This is the first album by this pomp/glam band from Washington, and it was released away back in ’75. Just like their label mates Kiss, they were all about the image primarily to detract you away from the quality of the material – especially on later albums. This release has very little similarities to Sinful that was recorded just 4 years later.
The album opens with the band’s masterpiece, The Tower, which was keyboard overload from Greg Giuffria, with its extended intro and high range vocals from Frank DiMino. Next track, Long Time, is a typical mid-seventies sounding track, and to be honest, is quite Prog sounding and is not that commercial sounding. Last track on Side 1, Rock & Rollers, could almost be a Kiss outtake and is quite an average tune.
Side 2 starts with Broken Dreams. This track starts off at a frenzy before slowing down into another average song. Mariner is a ballad and highlights the quirkiness of DiMino’s vocals. The nearest vocalist he reminds me of would be Geddy Lee, but not as good. Sunday Morning starts with a big fat riff and is a notch up from the past few tracks, before settling down into keyboard romp-a-rama, and is very Rush sounding. On & On follows, with its Zeppelin riff but the vocals let it down. The final piece is The Angel theme with more keyboard noodling from Giuffria.
If I was wanting to buy an album by the band I would go for the live album Live Without A Net as it a fair representation of what they were about. Other than The Tower, this album is not that great.
5/10 from The Grooveman.
