Customer Reviews

Sufficiently Breathless

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's too bad everyone wants to compare this album to their first but I guess it's inevitable. The thing is that it's like comparing apples and oranges. This album is, almost, an entirely different animal from the first. The first was definitely heavier and more intensely driving whereas this follow-up album (CD) has a lot more acoustic material throughout it. Sufficiently Breathless definitely doesn't have the driving intensity of the first but does incorporate a lot of different sounds (i.e. the Santana reference someone came up with) and really nice piano in Starglow Energy that's reminiscent of something from Quicksilver's "What About Me" album. How often do you hear a xylophone on a rock album? Truthfully I think this is a much more interesting album than the first. IF you like the first album there are a some similarities with Sufficiently Breathless including really searing guitarwork throughout but it definitely goes through some twists and turns the first didn't. But then... the first (with some REAL VOLUME behind it) just high powered through everything including the listener's head in effect liquefying their brain.

This album (CD) is more progressive than the first though and if you have no patience for prog you might not like it. Fortunately for me I love a progressive influence and absolutely enjoy this album. But comparing it to the first is like comparing Zeppelin three to their first. Both great but no comparison!

In my review of "Captain Beyond" the first album, I called it the best single rock album I have ever heard. "Sufficiently Breathless" can't quite get to that level of accolade, however I still find it to be one heck of a fine album. The music is quieter than the first album, it does not have that every note from start to finish is a blow away as the first did, but it still has some wonderful music on it. If I am going to sit down and listen to "Captain Beyond" I rarely listen to the first without listening to the second. In fact it makes a wonderful compliment to the first album, its almost as if you can hear what they learned musically from the first album was translated into some more introspective and mature songs. I highly reccomend this album (CD) especially as a companion to the first and suggest both be listened to in a single sitting for an ultimate musical (and "Beyond") experience. BTW - I can't express how good these albums are through a decent set of headphones - amazing mixing on both; try it.

Captain Beyond was one of the myriad of rock groups in the seventies that I just assumed were a hugely popular act because they were in my father's record collection (he had all 3 of their albums, in fact). As I grew older and began sharing my tastes with peers, I became increasingly aware that, as with much of the music in dad's collection, this was not the case. In fact, until I finally saw Sufficiently Breathless on a CD in a Media Play about 2 years ago, I was convinced that my father was the only person on the planet to have purchased this fine record. I was relieved to see that their stuff was finally getting issued on disc, especially this album.

To those who have never heard it, here's what you're getting if you choose to partake:

Captain Beyond incorporated a wide variety of styles into all of their music. They could rock out as well as mellow out. There were splashes of Santana, brushes of Iron Butterfly, dabblings of Yes, Black Sabbath, Hendrix, and countless others, but never to the point of derivity. Fans of just about any genre or sub-genre of classic rock music will find much to savor on this disc. The opening titular track is a hippie paradise of chugging, textured acoustic rhythm guitar twined with spacey fuzz solos and tight vocal harmonies. Another personal favorite of mine is the Robin Trower-esque "Starglow Energy", a beautiful and anxious psychedelic rocker that I can't believe wasn't in the charts.

I play in a band that would love to revive this very kind of music. Melodic, experimental, and dare-I-use-the-term TRIPPY, but still rock-radio friendly.

For headphone rock at it's best, warm up the lava lamp, dust off the bean bag chair, and fire up this very underrated band's greatest work. Oh, and be sure to place a Do Not Disturb sign on your bead curtain.

Seeing a review titled "Santana Meets Pink Floyd" really made me smile because I'd always thought of this album as "Santana grows up in England". Latin rhythms with a British singer and hard-rock (sounding)lead guitarist ("Bright Blue Tango") combined with the Pink Floyd-ish "Starglow Energy". This is my second-longest continually played LP since '73. I've long since gotten tired of all Pink Floyd, Zepplin, etc. This music just doesn't get old. Unfortunately (for us/me), Rod Evans "retired" either during recording or immediately after finishing this LP. Either way, God bless you, Rod. I hope you're well and happy. Thanks for the 2 Capt. Beyond LP's, as well as the Purple stuff.

We all know that Sufficiently Breathless isn't as good as the first. However, lets be fair. As creative musicians they were simply expressing themselves in a different manner. If you listen closely the musicianship is still there, its just a different style. Do I like the first one better -- absolutely! But I don't think Captain Beyond has to apologize to anybody for this effort. It is, truly, a very good album. I own all three Captain Beyond CDs and I'm not the least bit sorry about any of them. At any rate, in my humble opinion, you won't be disappointed having this in your collection. If you really want to know why the first and second are so different just look at who penned them. Every song on the first album was written by Caldwell & Evans. All songs on S.B. were written by Lee Dorman.

The album cover alone is enough by itself to make you want to buy this. There is some spacy rock here, listen to "Distant Sun". The title track is like no other rock song I've ever heard and sounds about as good as any I have. I'm not going to say this is a great album because I really don't think it is but the music I do like on it makes it worth having. It had me "Dancing Madly Backwards" back in '74. But it stills sounds good today on CD, actually better. "Sufficiently Breathless" is probably the best song on this album but others are good too. There seems to be an aura missing from this album though. It lacks expermentation in a way. None of the instruments ever seem to stand out on most of the songs and I wish I knew what the alien was saying on song #7, "Voyages of Past Travelers". Who knows? Maybe we're the aliens.

I went to see Yes in 1973. An unknown band was the opening act. They called themselves Captain Beyond. What an incredible show!

What an opening act for Yes (touring in support of Close to the Edge at the time)! The next day, I bought this album. It wasn't until the next year that I found the 1st LP. I would rate this one better (although they are both excellent). This LP is more imaginative and very catchy. Buy it.

I've read a dozen or so comments on this album and have to say that while this album differs from their debut, it is every bit as good. I have all three of their CD's. I saw them play in 1977 in Chicago at a small bar. Captian Beyond is in a world of their own, and it's pretty cool there.

I agree with a few reviewers who indicated that this recording is different from the first but nonetheless excellent. It does seem to have a Santana-flavor to it...probably my favorite tracks are the title track and Starglow Energy, which has an unearthly, transcendant, and beautiful introduction. Please do not hesitate to purchase this CD if you enjoy quality Rock.

first there's the self-titled album which creatively consists of flowing rock riffs, some nice vibraphone placement and some usage of non-drumkit percussion, then you have this one...the way they write these songs is much more imaginative than the previous...more acoustic guitar, fluid assortments of percussion, organ, piano, riffs, sound effects, and its all thrown together for one humungous captain beyond stew.