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Gentle Giant - The Power and the Glory CD (album) cover

THE POWER AND THE GLORY

Gentle Giant

 

Eclectic Prog

4.31 | 1825 ratings

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zravkapt
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars To me this is the last great GG album. With the following albums start a decline that is very noticeable once Missing Piece came out. When I got my CD copy in the late 1990s, it was the only GG release available. At least in my area. That CD version did not have the bonus title track. I did end up hearing that song. Although a good song, it really does sound like something the band came up with at the last minute to please the record company.

A concept album about power and the perceived glory that comes with it. The medieval influence is not as strong here as on earlier albums. "Proclamation" is not only one of the best songs on the album, but one of the band's best songs. It begins with crowd noises and then a jazzy melody on Wurlitzer along with Derek Shulman's vocals. Everything starts to pick up after the drums make their entrance. After 2 minutes it goes into a great instrumental section with organ and fast piano. Then a symphonic rock section. After it goes back to the Wurlitzer melody with weird sounding keyboards. Then drums came back and the tempo increases. Ends with crowd noises.

"Aspirations" is pretty much a straight forward ballad sung by Kerry Minnear. "Playing The Game" is another highlight. Great synth bass at the beginning and throughout the song. Some kind of glockenspiel sound in the verses. A classical sounding guitar figure after the verses. Halfway through the song it changes to a part with Wurlitzer and Kerry, instead of Derek, doing the vocals. Later a great funky part with an organ solo. After that goes back to the beginning section.

"Cogs In Cogs" has the band playing two different time signatures at once. One of the band's more complex songs. In the middle is a great part with counterpoint vocals. The whole song has a great guitar sound from Gary Green. "No God's A Man" has some more nice counterpoint vocals. "The Face" has a good violin solo over clavinet and guitar. "Valedictory" is a more straight forward rockin' version of "Proclamation".

One of the best GG albums, although I do prefer what they did when Phil Shulman was still in the group. The next two albums sound similar to this but not quite as enjoyable. 4 stars.

zravkapt | 4/5 |

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