EVOLUTION

"Evolution" is a somewhat ironic title for this compilation as it covers a period in which the band has not evolved one bit. The album features two tracks from each of the band's five most recent albums - Breath Of Life (2002), Brand New Morning (2004), Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow (2007), Into The Valley Of The Moonking (2009), and The Visitation (2011), as well as two brand new tracks - presented in chronological order. The previously released tracks have been remixed and partly re-recorded.

It all starts out very promisingly with two strong tracks from Breath Of Life. This was a good album that constituted a come back for Magnum after a long break. The two songs from Brand New Morning are less interesting, especially Immigrant Son. When We Were Younger, on the other hand, is a great track. This is up there with the classics from the band's heyday which could not be said of Princess Alice And The Broken Arrow as a whole. Out Of The Shadows from the same album too is a good one though. Good choices. Next up is again a couple of weaker tracks from Into The Valley Of The Moonking and at this point you begin to feel that Evolution is perhaps not as good as it should be.

The Visitation was a better album and still they had two more new tracks up their sleeves for this album released the very same year. Magnum really are prolific these days. And yet another new studio album is due next month!

The two new songs here are good, especially the closer Do You Know Who You Are? Overall, Evolution is an enjoyable experience. It is better than some of the original studio albums from which the material is taken, but it is not a good replacement for all of them. Both Breath Of Life and The Visitation are worth getting on their own merits.

A good album, but not strictly necessary