MINSTREL IN THE GALLERY

For all intents and purposes I am amazed when looking back at the discography that War Child happend before Minstrel. I mean Minstrel is a superb conceptual piece and WC a bit of a mishmash albeit quality mishmash. JT produced Minstrel in 1975, the highpoint of prog creativity speaking and it demonstrates it too, really quality stuff but the song writing is just one tiny hamper short of a picnic. The title song is awesome and an eight minute classic, as is " Black Satin Dancer" but after that the album trembles a wee bit. Anderson as usual in complete control like salmon fishing on a remote loch, but the final result strays a bit. The long drawn out " Baker St' Muse" is sadly just that a tad overbaked but otherwise an excellent rare classic. Overall the album is very good. Three and a half stars.