[Heeplist] I feel like an Outsider

[David Amendolara]

Hello all,

Quick nod to Jyrki: I sent a Facebook message to the local cd store near my work, telling them to put aside a CD and grey vinyl copy of Heep's new album on 6 June. And surely enough, on the 6th I got a message back saying the CD was in, and the LP would be a while since it's an import.

I put the album on in the car, while driving home from work. Recognized the evolution in Heep's sound which started with WTS, towards a more "balls to the walls" head on rock style. A few interesting twists in the songs and some very proggy elements. As a whole, though, I wasn't convinced. Most songs came and went and nothing really stuck.

So my initial reaction after a first listen: I don't really like it, despite the high level of musicianship and songwriting involved. When I got Sonic Origami, by the end of "Sweet Pretender" I really wanted to listen to it a second time through. With "The Outsider", well if it hadn't been for all those traffic jams I wouldn't have got to a repeat listen and frankly I would not have minded.

Now I buy enough albums to recognize a grower when I hear it. I am sure by the end of next week most songs will have comfortably nestled themselves in my brain and by the time Heep comes around with the Outsider Tour, I will be singing along like the fanboy I've been for the last 20 or so years. But right now, having caught up with all of the list's mails re: the new album, I feel like an outsider. Heck, even Igor gives praise :-) 


On a side note: great bass playing from Davey Rimmer. He adds his own style, yet stays true to the trademark Heep way of bass playing. In parts I could imagine Trevor having opted for roughly similar bass lines and I am sure he would have been proud of what Davey did. Here's hoping the new album will result in incredible sales, and I can't wait to hear album 25 in a year or two :-) Maybe for the band's 50th anniversary? 

Cheers,

Dave / Eddie