SUR LA MER

The Moody Blues

Crossover Prog

2.44 | 100 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

There's definitely nothing to stop the Moodies.they are still touring these days (on April 1st, they played at the "Hard Rock Caf�" in Orlando (no April fools, it is on their web site !).

I hope for the audience that they played their old classic, because from this soft-pop record, there is little to remember (again).

It has been a while that one does not reason in terms of highlights or brilliant music when talking about the Moodies. And it is still the case with this album. Some fine vocal harmonies ("Want To Be With You"), or a pop feeling ("I Know You're Out There Somewhere"). In some aspect, the band gets closer to his origins so far.

Lots of "sequencing and programming" which I don't praise too much to say the least. Synthetic music is not really mine. The disco / synth pop approach seem to have been evacuated during several songs. But alas not for all of them. The disgusting atmosphere strikes back with "River of Endless Love". I bet you! They would have better sink into the river instead.

Another ballad is welcome to digest this awful track. But, once again, "No More Lies" is just an average and mellow songs like they have written plenty (often better). Not bad while you are doing something else. One can hardly concentrate on such music. At least, I can't. Typical supermarket stuff. Not to disturb anybody.

The band could never convinced me while trying to "rock". Not even in their golden era. Not to speak about "Here Comes the Weekend". I am experiencing this as I write (the week-end stuff, I mean). Brass, dislocated beat. Poor. You know which key to hit, I guess.

And to believe that this album is considered as a masterpiece by one reviewer just leaves me speechless. And I guess it is a good idea to get a good glass of wine to endure the next one: "Vintage Wine". Of the same caliber of their weakest tunes on several previous albums. Another painful experience. I am afraid that my rating won't be very high.

Unlike its title (they really must do it on purpose), "Miracle" is closer to the disaster. Disastrous, that's the word. This album is another disastrous one. Nothing to do with prog of course. If you would except the first two songs there is hardly anything interesting. But a single would have been sufficient. The funiest is the closing number "Deep". Especially the lyrics : "I wanna go deep"! Here you are, by no doubt!

The rating? Well, I guess that the usual star is fully deserved for this insipid and boring album.

ZowieZiggy | 1/5 | 2008-4-12

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