Supertramp - SUPERTRAMP***

Surely/Its A Long Road/Aubade/Words Unspoken/Maybe I'm A Beggar/Home Again/Nothing To Show/Shadow Song/Try Again/Surely

Eponymous debut album from the progressive pop band Supertramp. They would achieve significant commercial success in the second half of the decade. This early effort is considered to be too derivative, before they developed their trademark sound. (US:158)

“Supertramp's debut may be more progressive than most of their other work, but that doesn't make it better. Musically speaking, there's a certain early Yes influence floating about, but the band's ideas just can't compete with most of the other groups operating in 1970. The fact is that a lot of their attempts to replicate other prog bands' experimentations fall flat.”

“This album portrays a band that was ambitious and was itching to show their ways. The songs are based around a kind of gentle, peaceful, hippieish vibe that makes the songs quite relaxing and enjoyable.”

“The band is almost unrecognizable at some points, but that is not bad. The soaring compositions make for a good listen. By no means great, but a good debut that is virtually unknown.”

“Certainly the most progressive of all their albums, it's actually a shame they didn't pursue this direction rather than the more overtly commercial path they ended up on. A delight from start to finish.”

“Some fans may be in for a shock when hearing this album for the first time, as it's by far the most psychedelic, art-rock album in the band's catalogue. There's no trace of jazz leanings or saxophone anywhere.”

“The best comparison I can think of is early Yes with a hint of Traffic thrown in. The songs meander all over the stylistic map with Maybe I'm A Beggar and Surely the most closely related to the later Supertramp sound. The songs have all the right ingredients for the later more commercially polished prog pop sound, but they clearly haven't been cooked long enough for the right flavour.”

“Gentle pastoral prog. Surely being a bit too soft is the only reason it’s never received its rightful recognition. Full of lovely melodies and delicate, pensive playing, and lyrics concerning the search for meaning.”