Crisis? What Crisis?

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2008-09-20 rating:
Classic
A very good album which is just a touch below the creative standards of "Crime of the Century". It seems to lack some of the power of that album, but ironically also sounds more mature. The writing is still of a very high standard, and there are no weak tracks.

The sound is actually very similar to the proceeding album in it's arrangements, with plenty of the band's trademark electric / grand piano , but there is now the welcome element of 12 string acoustic guitars which appear on many of the tracks, particularly "Sister Moonshine" reminding me of their later hit "Give a little bit". A Sitar also makes an appearance on a couple of occasions. There are two rockers ("Ain't nobody but me" and "Another man's woman") both penned by Rick Davies, Roger Hodgson appearing to be responsible for the more introspective tracks this time round. Two highlights he contributes are "Lady" (classic Roger Wurlitzer moment), and "The Meaning" (possible the best track on the album). There are also a couple of really beautiful wind solos from Helliwell on "Poor Boy" and "Just a normal day" - I think this is the best work he ever did for the band, which is saying a lot as he rarely disappoints.

If you like Supertramp this is essential, if you like mild Prog / pop and 70's bands like 10cc or Steely Dan you should enjoy this too.

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review by: daleklover date: 2006-01-26 rating:
The Tramp was indeed Super!
It's great to see Supertramp back in the limelight with the recently released Retrospectacle compilation. Although their repackaged material certainly works well in its own right, I would strongly recommend all of the series of albums comprising Crime of the Century, Crisis? What Crisis?, Even In The Quietest Moments and Breakfast In America - corkers every one of them.

CWC came a year after COTC - a hard act to follow by any standards - and it stands up well in comparison to that album. Rather than simply produce more of the same the band wisely adopted a more relaxed, less heavily produced approach which has meant that the album has hardly dated at all. Was this really made 30 years ago??

Although Rick Davies is curiously subdued on this album compared with the others (with the exception of Nobody But Me and the spendid Another Man's Woman), Roger Hodgson makes up for it with some of his best-ever songs: in my humble opinion, Sister Moonshine, Soapbox Opera and the utterly exquisite closer, Two Of Us knock spots off the likes of Logical Song and Breakfast in America.

What is also notable is that, despite the vocal/songwriting/instrumental contributions of Messrs Davies and Hodgson, this sounds like a real GROUP effort. John Helliwell embellishes every song with one of a number of wind instruments which he plays with style and panache (not to mention his highly distinctive backing vocals). And as for Dougie Thompson/Bob Siebenberg.... was there a better rhythm section in the business?

Despite its obvious quality, the album was somewhat overshadowed (undeservedly) by COTC and, due to the fact that it was followed by the even-better EITQM and their commercial pinnacle that was BIA, it is the most overlooked of their "classic era" albums. That's too bad but with attention focused on Supertramp again and CWC available in re-mastered form and sounding even better than ever (although the production was pretty damn good in the first place), now is the time to familiarise yourselves with this classic piece of work. BUY IT!


review by: date: 2005-08-08 rating:
The supertramp album to own
To me this album gathers a good deal of the band's best songs (not the most commercial ones though) - A soapbox opera; Another man's woman; Lady...
Combined with the album 'The Very best of' these two albums will definitely provide the best of Supertramp. The only drawback, the song 'Don't Leave Me Know' is not featured.

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