Boston – Boston

Boston's painstaking and meticulous recording methods were solidified with their later efforts, but their platinum-selling debut was in fact made in an apartment basement across a five-year period, adding greater depth to an already outstanding record. "Boston" was released in 1976 and embraced the complexity of classical music, incorporating elaborate electronic effects, lengthy verses and sophisticated guitar parts. It was this guitar-driven factor separating the band from yacht rockers of the time; harmonized solos are employed extensively throughout and the immaculate production registers each seamless shift from acoustic to electric instrumental passages as a jolt, transporting the listener to another place altogether - even the vocals are protracted to dramatic lengths, soaring in conjunction with the music itself, i.e. chord progression, which takes on an otherworldly feel, with the towering lead vocal emphatically delivering certain lines. Particularly on tracks such as the air guitar anthem "More Than A Feeling", this heavy use of guitars, organs and airy vocals was to prove incredibly successful even with mainstream audiences and upon its release to radio, the lead single overshadowed the album entirely and it took on a life of its own in terms of ubiquity. Due to its balancing of guitars and setting up the listener at every turn for a radical fluctuation, be it technically or sonically, each composition requires a heightened awareness of its dynamics and nuances to such a level that demands aural sensitivity of the highest order. However, the casual music consumer seemed to be satisfied with a passive listen to the recording rather than its progressive technical aspects and the album sold in excess of two million copies within the first two years of its release. It is a breathtaking record of massive proportions, imbued with passion and affecting to the point of provoking a genuine emotional reaction in those prepared to pay more attention to all of the precise details present in each magnetic composition. One can only marvel at the spaced out, constantly pivoting genre defiance, transitioning from classic and prog rock to blues and even power pop, creating an atmosphere that demands repeat listens. Sonically, technically and lyrically, this is classic rock's finest hour, deservedly listed amongst the greatest albums of all-time and one you owe it to yourself to experience in its all its majesty.

Rating: 5/5

Rock & Roll Band is listed on the back as 2:60 instead of 3:00... lol