Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Different from 1st but still great!, September 3, 2004
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!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not as blow away as the debut album, but still mighty fine, May 21, 2001
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.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best bands you've never heard., January 23, 2005
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.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
~ Captain Beyond
~ Captain Beyond
~ Wishbone Ash
~ Uriah Heep
~ Atomic Rooster
is Captain Beyond's 
