Search - Beggars Opera :: Act One

The Beggars Opera Masterpiece

Chris Gerbig | Ontario, Canada | 04/22/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the one to start with!!! Beggars Opera began their career as an excellent heavy organ/guitar prog band that used a lot of classical motifs (even "borrowing" little segments of light classical music). On "Act One" they serve up an intense (mostly instrumental) over-the-top, vintage rock with frantic drumming, blistering guitar and powerful organ. This is their MOST organ-driven record. I love some of those "carnival" sounds achieved by Alan Park. Some of the long instrumental jams recall early Deep Purple, not least because Ricky Gardener achieves a plaintive sound like Ritchie Blackmore which works well over pulsing keyboards and "galloping" rhythm section. Singer Martin Griffiths is the mad ringmaster of this pomp carnival. His vocals would be given much more space on later albums. The album relies on intense instrumental blowouts rather than smooth production or studio effects. Its raw, "period" sound will appeal to lovers of organ-driven British prog. The Cd bonus tracks include "Sarabande", which was released as a 45 in Europe (where the band was much more popular). I've enjoyed this album from the time I first heard it and will always consider it to be THE definitive Beggars Opera. It's good all the way through, while the other albums just had a few "shining moments"."

The best album from an idiosyncratic band

M. Frobom | Wisconsin | 08/01/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great band, but you have to be careful with them as each album is very different from it's predecessor. "Act One" is high quality symphonic prog, like ELP but with a darker,heavier Italianesque edge. "Waters of Change" is an excellent exploration of the Canterbury sound, which I am not really a fan of. But if I had to listen to a "folky-baroquey" album, this would be the one. It's like Caravan in spots, Tull in others."Pathfinder" almost has a proto-neoprog sound (can I say that?); just high quality keyboard oriented rock,similar to a lot of the "sellout" prog of the very late 70's "Get Your Dog Off Me" is just a good Rock-N-Roll album, reminds me of some of the stuff from Kin Ping Meh or Birth Control, or even mid-period Lucifer's Friend. Almost boogie rock in spots, but again, very good. Some re-issues add "Woman of Hellfire", which almost recalls bombastic AC-DC! All their stuff is good, but you have to be selective with them, unless you have very broad tastes."

Good early 70's rock

B. E Jackson | Pennsylvania | 11/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beggars Opera has their own sound and style believe it or not, if you can look past the keyboards that sound like Deep Purple, and the lead singer who closely resembles the guy from Uriah Heep.



They have songwriting skills, and you'll be humming many of the vocal melodies and instrumental sections once the songs are long over, probably while you're outside rinsing off the front porch (or in my case, cleaning fly poo from the side of the house- not a fun job, and simply spraying a hose on the siding doesn't work, just so you know).



Anyway, this is a pretty good rock band, and the lead singer reminds me of the lead singer from the Clash or the Cure or some late 80's pop band, and that's a pretty neat thing, I guess. Just check out "Think". Listen to those vocals to hear the similarity.



These guys do have some interesting instrumental jams that are definitely exciting and very progressive rock-ish. I like Beggars Opera and Act One contains melodic guitar jams, solid songwriting and neat arrangements."