SEFRONIA

After the semi success of Greetings, a quick return to the studio was in order, but further management "corrections" were asked of Tim, but also ex-Zappa producer Randell who will be catastrophic in production, direction and songwriting throughout the album. First the album sounds flat (something Greetings and Starsailor hadn't), but the choice to change from the white funk of Greetings to a second-rate singer/songwriter. In some ways, the new-coming or returning fans didn't even compensate the alienation of Tim's hardcore experimental fans

The only largesse Tim was allowed on this album were the two covers, the first being Fred Neil's Dolphins (correct but over-produced) and the trad folk Sally Go Round the Roses (nothing exciting or medieval-sounding), but little else. He was even forced to allow the producer writing a (poor) song I Knew I'd Recognize Your Face, where some chick sings at his place and it was turned into one of those duets, drowning in clichés and intrusive string arrangements. Easily the worst crap to be found on a Buckley album. Other brilliant ideas of Randall was to turn Tim into a Sinatra-crooner (Martha) crawling under tons of cheeeeeeeeesy strings or dumb production effects.

Much less catastrophic is the subtle Because Of You, where Tim's voice is actually suited for that type of song, even if the strings arrangements ruin it. Much stranger is the very weird peanut Man which features plenty of voice experimentations, but Tim is not alone in singing it, which of course ruins whatever interest the old guard might have had. Only three tracks save the album a tad, the harder rocking Honey Man (much better in its live version), Quicksand (a later concert favourite) and Stone To Love (might just be the better track of the album) and while the two-part Beckett-penned title track, a slow developing track where Tim manages some good sustain moments in the building up of the mid- tempo of the track (these were one of the rare freedom Tim was allowed with his voice), and while a tad syrupy (cheesy strings), there is slightCarribean feel to the music.

Tim then gracefully went on the road and even crossed Genesis' path on late TV Midnight Special, but the album also failed (this understandably so, since it wasn't near as good as Greetings was) to sell due to some disputable promotion and leaving Tim wondering if this was really worth it to sell his soul for so few rewards (he was just keeping afloat, paying debts), and to speak quite frankly, while Sefronia is not that bad, I am also wondering if it was worth. To ask the question is already answering, right???

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