Strangely flat and horrible vocals
kireviewer | Sunnyvale, Ca United States | 08/30/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is basically PFM's fourth studio album. Two of PFM's albums have Italian and English versions, with different titles, so it may appear as though this is PFM's sixth studio album. They also released a live album before this.PFM is an Italian group with limited English skills. To try to better penetrate the US market, the group tried various experiments in English. Their first three albums were originally in Italian (except for one English song). The second and third albums were redone with English lyrics supplied by Pete Sinfield (who wrote the lyrics for the early King Crimson albums).On this album, they bring in a new singer, lyricist, who is Italian but can write and sing in English. The problem is that is vocal style and his voice are horrible and he ruins the whole album. He sings in this very annoying undulating, yodelling style. To get an idea of the negative impact of his vocals, listen to Out of The Roundabout on this album and then hear how much better the song is on ...or Live In Japan with a different vocalist. Some call him an acquired taste, as if listening to him over and over again will make you like him. I would consider it torture.The whole idea of trying to reach a US audience through English lyrics is ridiculous. With both this album and Pete Sinfield's words, the English lyrics are incomprehensible. They are just written to sound good. It is what Yes used to do. I would much rather hear Italian lyrics that I don't understand, sung nicely with emotion, than hear English that make no sense, sung poorly.The other problem with this album is that the music is strangely flat, as if something is missing. It seems muted and dull. Compare this to PFM's earlier albums with a bright, lively sound. To be honest, I have only heard the LP version of this album. Someone claims that the remastered version of the CD sounds much better. This could be a much better album if the sound quality was better, so I will be seeking out a remastered copy of the CD.Note that the cover of this CD came in different versions for Europe and the US. The European version has a heavy women in a slip on the cover.It has been incorrectly stated that the album Live in the USA is a live version of Chocolate Kings. Live in the USA was recorded and released before Chocolate Kings and contains no songs from Chocolate Kings. Live in the USA came from the tour to support PFM's third album, L'Iosla di Niente, or the English version called the World Became the World. Live In the USA was the title of the album released in Europe. In the US it was called Cook. It is a great album. PFM is a different band in concert. They are a rocking, jamming band, creating wonderful solos.The tour to cover this album is available on vol 3 of 10 Anni Live. The 4 volume boxset is fantastic. You can also get each volume separately (when available). Another great album to get is Live in Japan, which was recently released."
Finally a re-master of this important work of classic prog!
Lethe | Milan, Italy | 12/03/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Finally the famous work by PFM, digitally remastered, let you appreciate its artistic quality, much better than the original recording... "Harlequin" and the title track as well are immortal classics; the track "Out of the roundabout" and "From under" are early Genesis-like and some of their best songs too. The voice of Bernardo Lanzetti is difficult to take, but the experience and fame He gained during his period with Acqua Fragile completed his personality in a remarkable way, as long as He reached his peek of career rightly when He recorded this important album with PFM. Afterwards part of this stuff was brought live on stage to USA (listen to the recording of this live, under the title of "Live USA")Highly recommended !!"
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1