MASQUE - SONGS AND PLANETS

Manfred Mann's Earth Band

Eclectic Prog

2.37 | 80 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

THE SOLAR FIRE IS NOT SHINING ANY LONGER

This is the last album of the Mann's second incarnation. And actually, they should better have called it quit before this one.

It is a very painful and useless work full of pop-rock-easy-listening music (well not that easy to listen to actually). Mann offers a bit of everything here (except great or even good songs).

Some orchestrations with "Hymn", some pure jazzy and fifties oriented song ("Sister Billies Bounce"- one of the weakest of the whole - and its counterpart "Billies Orno Bounce"), some syrupy ballads "We're Going Wrong" (which I confirm) and "What You Give Is What You Get" (considering this, I'm afraid that they won't get a lot.), and the third one "Rivers Run Dry" is just as insipid as the other two.

What else? An inconsistent and ambient brass instrumental track: "Planets Schmanets" (even if the spacey short second part is a little better), boring electro beat tunes like "Geronimo's Cadillac" (this one is particularly unbearable). And "A Couple of Mates" doesn't go anywhere (sax part is hard to digest).

So what's left? Very little, I'm afraid. I like moderately the opener "Joybringer" (which was apparently available on some versions of the great "Solar Fire", but not on my old vinyl copy). Pleasant rock ballad with some good synth work.

The longest track of this work is just average. At least "Telegram To Monica" features some good vocals and the melody is catchy. But it is not very much in line with their best material. But this was a loooooong time ago.

Sorry, Mann. I don't like this album at all. Your weakest effort. By far: one star.

ZowieZiggy | 1/5 | 2008-4-14

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