Search - Strawbs :: Broken Hearted Bride

Best Strawbs album since Ghosts

Jim Panzee | Pittsburgh, PA USA | 01/30/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the best Strawbs album since their creative peak in the early-mid 70s.



The first four tracks are all terrific: driving, creative, complex progressive rockers. They were written by Dave Cousins, who's at the peak of his form here. The energy level isn't quite as high after that, although all of the Cousins' songs on the album are good, and I liked Dave Lambert's Shadowlands too.



The overall sound is closer to Hero and Heroine or Ghosts than any of the albums since, possibly because John Hawken is back on board and heavily featured on the best tracks. If you liked those albums, you'll also like this one.



Although I note the existence of a dissenting opinion among these reviews, like many I thought that Deja Fou was a letdown, and wondered if the Strawbs were still able to create decent songs. I needn't have worried. On this evidence, there is a lot of great music left in the band."

Treading Water

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 12/22/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I had to laugh when I read the comment that The Broken Hearted Bride is big improvement on Deja Fou. This can't touch that little gem, but that being said there is still much to like here. The titular head of the band, Dave Cousins, has been quite active in 2008, cranking out two solo albums and now this new Strawbs album.

Those who have heard and liked the Cousins/Conrad side-project should be delighted with the inclusion of a very stirring take on Call to Action. That song, with a little help from a couple of other cuts, keeps The Broken-Hearted Bride from being merely mediocre. Those others are the rousing Christmas Cheer, the proggy Through Aphrodite's Eyes, and an instrumental take on the opening cut called Action Replay. But then there are three I don't really care for, one of which is the title cut that unfortunately has a whiff of eighties corporate rock about it. The others are You Know As Well As I, a cheesy song with a sound that is mired in the 70s, and the dull repetition of Everybody Knows.

There is no doubt that there is a lot of music left in Cousins and Company. The problem on The Broken Hearted Bride is that Strawbs seem to be treading water, musically speaking, as opposed to taking any chances they way they did on Deja Fou and as Cousins himself did on his recent solo outing Boy In A Sailor Suit.

The Call To Action alone makes it easy for me to endorse this CD which comes with an attractive booklet containing lyrics and pertinent album information. Get this yes, but also get Deja Fou if you do not already own it...a few listens to both and you should come around to my view.

"

A Return To Form

C. Gass | San Antonio,Tx. USA | 12/28/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't think these guys still had it in them. What a pleasant surprise! Their last few releases, including Deja Fou, (almost unlistenable)and Blue Angel (only enjoyed the re-makes on this one) had me thinking one of my long-time favorite bands were done for. The first four songs on this CD are now in heavy rotation on my Ipod. Amazingly (like the new AC/DC and Motorhead CDs) sometimes these veteran bands can still bring it, and their fans are rewarded for their loyalty."