Comments for Chicago, Chicago Twenty 1

Chicago returns from being a rock and roll bar band (that is my opinion of how they were for Chicago 19)to a sophisticated pop group. Songs on this album are more complex, using a lot more interesting chord changes. Songs on this album have different blends. "Somebody, Somewhere" has a country feel to it. "Only Time Can Heal the Wounded" has sort of a jazz/ new age feel to it. "God Save the Queen" has a bluesy feel to it. Then you have your traditional ballads "You Come to My Senses".

Even though the critics did not like this album, I feel it is one of their best. Excellent songwriting and arrangements are plentiful with the best studio musicians showing up all over this record. Even without David Foster producing this, it is clearly one of the best AOR albums of the 90's.

This is the absolute worst Chicago album, with the possible exception of 13, their poor attempt at disco. I have loved almost all their music, but they seemed to have taken a major misstep here, thinking that all the world really wants is sappy ballads like "You Come To My Senses" and "Only Time Can Heal The Wounded." It seems they should have gone to a therapist rather than release this load of crap on their unsuspecting fans who ignored it in droves.

Not my favourite Chicago album, but there will always be a few good songs on a Chicago album. In this case, these come in the form of "One from the heart", "Chasin'' the wind", "Who do you love" and "Holdin'' on". The rest is a bit disappointing.

Chicago enters their fourth decade with a sound that is new, yet familiar. DawayneBailey joins the group on guitar and adds a bit heavier sound. DavidFoster has unfortunately not contributed to this album, but many ofthe tunes are written by the members and so there are lots of stronghorn line riffs. This was my album of the year for 1991.