Customer Reviews

King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents GTR

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first heard of this band on the radio with "When the Heart Rules the Mind," and the song struck me as excellent.

Time passed, and after getting Internet access, I discovered who the band was. YES is my favourite band, and here was Steve Howe, guitar master for GTR. And then who else is there, but Steve Hackett from Genesis. I HAD to get a GTR album to discover what else they had.

This album was the only one I could find. As a live performance, it is powerful and dynamic, with catchy guitar riffs and energetic lyrics. If you like progressive seventies meets the eighties, this is the epitome.

Too bad the band didn't last long after this live concert.

I've loved GTR since the 80's when I heard "When the Heart Rules the Mind" and became hooked ever since then.

I was extremely happy to see that Amazon.com has it available for purchase, and at a rather reasonable price, too. You just can't find this kind of music in stores.

I can't wait to get it!!

:o)

What a great Album! I've listened to the tape repeatedly for well over a decade and was thrilled to be able to get the CD. Filled with excellent music and guitarwork - not all top40 songs, but a masterpiece compilation.

To those of you who are here bemoaning the fact that this album sounds like a "total 80's album" I have just one thing to say: It IS an 80'S album! I realize that the band included a pair of very highly regarded progressive rock guitarists (Yes/Asia's Steve Howe and Genesis's Steve Hackett), but were you really expecting high concept art rock in 1986, especially with Geoff Downes's involvement as producer? This is exactly like hearing ELP fans dump on the 3 album for not sounding exactly like ELP.

I think it helps to look at GTR's 1986 debut album like you would an Asia album. You know the players involved will have the technical chops to pull off progressive rock, but that making a good pop/rock album is the main focus. To that end, I think GTR passed with flying colors. This is a very solid effort, and is the kind of 80's pop-oriented rock album on par with what Asia and 3 were releasing at the time. Yes, it is very heavy on the synthesizers, but that was par for the course in the mid 80's. Howe and Hackett deliver very solid performances, but both kept their (justified) egos firmly in check, which no doubt infuriates those who expected an all-out solo-fest. Vocalist Max Bacon (Bronz, Nightwing) also shines on this album. It's a shame we haven't heard more from him in recent years. Leadoff singles "When the Heart Rules the Mind" and "the Hunter" are obvious highlights (the former being very reminiscent of Orion the Hunter's "So You Ran"), but the whole album is quite good.

This is a fantastic 80's pop/rock album, and one that should definitely appeal to fans of 80's pop/rock/AOR in general and Asia in particular. The key is judging the album on its own merits rather than expecting something unrealistic.

I bought the import version of the GTR album, and it is a delight to the senses. The layering of the quitars showcases the craftsmenship of Steve Howe and Steve Hackett. You can hear new instrumentation each time you listen to GTR. The only problem is GTR did not make more than one album.

To truly enjoy this music one must understand one thing. This was little more than an experiment for two legendary guitarists. Great musicians often find inspiration in working with other (often young) tallented musicians. In this CD we find a wonderful example of just that. This is not YES or GINISES, it is a wonderful and fresh experiment by two fantastic guitarists. Those who are over-analysing this music are missing the point. If you are capable of appreciating what this kind of effort means, you'll love this CD. WHRTM is fantastic. The vocals are powerful, the guitar is inspriing, and bottom line, it is just one great song. "Hackett To Bitz" is killer. Listen and enjoy, but only if you can truly appreciate what this CD is about.

This self-titled debut album from GTR was released in 1986. It is comprised of ten tracks. The material is in a pop rock--with progressive leanings--musical direction. Throughout, I find the songwriting to be solid, the musicianship to be tight, and the sound quality to be satisfying. Steve Howe and Steve Hackett do well with the guitar duties. Max Bacon's smooth, pleasing tenor singing is impressive and industrious. Minimal keyboard work is also provided. Two tracks are instrumentals--Howe's "Sketches in the Sun" and Hackett's "Hackett to Bits." The album's harmony vocals are remarkable and attractive, too. Even though all the pieces are worthy, my favorites are "When the Heart Rules the Mind," "The Hunter," and "You Can Still Get Through." The nicely written "When the Heart Rules the Mind" displays a winning chorus that is spirited and unforgettable, one of my favorite choruses in general. "The Hunter," an easygoing composition, exhibits nice vocals from Bacon and a creative, memorable intro that includes an infectious bass guitar line from Phil Spalding and atmospheric keyboard work. The catchy "You Can Still Get Through" features a gratifying refrain. The CD insert includes the song lyrics. A black-and-white photo of each member of the group is displayed on the back of the CD jewel case. The disc is just over 44 minutes. This is a recommendable album.

I have been looking for this 4-ever...nobody I talked to had ever heard of it. I was starting to think I was goin' nuts. Good job Amazon!

GTR es la simbiosis de lo mejor de Yes, Genesis y King Crimson. Las guitarras de Hackett y Howe conforman el ambiente en un disco (lamentablemente el único) en el que tambien se luce un vocalista de calidad como Max Bacon, que es de lo mejor que he escuchado en mucho tiempo. The Hunter y When the Heart Rules the Mind resultan ser obras maestras al lado de la basura que se escucha en la radio. Merece 5 estrellas por que no hay mas. Fans de Yes y Genesis, este CD no puede faltar en sus colecciones!!!!

I have been looking for this for a long time.ever since I heard it on the radio(when the heart rules the mind).Thank you AMAZON.COM!!!!Great album.