Free as a Bird

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Lacking the pop sensibilities of Breakfast in America and ...Famous Last Words..., as well as the jazzy fusions of Brother Where You Bound, Free as a Bird is a colorless and tuneless collection of prog rock meandering distinguished only by the fact that future Crowded House guitarist Mark Hart was featured on the recording.

By Just Fell In "Just Fell In"

This much maligned Supertramp realease was the follow up to 1985's BROTHER WHERE YOU BOUND. It was the late 80s and there was either electronica or hair metal to choose from in the top 40. Supertramp is a progressive rock group from the 70s, and that kind of music was definitely not in vogue. This album is like nothing they put out before, and therefore fans hate it. On BROTHER they had a hit with Cannonball, which also enjoyed some success on the dance circuit. On this album it seems like they decided to incorporate some dance and electronica into their style. BROTHER's subject matter was dark and heavy. On FREE AS A BIRD we hear a much lighter sound and there is a return to lighter material in the lyrics. It seems like they were trying to reinvent themselves to keep up with the times and/or to go in a direction that may have been suggested by their record company after the success of BROTHER. In any case, this is an enjoyable album that grows on you with time. They revisit the sound of their seminal album BREAKFAST IN AMERICA on track 3 It Doesn't Matter, but it is not as immediate as anything on that album. There are several tracks that incorporate danceable rhythms and latin percussion, but it only works as a novelty variation of the Supertramp sound rather than a reinvention that could be marketed to the dance circuit that Cannonball enjoyed success on. Regardless or what the motivation was for their radical change in direction for this album, it is a good listen; albeit after a few listens more than their older albums took to take hold. This is more of a transition album for them. It sounds more like adult contemporary than pop/rock, a sure way to alienate a fan base. The later sound that they adopted for SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE and SLOW MOTION is audible here. Mark Hart from Crowded House replaced Roger Hodgson, but Rick Davies doesn't let him in on the fun. His presence is barely distinguishable and instead he becomes a bit player. The rest of the band is stellar as usual, but Hodgson is missed on the songwriting. If you are new to Supertramp, I recommend in order from best to least:

BREAKFAST IN AMERICA
CRIME OF THE CENTURY
CRISIS WHAT CRISIS?
BROTHER WHERE YOU BOUND
EVEN IN THE QUIETEST MOMENTS
FAMOUS LAST WORDS

FREE AS A BIRD is not Supertramp in their most famous and effective incarnation but it is worth buying as a blend of adult contemporary, jazz and world music. Rick Davies is a master of the blues and of blending the mentioned styles. I did not expect to like this album as much as I did, but it made me wish (as with all Supertramp fans) that Roger Hodgson had never left.