Cat Stevens

The last really good Cat Stevens song, two albums back, was appropriately titled "I Can't
Keep It In." Since then he's been pouring out separate streams of interesting melody and
dubious verbiage, streams that never converge. That would not necessarily be a problem --
Stevens remains a gifted composer no matter what -- were it not for the fact that his lyrics
become so much more strident and incoherent with each progressively less pro... More >

The difference between an album you love and an album you hate is often one or two cuts. An inspired song that fulfills a fantasy you never knew you had can make you believe in a whole side, while a song that commits some deadly sin can drag innocents to perdition. In "Music," for example, Cat tells us there wouldn't be any "wars in the world/If everybody joined in the band." This kind of lie is called a tautology; it's like saying there wouldn't be any hunger if everyone became an ice cream man. And makes you wonder why a guy who loves trees so much (reference: "King of Trees") designed a double-fold cover with cardboard inner sleeve for this unlovable single LP. (Grade: C-)