MAX WEBSTER

Any Canadian who listed RUSH as one of their favourite bands in the seventies probably also had MAX WEBSTER high on that same list. These two bands went together like bacon and eggs. If you want to know some of the RUSH / MAX WEBSTER connections check out my review of MAX's "Greatest Hits". This band truly was a Canadian phenomenon, which is probably why the 4 written reviews for this record(counting mine) were done by Canadians(Sean Trane from Belgium grew up in Toronto).

"Hangover" is even better live. Check out the distorted guitar to open as riffs follow in this great party tune. Lines like "double vision when the bars close down" were a favourite with the young partying crowd back then. Nice guitar/drum frenzy late. "Here Among The Cats" features fantastic drumming throughout and some great organ as well. Kim's vocals are so good as he sings "I keep telling everyone, everyone I shoulda been a doctor." Classic Mitchell guitar solo 2 1/2 minutes in. Zappa style vocals to end it. "Blowing The Blues Away" is a good song but it's my least favourite on the album. Watkinson(keyboards) wrote this one. The rest were written by Mitchell and Dubois. This one is more laid back and lighter. "Summer Turning Blue" opens with piano as Kim comes in with reserved and lighter vocals this time. Drums join in. How beautiful is the chorus with backup vocals. "Toronto Toros" is avante-gard and so funny. French lyrics at times with strange and humorous vocal styles. It also rocks like hell with organ. Love the line after 3 1/2 minutes "no cigarettes, no ah matches" with that fake accent.

"Coming Off The Moon" sounds incredible, simply a feel good song. The guitar tone is perfect and check out the drums 2 1/2 minutes in. "Only Your Nose Knows" is an uptempo,catchy track. Guitar and drums are outstanding. "Summer's Up" really describes what I think of when I think of MAX WEBSTER, and that is summer, and having a great time. He sings the word "sunrays" a lot. Some nice bass lines in this one. When he sings in a lower voice about winter and how magic(summer) is on the way, i'm sure only us Northerners can really appreciate the expectations we have for spring and summer after months of snow and cold. I like when the piano comes in late, so summer-like. "Lily" was written by Kim without Dubois this time. What can i say about this one. If you could only feel how it makes me feel inside no words would be necessary. When Kim cries "Lily come near me, Lily come sit near me", it's one of the most heartbreaking lines in music for me. This song is so progressive as well, with all the tempo and mood changes. I really think this is MAX WEBSTER's finest hour(almost 8 minutes) right here. The guitar solo after a minute reminds me of Zappa. Perhaps Mithell's best solo ever before 7 minutes that goes on and on. He's a killer guitar player as our own King By-tor will attest.

Hard to be biased with this one, but 4 stars easily.