THE PRESENT

Solid follow-up to Long Distance Voyager, as it attempts to replicate its style and success, with mostly positive results. It has many similar strengths and a nice variety of songs and styles, just not quite as strong as LDV, but still really good. A great single in Blue World, but continues to move more toward radio-friendly songs and production (and that synthpop creeping in). Ray Thomas was still a strong presence on this album, but his contributions would be greatly diminished in the upcoming synthpop period. Best Songs: Blue World, Going Nowhere, Hole in the World, It's Cold Outside of Your Heart, Sorry. Rating: 3.5