NICE [AKA: EVERYTHING AS NICE AS MOTHER MAKES IT]

The Nice

Symphonic Prog

3.26 | 111 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

I am rather embarrassed with this third "Nice" album.

If song writing has never been a major asset of the band, they quite surpassed themselves in this one which is only their third album. We are used to experience this characteristic while a band has recorded several albums and that they don't have the same amount of inspiration or that they change from musical style to be in-line with the ambient environment.

But this can absolutely not be the case for "The Nice". They only recorded two albums prior this one (of which half of "Ars Longa" is based on a classical theme) and they actually invented a genre on their own. Creativity should have been at its peak.

Unfortunately, all that we get here are some covers (even if "Hang On To A Dream" holds a fine melody), some existing songs in another format and two (yes 2) new compositions which are only remarkable for Keith's work. He saves whatever could be saved (even if his two band mates are quite skilled as well).

Vocals are mostly dreadful and destroys partially a track as For Example which has definitely some good merits.

The live part of this album is the one I prefer the most; probably because it shows how performing and wild "The Nice" could be during a live performance. This "Rondo" version is quite a ride and should please any ELP fan but to be honest, the Dylan cover ("She Belongs To Me") can't be considered as a great moment of music. Improvised, loose and way too long (but this is a good example of all the excesses that prog will generate later on). A good jamming effort for sure, but that's all.

This is not a very "nice" album and I can't reasonably go higher than two stars for my rating.

ZowieZiggy | 2/5 | 2008-11-6

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