Crime of the Century

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Supertramp
Crime of the Century

[ A&M Records / CD ]

Release Date: Sunday 13 April 2003

This item is currently out of stock. It may take 6 or more weeks to obtain from when you place your order as this is a specialist product.

Supertramp came into their own on their third album, 1974's Crime of the Century, as their lineup gelled but, more importantly, so did their sound. The group still betrayed a heavy Pink Floyd influence, particularly in its expansive art rock arrangements graced by saxophones, but Supertramp isn't nearly as spooky as Floyd -- they're snarky collegiate elitists, an art rock variation on Steely Dan or perhaps a less difficult 10cc, filled with cutting jokes and allusions, best heard on "Bloody Well Right."

This streak would later flourish on Breakfast in America, but it's present enough to give them their own character. Also present is a slight sentimental streak and a heavy fondness for pop, heard on "Dreamer," a soaring piece of art pop that became their first big hit. That and "Bloody Well Right" are the concise pop moments on the record; the rest of Crime of the Century is atmospheric like Dark Side of the Moon, but with a lighter feel and a Beatles bent.

At times the album floats off into its own world, with an effect more tedious than hypnotic, but it's still a huge leap forward for the group and their most consistent album outside of that 1979 masterwork, Breakfast in America.
4/5 All Music Guide.

Tracks:

1. School
1. Bloody Well Right
2. Hide in Your Shell
3. Asylum
4. Dreamer
5. Rudy
6. If Everyone Was Listening
7. Crime of the Century