The Album Review Club - Week #216 (page 1412) - Together Alone - Crowded House

Family are a band that I have been aware of since the mid-70’s but I never got round to listening to them. I think I was put off by the reputation of Roger Chapman’s voice. Not sure exactly what I expected of Chapman’s vocals but something more extreme. In the end my initial thought was a quavering Peter Gabriel. Didn’t love it but it didn’t put me off.

The album is a bit of a musical journey that I rather enjoyed. Had to admire the ambition and invention. Wouldn’t buy the album at fill price so a 7/10 is as far as I can go.
 
Music in a Doll's House - Family
From the very first jarring notes and sounds, this album announces itself on "The Chase".

While I realize this is widely acknowledged as a classic of British psychedelic rock, it initially reminded me vocally as well as OB1 noted of an altered Peter Gabriel from early Genesis, and musically I'll add in Pink Floyd from their beginnings. It was screaming (literally) late-60s progressive rock, with the added touches of including saxophones, violin, cello, and harmonica, all pretty unique instruments to be heard on a rock album.

As much as I can appreciate all of these bands from that period with the art rock leanings, I admit I struggle a bit with the dated sound of that time period. Roger Chapman's vocals on the softer side seemed to work better for me, but there was a raspiness to it all the same. The "Variations On A Theme..." were also more interesting as musical interludes.

Standouts for me included "Me My Friend" and "Mellowing Grey" on two pretty different sounding songs. "Old Songs New Songs" had a very early Led Zeppelin blues boogie vibe too it with lots of psychedelic guitars competing with the horns during the solo section. That was nice. "Through Windows" used the harmonica very effectively with the stereo back and forth sound, which I'm guessing was a big part of hearing this band. Musically, I liked "Peace of Mind", but vocally that didn't sound as well. The keeping of time like a ticking clock via the drum rims was well done in "The Breeze", and again, with a more toned down vocal approach, this one landed better. The tempo changes and early sax used in "3 X Time" as the closer was interesting, but vocally was a bit more than needed.

I can confirm the rumours are true that I don't recall hearing this band in the US. There was a bit of sameness here, not in the songs individually, but maybe it just stands out to me being more the production of the time. I went back and checked out the 1968 Rock Evolution Playlist and I didn't see Family nominated there, though Sadds mentioned the band a few times there. Probably a bit before my time in music I would seek out, this was an interesting 6/10 I'm glad I heard to remind me of early influences in this progressive rock genre that I would not have heard otherwise.
 
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MUSIC IN A DOLLS HOUSE FAMILY

My brother was a fan of Family although I don’t recall him having this album, he definitely had ‘Family Entertainment’ though I never listened to the album.I was familiar with ‘Weavers Answer’ but until hearing this album I didn’t get the early Genesis comparisons especially RCs vocals.
I liked the variety of the music and found most of the album an interesting listen.

Good choice


7.5/10
 
Music In A Doll’s House - Family

This is a theatrical-sounding album that blends folk, orchestral and rock instruments. There are certainly a few unexpected left turns in the music, which is generally a nice bonus.

It’s incredibly interesting that Roger Chapman sounds like Tom Petty on the track “Hey Mr Policeman”. The Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers track that I’m referring to is “Don’t Pull Me Over” from the Mojo album, and includes the line “Don’t Pull Me Over, Mr Policeman.” Surely Petty must have heard this track and in some way been influenced by it.?Musically they are not the same but it’s an interesting coincidence if there is no connection.

The overall feel is of a ramshackle affair, in a good way, but there’s probably a lot of thought gone into these arrangements. There are a few weird bits that you wonder why they did it the way they did. For example, why the high comedy voice for the chorus of “Old Songs New Songs” when the rest of the song seems so well put together? But apart from these occasional jarring moments, it’s an enjoyable listen. Although I did enjoy the simple plucked string, violin and wah-wah guitar in “The Breeze”, there are no obvious standouts as it’s more of a suite of songs that fit together, which is to its credit, and it’s worth a solid 7/10.
 
Music in a Doll's House by Family scored generally favourable reviews with lots of positive comments. 10 voters awarded it an average of 6.70. Thanks to @journolud for the nomination.

This week, it's the turn of @mrbelfry to select an album.
 
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