PAMPERED MENIAL

I had this album many years ago and although we all liked "Julia" back then in early 1980s, I did not pay much attention to the whole LP. Recently I got it in mp3 format but was suspicious of how it might sound today. I did not expect much.

What a neglect! This is a wonderful album! It strikes me how good it sounds even nowadays. Music on "Pampered Menial" still proves to be inventive and intelligent, moving between the styles of say, CURVED AIR, COCKNEY REBEL and ROXY MUSIC (although slightly less experimental than the latter ones and more melodic in a "symphonic" way). I would surely recommend this album to every serious prog listener.

It is interesting how low this album rates at Allmusic portal, obviously due to the reviewer's dislike of Surkamp's voice. Granted - his singing is really an acquired taste; you love it or hate it. But, it does not bother me. Perhaps I used to listen to "Julia" very often in my teens so I guess, I acquired that strange taste for Surkamp's high pitch timbers. But, that frequent comparison with Geddy Lee of RUSH is pointless in my opinion. Lee's vocal truly is horrible for my ears while RUSH was always too boring for my taste, which I cannot say for PAVLOV'S DOG - at least for this debut LP.

Loads of Mellotron and violins should satisfy most demanding prog experts, while tasteful arrangements make crossover between progressive attitude and pop song format. "Julia", "Late November" and "Song Dance" stand out as sort of hits, but the entire album is extremely tasteful work.

PERSONAL RATING: 4,5/5

P.A. RATING: 5/5