TRUTH

I've had this album ever since I can remember listening to music and although it's a definite classic Truth is by no means a great album. It's weird realizing this after having this album in my collection for so long but it's a realization that I'm sticking to from now on.

I've never really been a fan of straight-forward blues compositions and Rod Stewart's voice can get somewhat irritating after the first few tracks. This criticism is only strengthened by the fact that the album has some really great material on it. Shapes Of Things and Let Me Love You are two nice opening tracks that work well but that doesn't really say much because most of these compositions would probably have worked no matter of the performing artist. Still it's the artist's responsibility to polish the material and make it shine, but that's where Truth is missing the mark for me.

A good example of this is You Shook Me. Although this album was released five months before Led Zeppelin released their version of the track on their debut album there isn't any comparison between the two versions. It's almost as if these takes were polar opposites of each other where Led Zeppelin were pushing for a new over-the-top approach while Jeff Beck's album had the more straight forward and really uninspired take.

Having said that this album does have some rare instances where the material really shines. Beck's take on Greensleeves is the most emotionally charged piece on this entire album and together with Beck's Bolero they make me wish for an entirely instrumental set for this release. This was of course not to be and what we are left with is a mixed bag that will most probably be more appreciated by rock/blues enthusiast than fans of progressive music.

Still I wouldn't call Truth a completionists only release because I believe this album could appeal to enthusiast of the early rock music and its development. Although one definitely would have to be a huge genre fan to truly appreciate this material.

***** star songs: Greensleeves (1:51)

**** star songs: Shapes Of Things (3:21) Let Me Love You (4:45) Ol' Man River (4:02) Beck's Bolero (2:55)

*** star songs: Morning Dew (4:43) You Shook Me (2:33) Rock My Plimsoul (4:15) Blues Deluxe (7:34) I Ain't Superstitious (4:57)