Robert Lamm's Subtlety and Passion
Published July 18, 2004
Full disclosure: I think everybody who dares to write critically about music should be devoted to at least one terminally unhip band, and mine is Chicago. Not "Chicago the Dopey Mid-80s Ballad Machine," but the fierce, inventive group that put out about six or seven great albums in the early 70s before descending into a middle-of-the-road morass which they barely survived.
One reason for the band's artistic decline was that they quit recording songs by the person who wrote and sang most of their earliest hits: Robert Lamm, the band's keyboardist. (No, really--Chicago wasn't always Peter Cetera's backup band.) Lamm is the glassy baritone heard on "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?", "Saturday In The Park," and "Beginnings." For some reason (*cough*PETER CETERA), Lamm faded into the background of the group around '75, and still hasn't exactly re-emerged.
You could sense Lamm's frustration on his two solo albums previous to Subtlety and Passion, 1995's Life Is Good In My Neighborhood and 1999's In My Head. Both albums had their share of blatantly non-Chicago moments, with Lamm even assaying a turn at hip-hop(!) on In My Head. It was a clear cry for help from a guy who'd spent too long as a prisoner in an adult-contemporary nostalgia factory.
Now, though, with Chicago essentially without a record deal but still an active touring band, Lamm has abandoned any delusions of contemporaneity and come out with what amounts to a brand-new old Chicago album: Subtlety and Passion.
Heck, he's even dug up an old Terry Kath guitar solo and written new music to fit around it (the lite-funk of "Intensity"). Every track on Subtlety and Passion has the feel of a long-forgotten Chicago album track. The sound is lush, warm, and organic; there's a distinct Brazilian vibe to many of the songs, as there was on Chicago tracks like "Call On Me," "Another Rainy Day in New York City," "No Tell Lover," and the sublime "Beginnings."
- Robert Lamm's Subtlety and Passion
- Published: July 18, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Pop, Music: Classic Rock and Oldies
- Writer: Mark Hasty
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Comments on this articleComments
I couldn't have said it better myself. I was one of the first kids on my block to own Chicago Transit Authority when it came out and, like you, suffered greatly through the David Foster/Peter Cetera Era. That was so frustrating because I'd listen to that crap thinking, "These guys are WAY better than this!"
Anyway, I've just bought Subtlety and Passion and I can't disagree with much of what you said. Thanks for sharing.
hola saludos desde mexico:
Este álbum es uno de los mejores que he escuchado, no lo digo solo porque soy fan de chicago desde hace un buen tiempo, sino porque realmente su sonido es envolvente.
El sonido, la letra y todos los demás efectos son increíbles, y no hablo de que sean espectaculares sino que estan perfectamente engranados en las canciones.
Realmente no necesitas ser fan de chicago ni compartir conmigo el gusto por la musica (la voz) de Robert Lamm. Si realmente te gusta la música te recomiendo este álbum que sin duda alegrará tu día o tal vez tu semana entera.
EXCELLENT!!!!
Great album/CD. I really like Roberts style of music. However, regarding the other reviewers comments on Peter Cetera and David Foster I would have to complelty disagree. Peter Cetera saved Chicago from bottoming out - becoming extinct. His music saved Chicago. Now while the ballads became popular (because they were great songs - Hard To Say I'm Sorry, You're the Inspiration - Peter Cetera also gave the last hard rockin' hit "Stay the Night" - which was their last harder rockin' tunes that they've ever come out with. Check the collection of recordings that Chicago came out without Peter Cetera - and you will see a lot of stuff that is mostly crap. Robert was LOST (last decent hit was "Harry Truman" - James Pankow was stuck in the 70's - the group was basically putting out some really sappy music "AFTER" Peter Cetera left. Chicago has failed on there own with out Peter Cetera. And Robert was a big if not huge part of that failure.
Subletly and Passion redeems Robert - it truly is an outstanding effort.
Larry J.
Robert Lamm has not penned a Chicago hit since 1976, and there are a whole bunch of reasons for that which include the ballad era. Like it or not, it was what was selling and if that was a sellout so be it. The record industry has not responded to a return of a full horn based Chicago song as of yet. Robert's smooth vocals are timeless, he really has not lost much if any of his range and his voice should have been used more in the last 30 years.
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A great write up.A truly brilliant artist. A must for all lovers of great music.