TUBULAR BELLS II

At considerable risk to my own well-being, I am going to declare TB2 better than the original! (he ducks for cover - waits for the smoke to clear - re-emerges from his "spider hole"). There is no question that the original 1973 version broke down the door on what Prog concept album could and should be. TB1 is one of 25 albums that best epitomises the genre. In fact, it belongs in the top 10, if not top 5 - if for no other reason than that Mike was only 19 yrs old when he made it! Unbelievable!!! Take a bow, and take your place in the history books Mr. O

However, to his credit, as Mike got older, he got better! He became a better musician, a better composer, a better producer, etc. Oldfield was not at his peak at 19, sorry! He hadn't even developed his now signature 3-demensional, wailing-vibrato guitar sound. For crisp production, complexity, diversity, musicality, maturity, and musiciaship, TB2 is the better album, hands down. It is to TB1 what Godfather 2 is to the original. Not many people could have pulled off a better "reprise" - Mike did.

I have listened to this album over 300 times - easily. I will NEVER tire of it. The guitar, the bag pipe, the bell - beyond beautiful! By Jove (20 years later), I think he's got it! (If at first you don't succeed, try, try again). TB1 was ground-breaking and genius. TB2 is the PERFECT "variation on a theme". Of course the best of the best of MO is Amarok, but you can read my review of that another time.