When founder (lead vocals and guitar) started his career with in the late '60s, there was still something progressive about young Brits tackling , , and even some , but as the musician entered his third decade of recording, artistic compromises and commercial success had watered-down the entire genre of -based , thanks largely to bands like his own. Although had released a string of very successful recordings, the group's final two releases of the '70s, and , both suffered from declining (although still substantial) sales. 's response to the suddenly suspect viability of his group's sound was to take his songwriting in a more modern (if not quite fitting) direction on . had emerged out of the U.K. in the late '70s, largely in response to the somewhat formulaic and self-aggrandizing that had somehow overtaken the entire non- musical landscape. Although listeners might cringe while trying to imagine a musical amalgam somewhere between assessing attempt at eclecticism isn't quite as simple as it may appear. The group's musicianship and studio finesse keep tracks like the single from becoming awkward attempts at timeliness. Instead, successfully incorporates stripped-down sonics and simpler, almost arrangements into , making it more than a hopeless grasp at musical relevance, making it worthwhile. ~ Vincent Jeffries