BALLAD OF A ROCK'N'ROLL LOSER

After a series of good but directionless albums, Titanic apparently chose to finally get their act together and choose a musical direction; and from the looks and sounds of it, it was going straight down the drain or the bottom of the ocean. All kidding aside, the least we can say is that the album is fairly aptly named after the musical content, but the group has got some excuses since there are further line-up changes, including the departure of bassist and main songwriter Siggs and drummer Llorck. Apparently the group had even come to separation and the rebuilding process was not that smooth, which would explain why this came out in 75. But clearly the time to sail for that boat had gone, and although the album is not as bad as one collab makes, it's definitely a letdown compared to previous works. Trouble is that when the singer becomes the main songwriter, you're usually not heading in the prog direction., .

True that there are no killer heavy Hammond-driven hard prog track like Eagle Rock in this album, and there could be half the tracks on Ballad Of A RnR Loser that could claim the quality of ballad like the opening almost-good Riding Shotgun, the rather-good title track and the delicate album-closer Don't Turn Around, which is probably my fave on this album. There is still the odd Latino feel track like Richochet, but we're far from Sultana. All of the other tracks are bluesier or countrier tracks: Honky Vagrant, The Crippler, Following A Line , Buckshee Woman, Gambler Dealer and Fly Alone. Hell, you'd think you're almost on a mid- 70's southern rock album with slide guitars, rowdy rednecks and confederate flags?.. and the good musicianship of the group makes it quite credible in that direction.

The repertoire re-issue holds the accompanying single with the non-album Sliding Down Again, an average neutral rocker, and a different version of the title track. Definitely more guitars and fewer guitars on this album, Groslie plays piano on the few tracks, but the organ goes unaccredited, but it could be him as well, but why isn't he listed as a group member then? The shorter songs are not helping much either since the space for interplay is reduced by the normal song format. Anyway here's an album for SouthernRockArchives.com, but for progheads, it's better shunned.

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