The Present. <<

Long Distance Voyager was a hard act to follow, this was true in terms of success, The Present wasn't as successful as LDV, commercial wise that is music wise however The Present was at least just as good as LDV. An underrated album, even by The Moody Blues themselves. This review takes me so long (Hell every review), cause I have the album on constantly and sometimes I just have to stop writing cause the music draws my attention.

The album kicks off with four strong songs, providing one of the greatest album sides ever... (remember I am reviewing the albums as the lp releases of back then.)

Blue World (Hayward) Arguably not as strong as The Voice, still it is yet another classic Moody Blues song and great opener. Patrick's sound effects on this song, and the others on this album, are just right, they add to the feeling of the song, like Mike did with his mellotron. The song again has a message, to be brief we all need to be there for each other.

The lyrics to Meet Me Halfway (Hayward/Lodge) also are not that of your typical love song or something, but it still can be seen as a love song of some kind. To be precise of that of two persons that has been without someone for a long time and never thought they would find love again. Then as they find each other "live a vision like a face coming out of the sky, you were there not a dream you were there in my eye". But not wanting to get hurt (again) they ask  to meet each other hallway, not literally. I've written this down before but better. Anyway the music again is fantastic, as I put on the cd again I just have to stop writing and listen, as it absorbs me.

One can take on a deep meaning to the lyrics of Sitting at the wheel (Lodge) , as it could mean taking control of your life, sitting at the wheel of your life, but the fact is it is just a perfect driving song. So no shame if you take the lyrics literally, it's probably meant to taken that way and it is just me giving it to much meaning. A great rock song by John without going overboard as on later offerings, not to name them here. Fantastic slide at the end played by producer Pip Williams as I have since learned, still no doubt that Justin could have pulled it off. The Present is also one of the last album that has Ray Thomas involved in many songs.

Going Nowhere (Edge) is Graeme's offering, showing once again that he to is a great songwriter. It's wonderful to hear Ray's voice on this song, a favourite among the fans, full of emotions, beautiful backing vocals to. Music that once again totally absorbs you.

The second side (Song #6 for the cd people, to bad you only get one opener) opens perfectly with the mystic, Hole In The World (Lodge) one of the few instrumentals by the Moody Blues. Marching drums, perfect aahs backing vocals leading the song into the wonderful Under My Feet (Lodge). The music and the typical backing vocals, makes this one of the better Lodge songs.

It's only now that the album slows down with It's Cold Outside Of Your Heart (Hayward)
It's almost as if the song doesn't belong on The Present. A taster for The Other Side Of Life, perhaps. Music wise still a good song, bit of a country feel to it, which I don't mind, lyric wise not that special, "It's a big world to face all alone". I am sure someone is willing to lend Justin a hand to cross the street.

Running Water (Hayward) while not in the same league is Justin's ballads on previous albums still has got that feel to it. For all that is worth it's a favourite of mine, tho if I have to choose between this song and New Horizons, New Horizons it is.

I Am and Sorry (Thomas) are the last songs by Ray we would get for eight years. Perhaps it's  not as strong as the Smile/ VCR combo. Many have tried to figure the lyrics out for I am, I am not going to try. Again the music is good but out of the two the song Sorry is my favourite.The lyrics to me are about people who are always wanting to be right , even when they are not. The author however  doesn't want to give life for the sake of winning an argument. The music begins restful as if to underline the words "Just look at me now, because I am tired of yelling",....  I am not willing to trade my life to make a sale" . The end is a fantastic music power house that doesn't get to big. Great Ray Thomas song.

The last of the great Moody Blues albums. Just a few minor points,  It's Cold Outside of Your Heart slows the album down and put a hold to a string of fantastic songs. Sorry however is a great album closer.

December. <<

I really thought this was going to be one of the worse Moody Blues albums. All the signs were there, no Ray Thomas, for the first time it would feature cover versions and on top of that I learned it would be a Christmas album, and I  don't care much for Christmas albums. I was planning to give it a low rating but it doesn't deserve that, in fact it turned out to be a really good album, with some obscure covers that goes perfectly well with some good original material. Tho two more well known covers "Happy Xmas" and "White Christmas" doesn't really work on this album.

Never judge a song by it's title, is what I have learned. I have been singing " I don't need a reindeer (Hayward) I don't need the snow" ever since I heard little snippets from internet sites.
The song is very catchy, one to keep playing over and over again.

December Snow (Hayward) is a Justin ballad in his best tradition. One of the stand outs on this colection.The way Justin sings "Time, takes this sadness from me" full of emotion, reminds me of all my favourite Justin ballads, like I said this is one  in his best traditions.

In The Quiet of Christmas Morning
Is one that doesn't do much for me, doesn't bring out any feeling. Sounds to lush. 

I predicted that On This Christmas Day (Lodge)would be my favourite from the album, when I heard a little sample from it, I was slightly wrong. It's not the favourite but one of my favourites. One of Johns more heartfelt and better ballads.
There is a little hint at the Beatles song "You never gave me your money" in the guitar solo

I really was curious to hear Happy Christmas (Lennon/Ono) but it was a disappointment. This version is lacking all the strength of the original, and becomes meaningless to me.

A Winters Tale is alright, this song no doubt will grow on me somewhat.  I can't say much about it, I like it but I don't think it's to special. Nothing that really grabs me, but also nothing that makes me want to grab the remote. (note, one year later i still think it's just an alright song).

The Spirit Of Christmas (Lodge) Good lyrics with a message, in the old traditions of the Moody Blues. Musically it takes awhile to build up but it does. With the gospel and the way John sings the part from "Looking for an answer that escapes me" and all is right in Moody land again for me. Some good guitar work by Justin.Tho the rest of the music again lacks something, and sounds to much like other songs.

Yes I Believe (Hayward) A positive answer to John's previous song. It has everything a Moody Blues song should have. It only has the word "Christmas" one time at the beginning of the song, so ignoring that you can easily play the song the rest of the year. Everything would have been right if Justin didn't throw in some reference to Days of Future Passed again and if it didn't sound to much like Justin's solo work on "View On The Hill", but on the other hand "View On The Hill" is Justin at his best.

When A Child Is Born is another one of a dozen instant Christmas songs according to a standard formula, lacking strength and is to lush. It has some nice Aah-aah's backing vocals tho, I am easy to please with that and the guitar, alright it can grow on me, maybe I started out to harsh. Yes the aah-aah's just put more of those in any song, and you won me over. And the deep, backing vocals doing the mmm mmm, or something are also nice.

White Christmas sounds out of place, no matter how it was recorded, it just doesn't fit in with the rest of the album. 

In the Bleak Midwinter this song has become another one of my favourites. The song grows. The ending is simply beautiful with some haunting guitar work. 

I do enjoy this album. I still wished that they had released an normal studio album with all original songs, and to me this isn't really a follow up to "Strange Times".  But it's no use to keep complaining, I enjoy what I have, and many fans are pleased with it so there is nothing wrong with that. It's not a normal Christmas album, it's far removed from the usual stuff that the record labels throw at us to earn some money, as it still represents the Moody Blues.