LONG DISTANCE VOYAGER

An fair-weather fan of The Moody Blues (I appreciated and respected their music but only ever liked a handful or two of their songs), I had to jump on the band wagon for this album because of the new "partnership (one that was to sadly go sour) with keyboard god PATRICK MORAZ. The chemistry worked for me as the now-keyboard heavy song production pleased me. Side one received its share of play-thrus during the winter and spring of 1982. Today I listen with interest but without much enjoyment--it sounds very dated in the typical 1980's way. Like always, the VANGELIS-like opening lures one in but then the semi-Country-Pop (Jimmy Webb-like) guitars, drums, and vocals take over.

Best songs: 2. "Talking Out of Turn" (7:18) (8/10); 10. "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" (3:18) (8/10) 8. "Painted Smile" (7/10); the AMERICA/ELO-like 7. "Nervous" (5:45) (7/10), and; 4. "In My World" (7:22) (7/10).