Album review: BILLY SHERWOOD – Citizen

BILLY SHERWOOD – Citizen

Frontiers Records [Release date 06.11.15]

Billy Sherwood, man of many talents and currently bassist for Yes, has assembled an impressive cast of guest musicians for his “Citizen” album…but the question has to be can it deliver when so many of this ilk fail…

Citizen is a tiny bit of a concept album with each track seen through the eyes of a time travelling lost soul who steps into individuals involved in pivotal moments in history.

Opener Citizen sets the scene and will be remembered for being Chris Squire’s last performance more than the actual song in my opinion…it just doesn’t work for me at all…especially the electronic voice singing “citizen”.

Things improve with Man & Machine, which features Steve Hackett on guitar, and is a little bit Genesis, a little bit Yes, a little bit Spock’s Beard and even a touch of Buggles at times. Galileo features XTC’s Colin Moulding on vocals and is primarily an acoustic number.

Others guests include Tony Kaye, Steve Morse, Rick Wakeman, Alan Parsons, Jon Davison, Jordan Rudess, Geoff Downes and Patrick Moraz…there’s a lot of ex-Yes keyboards players in there!!

Unfortunately the songs all sort of blend into each other and my mind just sort of drifts off every time I play the album…everything is very well played and produced but it is just a little bland…a little too much like back-ground music.

“Citizen” will find its fans out there but I’m not one of them…sorry.  ***

Review by Phil Berisford


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