This is an album I'd frequently heard snippets and odd songs from, and I was familiar with Chicago, there being enough there to convince me that further investigation was warranted. So when it appeared for a couple of quid on EBay, I definitely though it worth the risk.
Initial impressions are that it's a very gentle listen, a mixture of some sparse arrangements accompanying Stevens' almost apologetically quiet voice, and more grandiose instrumental interludes between songs, many of which have ridiculously long titles. And there are some lovely songs, even if they are mostly in a similar vein - John Wayne Gacy Jr, Jacksonville, the aforementioned Chicago in the opening tracks. Casimir Pulaski Day is another gentle, pleasant song, but just as you're dozing of, basking in the warmth of his songs, there's the full-on rock intro to The Man Of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts before it reverts to expectation.
They Are Night Zombies is a bit more upbeat, and prevents the album slipping into torpor in its latter stages and The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders is a joyful, if overlong, tune, with the repetitive Out Of Egypt giving an almost ambient Reich-like ending to the album.
I'm conflicted by this album. it's a good and interesting listen, but I can't help feeling that it fails to grab the listener throughout the full 76 minutes, and is possibly a little elaborate in scale. Most of the songs are pleasant without too much of a 'wow!' factor, but I'm sure it will repay further listening.
3* - enough to maintain the interest, but doesn't leave a feeling of 'greatness'
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