.

Asylum is one of those slow progressive tracks that build up to a climax. This track is close contender for my favourite of this album, along with hide in your shell.

The two last tracks, if everyone was listening and crime of the century rarely get as much recognition as the other ones, but in reality they are just as good and incorporate all the great aspect the other songs have. The ending piano line in crime of the century sends shivers down my spine. When I hear it, I feel like I've accomplished something, listening to this album in it entirety is something to be proud of.

A masterpiece from an unexpected source, this album will grow on whoever listens to it.