YOUNG MEN GONE WEST

City Boy

Prog Related

3.31 | 34 ratings

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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

Getting led astray

I must admit I was surprised to find City Boy appearing on this site, my experience of them being largely based on their only major hit single, "5705". That track is of course a simple, catchy pop number without a hint of prog. "Young men gone west" was the first City Boy album to see a change in the line up, with Tony Braunagel sitting in on drums for the departed Roger Kent. Braunagel would not actually join the band though, and no drummer is credited on the album sleeve.

This album does not quite follow the pop ethos of ten songs, five on each side of the album, but only in that there are six tracks on side two! Apart from that, what we have here is sophisticated pop of the 10CC variety, pure and simple. There is a sort of overall concept to the album which mainly focuses on a young man's experiences with ladies of ill repute.

The opening "Dear Jean (I'm nervous)" is the longest and best arranged song on the album, with a fine guitar ending. Incidentally, the LP sleeve mixes up the track order of the first two songs, showing the second song "Bordello night" as the opener. The 10CC similarities are most evident on tracks such as "Honeymooners" with its clever lyrics and jaunty, shuffling melody and "The runaround" which features high range melodies.

It is difficult to pick out highlights here, if one track appeals to you, chances are they all will. The theme of the album though is rather appropriate, as here City Boy are being led astray from any prog sensibilities which might have been present on their earlier albums, into the crowed arena of sophisticated pop.

Easy Livin | 2/5 | 2007-9-6

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