GENTLE GIANT - CIVILIAN
If great records speak for themselves, "Civilian" is probably not a great record, though it definitely has some "great" elements. Gentle Giant was known for their complex arrangements and incorporation of influences that ranged from jazz to baroque and mediaeval music. Released in 1980, "Civilian" straddled the end of the classic rock and prog rock era and the beginning of new wave. Because of this, and their relative lack of prior commercial success, Giant pursued a more direct sound, with simpler arrangements and straightforward vocal hooks. This approach when combined with their inherent "weirdness" led to an awkward blend of synth infused prog and classic rock and roll. Despite its shortcomings both then and now, I keep coming back to this record. You can hear the compromise in the music, as if every song is a conversation between the purists in the band and the guys who wanted to make a commcercial impact before calling it quits (this was Gentle Giant's last record).
The opening track, "Convenience" is driving and fast, with an off kilter arrpegiator throughout and an almost Judas Priest-like guitar riff. "Number One," with its ridulously triumphant major chorus ("I'm number one, and you're still no one,") sounds more like hair rock, but with key and bass lines that sound more classical if anything. "I Am a Camera" is my favourite track, and is most musically symbolic of the crossroads the band must have been at. It's built around a straightforward major two chord rock riff, and most bands would have left it at that. But Giant throws in a minor ascending line that the guitars, keys and bass play in unison which probably would have destroyed any commercial potential given what was popular in 1980.
It's often said that records encapsulate where the band was musically and personally at the time of writing/recording, If that's true, Gentle Giant must have been really fucking confused, and overall I would say that this record is made up of moments rather than songs. But if you're a music junkie, it's definitely worth picking up.
