Gentle Giant-Three Friends (1972)

"Three Friends" was the first of two albums Gentle Giant released in 1972 (the second being "Octopus", released eight months later). This new release, the British band's third chronologically and their first to be released commercially in the United States, is a concept album about the anxieties and bitterness of three childhood friends. Unlike their previous experimental and dark album ("Acquiring the Taste" from 1971), here they express their more rock-oriented side, abandoning medieval and complex sounds and showcasing distorted and aggressive guitars and a powerful Hammond organ throughout. The captivating opening track, the catchy "Prologue", displays this energetic facet, though dominated by keyboards that are well supported by excellent bass lines. The stellar "Working All Day", on the other hand, is driven by the dazzling saxophone of Philip Shulman, which interacts brilliantly with Kerry Minnear's ethereal keyboards. On the other hand, the melancholic "Peel the Paint" (where Ray Shulman's violin takes center stage) transports us through delightful musical passages with a touch of madness. This track contrasts sharply with the rhythmic, hard-rock-influenced "Three Friends", the beautiful "Schooldays" with its complex vocal patterns and powerful percussion, and the dense, dissonant "Mister Class and Quality". From this point on, Gentle Giant specialized in crafting works that revolved around a concept, as would be the case with "In A Glass House" (1973), "The Power and The Glory" (1974), and "Interview" (1976).