Steve Hackett

Cured
$11.98
Steve Hackett has made many different kinds of albums, and often he'll have many different kinds music on one album. In the context of his extensive discography, CURED is a bit of an oddball, but also sort of a milestone. It marks the first time he tried to sound "pop"-ish, and the first time he did all his own vocals.

The "pop" part is only partially successful. The tunes are catchy enough (especially "Funny Feeling") but the words are often a bit too lazy and awkward to work as good pop lyrics. "Can't Let Go" is a good example of a song where the lyrics start out sounding promising, but then quickly turn sloppy and meaningless.

But it's not *all* pop. There are definite bits of prog here, and the standout track -- the instrumental "Air Conditioned Nightmare" -- isn't pop at all. The primitive drum machine sound throughout the album is less than ideal, but not too distracting.

Considering that Steve never so much as sang backup for Genesis (while members like Phillips and Rutherford, who sounded awful at the time, did), his shot at vocals here isn't bad. He would continue to become a better singer, of course; enough so that he could be a poster child for making the most of a limited voice. And if you've heard his later vocals, it's obvious that CURED has him working, unnaturally & uncomfortably, in the far upper part of his range. On "Picture Postcard" he even evokes Roger Hodgson from Supertramp. But only on the closing "Turn Back Time" does he really sound so strained as to negatively affect the music.

The bonus tracks (2 studio, 1 live) on the remaster were all originally non-album B-sides. All are different recordings of songs available elsewhere. Less known is the fact that the remaster restores a brief intro on "Funny Feeling" that was on the LP but deleted from the original CD issue.

Overall, CURED will probably not interest many people besides Hackett fans. But said fans should definitely check it out once they have his more "obvious" works.

Steve Hackett - Tokyo Tapes (Live in Japan)
$24.95
There are three DVDs to date form Steve. They are all excellent and they are all different.

It goes like this:

Tokyo:
Progressive rock, less focus on Steve, more vocals, great classic gennesis tunes with vocals intact.

South America:
Progressive jazz/rock/classical, more focus on Steve, and as Steve says and I agree on of the most precise bands he has ever played with.

Hungary:
Classical trio, with just three musicians, it's hard not to focus on Steve who is just as talented classically, if not more, as he is talented with other styles. There is some mind numbing classical technique here.

The fact that these three DVDs are so different allowed me to buy all three without having to see the same concert with different musicians.

Voyage Of The Acolyte
$9.49
By far one of the most touching epics in all of prog history. Voyage has been a part of my inner soul for many many years. If you have never heard Hackett you will not only be introduced to the master but will just begin to get a glimpse of the genius. If stuck on a desert island and had only one album to pick I would not think twice to have Voyage with me!

Please Don't Touch!
$12.98
This cd is not for everyone. I look at Steve Hackett's work as musicians to musician work, maybe which is not always the case. But as a guitarist myself, I am in awe of his stylings and entire presentation of the cd, all songs. It is most fun to put in the car stereo on a road-trip and it takes me to another place and time.