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Manfred Mann's Earth Band

Eclectic Prog

3.74 | 243 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

If ever you have read some of my reviews of the Mann's work, you know that my absolute love goes to "Solar Fire".

There are little albums that are even closer to that great one (five stars IMO, and you know that I scarcely use this rating).

A fine opening number, but more than anything, a great return to some fabulous guitar breaks During "Drowning On Dry LandFish Soup" (what a title). This song really reverts with the greatest ones from the band : spacey, hard-rocking and very well inspired. My fave here.

Unfortunately, when you listen to the first part of "Chicago Institute", it is VERY difficult to bear. Actually, only a fantastic guitar break during the middle part is convincing. The rest only deserves to be trashed. I wonder how some eminent colleagues can praised this effort so much. But all taste are nature, right?

Of course, if you are into syrupy melodies, "California" is definitely for you. Needless to say that I just can consider this one as a "Press Next"T song. Again, the great guitar solo prevents this song from being a complete disaster.

And when I listen to "Davy's On The Road Again" I am just confirmed in my opinion. A hard/bluesy but uninspired number is the only "reward" you get after having listened to this track. One of the poorest of this offering.

To cut a long story short, this album is not really pleasant. The awful and popish "Martha's Madman" has NOTHING to do with the prog moments of this band. Not bad but not at all appealing.

The closing number (and another Dylan song) "Mighty Queen" is not the type of covers I can really cope with. On the contrary of "Father Of Days" of course but there are no such tunes in here.

This is not a bad album, but I really can't go over the two star rating for this work. Below average, that's it. Do not bother with this album. If ever you would need ONE "MMEB" album, I can only recommend you the great "Solar Fire".

ZowieZiggy | 2/5 | 2008-4-6

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