GLORIFIED MAGNIFIED

Glorified Magnified is the 2nd album of the band and it shows. It shows a band trying to find the balance between the heavier guitars and the lead man(n)'s keys. The balance between showing strong musicianship and writing (or covering) good songs. By no means is it a bad album. Actually it grows on the listener after a couple of listens. But it never gets off the earth (pun unintended!), never really excites.

And let's get one thing straight. It is not a prog album, although it has its proggier moments. It could be better classified under a term such as 70s heavy rock or something like that. So it has to be reviewed for what it is and not what it isn't. Having said that, I think the best parts of the album are still the ones that are not guitar dominated. "One Way Glass" on the mellower side of things and the title track on the more adventurous side. From the more typical 70s guitar driven rockers I would have to go with "I'm Gonna Have you All" (which also has a strong keyboard section at the end). Actually I have the impression that this is the only one that would fit on the later band releases.

As for the individual players, the first thing to notice is that Manfred, while not absent, is not really the centre of it all. He shines only in certain moments. To be sure, throughout the band's career he was never dominant like, say, Keith Emerson, but still you could tell who is the leader. On this album this is not the case. Normally this would not be a bad thing, but the space he leaves for Mick Rogers' guitar, while not exactly poorly covered, leaves the listener wanting. Rogers playing is adequate and he takes a few longer solos here and there, like on "Look Around". His playing looks towards Alvin Lee or a bit of Duane Allman, but he surely lacks the imagination of the former and the technical abilities of the latter. Also lacks the sophistication of, say, Peter Green. In general, it lacks! The rythm section, while not spectacular, is solid and especially Chris Slade's playing is very enjoyable.

All in all, GM is a good album on its own, but doesn't even hint towards the direction the band would take. It has its moments, but it is still very unlikely to become your favourite...