Search - Supertramp :: Brother Where You Bound

Bound to be under estimated

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 07/22/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First, let's get the most difficult part out of the way--Roger Hodgson sang and wrote or co-wrote the bulk of Supertramp's hits. True, this was very much a collaborative band and Rick Davies contributed just as much but not if you bought their albums for the hits. Roger has a distinctive songwriting style using a lot of major keys and upbeat lyrical statements. Rick, on the other hand, struck me as more the cynical one of the two. Sure, Roger was missed but Rick did a marvelous job of carrying on with this daring concept album.More prog pop than prog rock, Supertramp managed to blur the lines between top 40 and progressive rock. Brother is an attempt to return to the prog rock roots to a certain extent. Brother reminds me more of Crime of the Century than the band's later efforts. There's a dark and cynical undercurrent to the lyrics and the music is as ambitious as ever.The stunning opening track Cannonball sets the pace. It's lyrics hint at emotional betrayal and, although there has been speculation that it's about Roger's departure, it's strictly speculation. Either way, it's a stunning opener. Better Days pokes and prods the political process and promises that are often betrayed by poiticians once they attain power. It's also a strong track. The title track hasn't aged as well lyrically, but the music carries the day. Dave Gilmour's stunning guitar solos add heft to this ambitious, powerful song. Suddenly, for an instant, the band transforms into Pinktramp. It made me wish Gilmour had guested on more than this song.The closing track Ever Open Door is one of the most heartfelt, hopeful tracks that Davies has ever written. It's fairly straight forward and simple in deliver which is just the tonic one needs after the brutal title track. It's one of the most emotionally powerful songs the band has ever recorded. After the inconsistent Famous Last Words, Brother demonstrated the band could continue to make viable and powerful music. The playing is top drawer. What's surprising is that Roger Hodgson really isn't missed all that much."

Fairly good CD

kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 11/30/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Some people hate this CD for its dark mood and some people think it is fantastic. I think if it fairly good, close to 4 stars. It isn't their best album but it has some good parts. And I don't think it is all that dark. Note that there is a "remastered" version of the CD. I have the original, and I don't think there is anything wrong with the sound.The 3, 4 and 5 track of this album is like an extended, 30 minute version of Fool's Overture. It has the changing themes and the dialog by famous people (Ronald Reagan, George Bush and others). It is another one of those Supertramp tracks that take you into a different world and when it is over your head is spinning and you try to come back to reality.The album starts out with the 8 minute, bouncy Cannonball. I can take or leave it. Tracks 2 and 6 are completely forgettable.This is the first album after Roger Hodgson left the group. He put out a fairly good album at the same time called Eye of the Storm. It is hard to say which is better. In 1987, both Hodgson and Supertramp released horrible CD's of short tracks trying to capture the disco pop sound of the day. Both disappeared for over 10 years after that."