ACQUIRING THE TASTE

One of the things that I like a lot in Acquiring the Taste is that it is maybe the best mix of Gentle Giant music with some free experimentation that comes straight from the late sixties, that would mostly disappear from their music in their subsequent albums, as they settled to the "traditional Gentle Giant sound".

I know it is a bit weird talking about "traditional" Gentle Giant sound, but in all complexities of their music, they had more or less a framework of elements they would switch to and from in their songs. Not so much in Acquiring the Taste. There is still some of the raw experimentation of their debut, including songs with that typical late sixties structure of verse, chorus, long instrumental interlude for solos, verse and chorus again, or drum solos, hard rock and acid guitar sounds, experimentation with synthesizers, backward tapes, woodwind and strings reminiscent of psychedelic orchestral passages... this all makes the album very interesting.

Although some songs don't hold very well, like Plain Truth, which sounds a bit stretched, or Pantagruel Nativity's intro, which seems out of place. Both most of the album is quite interesting, sounds refreshing, and you can really feel a bit of what they were talking in the pretentious liner notes. Although they not always make it right, it is really great to hear their progressive style mixed with some experimentation. There are some songs, like Black Cat, which already sound more like their trademark style and they are great as well.

I kinda have a penchant for albums that sound a bit transitional and this is no exception. Acquiring the Taste is one of my favorite Gentle Giant albums. Maybe not too technical or flawless, but more exciting with their improvisations.