The classic melodic battleship,
Chicago is back with a brand new studio
album, 'Now'. Chicago has accumulated 22
gold and 18 platinum records and,
according to Billboard chart statistics,
Chicago is second only to the Beach Boys
as the most successful American rock
band of all time, in terms of both
albums and singles. Chicago was formed
in 1967 by Peter Cetera, Terry Kath,
Robert Lamm, James Pankow, trombone,
Walter Parazider, Lee Loughnane and
Danny Seraphine.
I was never been a big fan of
Chicago, but I liked the classic album
Chicago 17, which contained the hits
"You're the Inspiration" and "Stay the Night".
After that album Peter Cetera left the band and he
began to focus on his solo career. Much water has
run under the bridge since the 80's
and I wonder how does this band sound
in 2014? This is more of a fusion rock
album with fat brush strokes of jazzy
influences. Very melodic, clean and
smooth jazz/rock, which doesn't grabs me. If you like Chicago and their
sound, it will be a given purchase.
I like one song especially and that is
the first song 'Now'. It will be saved in my special
folder for my lonely
evenings with my wife... There are
flashes of brilliance here and there and
some parts of the songs stick in the
mind, but overall, one cannot shake a
looming sense of redundancy.
Nothing new under the moon. Only
for the hardcore fans of Chicago.
Current line-up:
Chicago:
ROBERT LAMM (keyboard, guitars, vocals),
LEE LOUGHNANE (trumpet, guitar,
percussion, vocals),
JAMES PANKOW (trombone, percussion,
keyboards, vocals),
WALTER PARAZAIDER (woodwinds, backing
vocals)
JASON SCHEFF (bass, vocals),
TRIS IMBODEN (drums, percussion),
KEITH HOWLAND (guitars, vocals),
LOU PARDINI (keyboards, vocals),
WALFREDO REYES, Jr., (percussion)
