CRIME OF THE CENTURY

A timeless classic for a reason! There are bands that at a certain point in their career release albums that simply go on to transcend their age or just define their entire body of work with the sheer excellence and apex creativity, pieces of work that mark the pivotal point in which the stars align and a group of immensely talented musicians go on to create something with a seemingly divine touch, something that sounds strikingly good in any decade - Supertramp's 'Crime of the Century' is one such album, recorded and released in 1974, this is the band's third studio LP, one of the most comprehensive and cathartic albums to have ever graced the ranks of rock music.

Whether you are in for the pop-tinted sing-along pieces of Roger Hodgson, or the heavier prog-infused compositions of Rick Davies, this album will certainly satisfy the needs of even the most pretentious of rock connoisseurs with its mind-blowing musicianship, the fantastic, intellectual and sometimes provocative lyrics, the graceful songwriting and the unforgettable suspense of the longer songs, alongside the moments of joyous climaxes, present in numbers on this record. As for the songs on 'Crime of the Century', we can safely state that the album is packed with 70s classics - opener 'School' is one of the most recognizable songs by Supertramp, a beautiful build-up at the beginning leads to the vibrant verse, with Hodgson's fabulous singing impressing all along the way; 'Bloody Well Right' is another more accessible number, this time having Davies singing the leads; we could say it is his attempt at writing an upbeat pop hit. Then things become a hair more serious with the 7-minute 'Hide in Your Shell', a gorgeous philosophical exploration with dreamy keyboards and stunning musicianship. Side one concludes with Davies' 'Asylum', a very strong prog rocker, absolutely theatrical and contrasting starkly with the more lightweight tone of the previous songs.

Side two opens with 'Dreamer', a song that needs no introduction. Then comes the fabulous 'Rudy', probably the best song on the whole record (this is an entirely subjective statement, of course) with the jazz-tinted playing of Rick Davies, and the gradual unfolding of the whole composition into a cinematic prog rock fiesta that could easily rival the strongest moments of Yes, King Crimson or ELP. 'If Everyone Was Listening' is a lovely Roger Hodgson piece, a bit more mellow that the rest of his songs on this 1974 classic album, and finally there is the title track - a wholesome ending to a very otherworldly listening experience, and another very strong example of these musicians' impeccable abilities to write engaging, magical songs, full of essence and charming charisma.

I firmly believe that everything about 'Crime of the Century' has already been said; What is left for us now is just to embrace its qualities, and praise the immense beauty of this 44-minute stellar release that showcases how intense and flamboyant the crossover between prog rock and pop could be - intricate, layered, suspenseful, melodic and maybe happily melancholic, this album is one of those very special LPs that could be tagged 'perfect', depending on how you perceive it and how open-minded you are.