Search - Chicago :: X

Melts in your Ears

Slo Basting | Memphis, TN USA | 01/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chicago X provides ten examples of how the band can successfully play all styles of music."Once or Twice" and "You are On My Mind" were written by Terry Kath and Jimmy Pankow, two of the band's best. They provide good solid upbeat tempos to open the CD."Skin Tight" snazzes things up a bit laying a sharp ending which leads into the soothing ballad "If You Leave Me Now". It's interesting how the band chose this song as the release, not representative of the CD's different styles. "Together Again" represents an expectedly well written piece by Lee Loughnue, the band's trumpter. "A Rainy Day in New York City" is an upbeat almost Reggae sounding tune which demonstrates a flare of Robert Lamm's song writing originality -- while he still had it."Momma Momma" represents a smooth ballad which provides tranquility in any moment. "Scrapbook" provides a flashy driving summary of where the band's come from. "Gently I Wake You" is a multi-climatic ballad, warming things up for the dancable "You Get it Up"."Hope for Love" is a heart filled ballet which demonstrates Terry Kath's ability to compose great works of all paces.There's something for everyone in Chicago X. It's unfortunate more of the band's later albums were not like this."

X is a very underrated CHICAGO album

cardinals4ever | KY, USA | 04/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Due to the success of IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW,CHICAGO X has been accused of the album that started the "ballad era" for chicago.But in fact,IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW is one of the best ballads in rock history.ANOTHER RAINY DAY IN NEW YORK CITY and YOU ARE ON MY MIND were both minor hits that should have hit it big.ONCE OR TWICE is great horn driven song.SCRAPBOOK is one of Robert Lamm's finest moments.TOGETHER AGAIN features a very good Loughnane vocal.GENTLY I'LL WAKE YOU is a great part ballad,part rocker.MAMA MAMA is another great Cetera ballad that should have been released as a single.Terry Kath closes X out with the excellent heartfelt ballad HOPE FOR LOVE."

POWERFUL--the last great album of the 70's

cardinals4ever | 10/06/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"CHICAGO X surprised me so much when I first heard it. Starting with Terry Kath's "Once or Twice"-- one of their most exciting, hard-driving tunes ever (and what would have been my pick for a single) 9 out of its 11 songs are a continual thrill every time I put the record on. The catchy Latin-tempo of "Another Rainy Day In New York City" has long been another of my all-time favorite songs by the band-- how could this have NOT made a dent in the airwaves? Radio programmers were big into "ballads" at the time (when they weren't doing DISCO) and the follow-up, "If You Leave Me Now", became the band's BIGGEST-selling single EVER. I could always see that song as a nice, slow, melodic "break" between the rockers, but a SINGLE? I'm afraid though nice the song may be, it's on my short list of those songs that got TOO MUCH play on the radio. In any case, Chicago would not, in my view, do an album quite as exciting as this until 1995's NIGHT & DAY BIG BAND --19 years later!"