Roger Hodgson Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
This is Roger Hodgson's third solo studio album, 13 years after his second, the experimentalHai Hai (1987). During those 13 years, Hodgson had his personal challenges, including some health difficulties, but he did manage a tour, which is represented by 1997's Rites of Passage. During that tour, Hodgson dipped into the Supertramp catalog and this seemed to free him of his ghosts, because Open the Door is the closest thing to Supertramp since ...Famous Last Words.... Hodgson still experiments with his music on this release (the title track, for example), but here it is couched in much more melodic tunes and personal lyrics. Also, the music has a tinge of a French style to it. Perhaps he was influenced by the French countryside, in which this album was recorded (Les Sorinieres, France); he used French artists as his backup band. The music is much more acoustic and much more gentle. The French influence is a breath of fresh air, as it is not often in heard in English releases, and Hodgson is able to mix it with his other influences (e.g., John Lennon). The highlights are many and as a whole it is a strong album. Fans will be delighted to hear Hodgson returning to the craft of writing high-quality songs. It is a shame it took 13 years for Hodgson to get to this point in his career. ~ Aaron Badgley, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Vocalist/guitarist Roger Hodgson must have really felt stifled toward the end of his tenure in Supertramp in the early '80s -- despite co-writing and singing many of the band's biggest hits -- because his solo debut, 1984's In the Eye of the Storm, is a remarkable work of explosive creativity. Hodgson wrote, sang, arranged, and produced In the Eye of the Storm, but the real kicker is the fact that he played every instrument himself, with a few exceptions such as drums and fretless bass guitar on a few cuts. As a result, In the Eye of the Storm is easily the best synthesis of pop and progressive rock since, well, prime Supertramp. The spirit of traditional progressive rock experimentation is alive on this album; five of the seven songs exceed six minutes. The brilliant leadoff track, "Had a Dream (Sleeping With the Enemy)," is nine minutes long. An edited single just missed the Top 40, but every second of the sound effects, driving piano, tasteful guitar, and Hodgson's aggressive singing of this cynical song must be heard to be fully appreciated. "In Jeopardy" has a cha-cha, shuffle-like flavor and Hodgson's monotone vocals provide a faintly creepy effect. The gentle ballad "Lovers in the Wind" is sweetly arranged. "Give Me Love, Give Me Life" is exuberantly optimistic and hyperactively bouncy. "I'm Not Afraid" fearlessly flows back and forth between darker sounding melodies and upbeat pop. The creamy "Only Because of You" can be favorably compared to the floating instrumental passages on Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. Without question, In the Eye of the Storm is an exceptional piece of highly listenable craftsmanship. ~ Bret Adams, All Music Guide
