IN THE CITY OF ANGELS

In the City of Angels is one of countless Jon Anderson solo albums dating back to 1976's Olias of Sunhillow. I know full well that I should have started with his debut album, but alas I saw In the City of Angels in a bargain bin and apparently shifted my brain into neutral (i.e., it was running, but going no where). I have regretted it to this day.

What we have here is basically a collection of pop songs. Nice pop songs, immaculately produced and well written, but pop songs nonetheless. The other thing to note is the cheery vibe throughout the album, like endless episodes of Sesame Street. It's almost sickening. I don't necessarily have a problem with cheeriness, but sometimes you can go too far, sometimes uncomfortably too far.

Anderson does give a great performance, his voice as beautiful as ever. His band of session musicians are all great performers. I really can't find any faults in the performance. What bothers me is that it isn't prog rock and that it isn't even in the same league as Yes' Big Generator or 90125 albums (similar 1980s pop rock with prog tendencies). And thus, it gets only a very, very rare spin in my CD player nowadays.

Two stars. For collectors and fans only. Admittedly, pop rock fans that like music from this era may really enjoy this.