Supertramp - Breakfast In America

Oh, how I wanted to add Crime Of The Century here. Artistically and dynamically it is Supertramp's best record. I listened to it back to back with Breakfast In America several times, and despite my personal preference I just couldn't do it. While Crime Of The Century works better as a whole album, there are so many parts without any drums it wouldn't have been right.

The more Bob Siebenberg, the better, and Bob is all over this record.

When I listen to Supertramp I hear a band that spent way more time arranging and organizing their songs than I ever will. There are intricate parts buried under pop hooks and a Wurlitzer organ, its really quite impressive. They were all extremely talented, musically minded people, and drummer/percussionist Siebenberg matched their attention to detail and skill.

Siebenbergs patterns on songs like Goodbye Stranger work well on a rock level, but if you listen closely he is playing lots in between the rhythms. Snare trills, and high hat flourishes give his playing a texture that really has gone missing since this era in music.

People seem to have a misguided image of Supertramp thanks to stupid Gap commercials and the fucking Gym Class Heroes. I could spend months discussing how they aren't seen as the technical masters that they were. They bridged the gap between art, progressive rock and pop music better than anyone else from that time. The end of Goodbye Stranger completely changes feel and bursts into a guitar solo with th drums and keys flourishing from time to time. Basically it was like if the Bee Gees all of a sudden started listening to Yes and kept writing songs.

The seven minute epic Child Of Vision displays more of the dynamic, thought out playing we heard on Crime Of The Century. Siebenberg is an expert at knowing when to not play at all, and even when he starts to get technical he never makes the music feel crowded.

I'm not the only one who thinks that Siebenberg was a genius. In 1989 he was commisioned to write the music for Sierra's Space Quest III. Not only is he a better drummer than you, but he is involved with video games on a deeper level too.

Might as well pack in in.

Audio/Video Evidence : Goodbye Stranger, The Logical Song