Break the barricades by clicking on this link so that you may return to the main Procol Harum page! A Barricade is a Terrible Thing to Waste Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10 Among all of Procol Harum's album, I really don't sport a soft spot for Broken Barricades. YES! I do claim that I am more of an art-classicalish-rock lover ... but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the living fritzspilly out of a great hard rock song every once in a while. Even though "Whisky Train" from Procol's previous album, Home, really illustrated the peak this band would ever get to hard rock, there are more frequent efforts on Broken Barricades. And, for a brief while, Procol Harum changed their sound quite a bit. Of course, the big influence for that was Robin Trower! (Hey! Did you know that Robin Trower used to ----asggthhhckck!!) His electric guitar finally gets the chance to adequately shine on a Procol Harum album ... and that really changes the sound! (I mean ... stodgy old Procol Harum actually writing riff-based music! Whatever! It's true, though. I promise.) Ironically, after Robin Trower finally got the chance to leave his mark on the band, he leaves and embarks on his solo career. It's just as well, though. Trower just had too much talent to take the backseat in an art-rock band. And, he did have a marginally successful solo career ... And besides. How could Procol Harum make Grand Hotel when they have to obligingly milk something out of Robin Trower? Simply put, they both were destined for other things! Anyway, even though Robin Trower absolutely rules, I must observe that this is one of Procol Harum's most disorganized effort. While I adore most of these songs, I can't say that I enjoy this album so much as an experience like I enjoyed all of Procol's previous efforts as well as their subsequent two. So ... even though Broken Barricades is more friendly to your rock-and-roll ears, I can't really endorse this one above all other Procol Harum albums. But it is still very excellent. Overall Album Score: 8.6 out of 10 (There are some NICE hard rock songs on here. But are hard rock songs really in the best interest of Procol Harum? I don't know! You'll have to be the judge of that!) Average Song Score: 8.8 (Robin Trower really puts forth the best songs on this album! ... Really! Although, I do suppose that Brooker might have stepped aside and let Trower take the reigns for a little while ... since he's been the neglected guitarist.) Album Tilt: 8.5 (While I do recognize that some of these songs are beautiful and others are kickaaaazzzzzzz, this isn't something that I constantly want to revisit.) Artist Rating: 8.5 (Not exactly impressive on the artistic scale, either. It strikes me as being a little bit directionless, actually ... something that I don't associate with other Procol Harum albums.) Track Reviews Simple Sister 10/10 Do you have any idea how much this song makes my life better? ... Okay, it doesn't really make my life that much better. But that doesn't mean it isn't a totally awesome song. This stuff is hard rock the way nature intended it to be. It is menacing (though, not nearly as menacing as "Whisky Train" was on the previous album). It is intelligent. It has a great melody. Wicked instrument-playing (...It's gotta be ... They got Robin! ... He gives a wonderful solo here ... The 80s hair bands probably thought it up to the gods). And the arranging is really wonderful (and creative) This one is really kind of like the old Procol Harum style, but it's harder than normal. And, yes, probably even more entertaining than normal. Broken Barricades 8/10 The song after "Simple Sister," traditionally, has never been quite a worthy follow-up. (MmmmHmmmm...) This is a pure example of that classic Procol Harum sound. It's kind of rambly and doesn't get intensely interesting. Just the same, it's kinda pretty. Memorial Drive 9/10 Whoah! Robin Trower wrote this song! What a nice song! (And, of course, Robin gives himself some room to play some niiiiiiiiiice guitar licks.) Generally, this total-Trowerness is the basic reason why I like this. Though, I also suppose that the melody is pretty good. It doesn't exhilarate me or anything. Luskus Delph 9/10 This is a classical-music-inspired track the only way Procol Harum could make them! It absolutely soars in its beauty and makes for a completely memorable moment. It might even go to pick you up emotionally if you're in the right mood ... if you're in the right mood. Power Failure 8/10 Hah! It's a good thing that I saved my work then! I must be a complete idiot or something, but "Power Failure," which appears on a lot of Procol Harum best-of compilations (and it was also 'checked' by the All-Music Guide), isn't something that honestly impresses me. Although, I must mention that it is an interesting song! ... (That strange tribal jam in the middle of this --- ??) ... I usually prefer those songs with wonderful melodies (aka Luskus Delph) to those that exist simply because they sound like they were written by somebody on drugs. (Although, I must admit that I do a lot of my writing while sitting on Tylenol capsules.) This is probably the best example of an 'overrated Procol Harum tune' ... as much of a contradiction in terms that is ... Songs For a Dreamer 9/10 Robin Trower writes this one! ... I thought that psychedelia was OUT by 1971, but I guess if good old Robbie wants to treat us with a dreary psychedelic outing, then it's fine with me. It's not a boring song or anything like that. Although, it's not quite as guitar-heavy as we might have expected. (There's some dreamy guitars on here.) I do like it quite a lot. I usually dread it when most other bands try songs like these. Somehow, Procol Harum managed to completely evade that. Playmate of the Mouth 8/10 Hmmm... I know what this song title is referring to. I'm just trying to figure out why. This Brooker composition really isn't that wonderful. Sorry, Gary! Trower is given another chance to shine with his wonderful guitar playing here. (Glad, at least, they weren't stifling him.) Just the same, apart from Trower, this one seems awfully lazy. Poor Mohammed 9/10 Another Trower composition! Is it just me, or does he shine through the cracks of Procol Harum on Broken Barricades or what? I guess that is why he had to leave (and start his semi-popular solo career). He didn't really fit in with the direction that Brooker probably wanted to take the band. Just the same, he leaves his mark on the band AGAIN with "Poor Mohammed." It's a kicking hard rock track that would make about any other hard rock outfit of any era jealous ... especially considering that hard rock was nothing more than a 'dangerous flirtation' to Procol Harum. What do I have to break before you start leaving your comments about this album here?

All reviews are copyrighted by the author, Michael Lawrence. He's a lily-livered bastard.