| | Full Review | Ratings (105) |
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| 3.0 good | Jethro42 | May 16th 09 |
Both 'Two Weeks in Spain', 'As Old As You're Young' and 'For nobody' are in the vein of some Gentle Giant classic songs...but sprinkled with an evident pop orientation. The band is barely recognizable when compared to their genuine progressive rock catalogue. The way they try to merge mainstream rock and roll with their classic sound is not convincing enough. 'Mountain Time' is a good example of that.
By flirting with a more simple sound, their actual so-called rocker songs sound pretty much like awkward pre-production stuff coming from an inexperienced band in search of their own sound. No surprising, the GG fanbase started to decrease right here. In an attempt to attract a wider audience to please the music industry more than anything, Gentle Giant had no choice to streamline their sound, and they pretty much failed in trying to do so; In effect, commercial success was never their primary goal. When they tried to change their style and go a bit more straightforward rock, it seemed to work a little While the band's skill as performers remained undiminished, their creative peak was now behind them. The Missing Piece was actually the start of the erosion. Does it still worth a listen? Yes, but don't expect to hear some typical heartfelt, adventurous, classic Gentle Giant. At this point, they have taken a big turn compared to their classic era right behind there. It's hard to believe only one year separates their very last classic album Interview from The Missing Piece.
At this point, the juice just weren't flowing too well and Gentle Giant weren't really sure what direction to take. Album The Missing Piece and especially both its two followers Giant For A Day and Civilian did lost some of their experimental edge and when they tried to change their style and go a bit more straightforward rock, it seemed to work a little and too often it has caused a big fail. Overall, their three last efforts were good but urecognizable material regarding GG standards. The very last two releases are actually better if we don't think about Gentle Giant while listening. Their strenght was to play progressive rock; The music industry had the very last word on Gentle Giant and the prog rock world in general, as the Dark Age became totally ruthless toward the genre.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | TheIntruder | September 1st 15 |
The Missing Piece is the most accessible studio album and has also good quality, released by Gentle Giant. If we forget three of its songs, Betcha Thought We Could Not Do It, Who Do You Think You Are? and Mountain Time, The Missing Piece is really a very good album. The Missing Piece is probably their last studio album that deserves be listen. Giant For A Day is really weak and the sound of Civilian is to much different from the usual sound of their albums. So, despite the three tracks, I strongly recommend this album, because taking out those tracks, we are in presence of the last great album of a great band.
Bump |
| 2.5 average | Jalapeno CONTRIBUTOR | February 23rd 23 |
| 2.0 poor | Timmy | January 21st 23 |
| 3.5 great | Majkl | September 28th 20 |
| 1.5 very poor | igi78 | August 13th 20 |
| 3.5 great | fenman | August 1st 20 |
| 2.5 average | Source | July 4th 20 |
| 3.5 great | wrax | March 10th 19 |
| 3.0 good | J1m1 | September 9th 18 |
| 3.0 good | Xinlo | August 14th 16 |
| 3.0 good | zx890c | February 9th 16 |
| 3.5 great | e210013 | September 14th 15 |
| 1.0 awful | Zoink | June 29th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Grimsby | December 3rd 13 |
| 3.0 good | DRZ | October 24th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Simon K. STAFF | October 21st 12 |
| 3.8 excellent | greg84 EMERITUS | April 9th 11 |
| 2.5 average | iemona | December 1st 10 |
| 3.5 great | Maz | November 29th 07 |
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