Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Chicago
Label: Frontiers Records
Release: 2014
Duration: 50:27
Rating: 4.5/5
Plenty of younger listeners, even the ones with eclectic, genre-agnostic taste, make the same mistake of writing off old bands with decades of mileage in advance, in the vein of “old farts can’t show us anything worthwhile anymore, so they’d better retire.” And then it often turns out that precisely those “old farts” go and create a 21st-century achievement that overshadows the work of far younger acts who walked in their footsteps. A case in point is the American jazz rock/pop rock heroes Chicago, who get written off way too quickly. They released their last studio album of new songwriting material back in 2006, with »Chicago XXX«. »Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sissyphus« did come out in 2008, but that one was a ‘belated’ release, since it should have come out fifteen years earlier.
»Chicago XXXVI«, with the alternate title (or maybe subtitle) »Now«, is their first album of completely new compositions since 2006 and the 36th album in their history overall. Under Chicago’s long-running tradition of numbering albums with Roman numerals, live releases and ‘best of’ compilations count too. The long wait for brand-new studio material has finally paid off for the faithful, because Chicago haven’t sounded this fresh and inspired in ages as they do on »Chicago XXXVI« aka »Now«. The whole band, nine members strong (the original members being keyboardist/vocalist Robert Lamm, trombonist James Pankow, trumpeter/vocalist Lee Loughnane and saxophonist Walter Parazaider), delivers songs that recall some of the best moments from their past, while the excellent production by Hank Linderman keeps everything sounding modern and accessible to younger generations too.
Phenomenal vocal harmonies from five different singers and a mighty horn section have always been the main trademarks of these American legends of sophisticated pop rock with jazz elements. On »Now«, though, they also experimented with gusto with elements of soul, disco and classic rock. Additional keyboardist/vocalist Lou Pardini and percussionist Walfredo Reyes, Jr. also left their songwriting mark for the first time on »Now«.
The opening track, »Now«, already serves up a peculiar surprise: it’s got disco elements, which are a delight to hear in Chicago’s music again after such a long time. Apart from a short stretch in the late seventies, Chicago didn’t do much disco experimenting in their career, so after all this time a faint pulse of “Saturday Night Fever” in their music sounds really refreshing. These masters of subtle atmospheric nuance wow us with gorgeous symphonic arrangements, lovely and exceptionally varied vocal harmonies, and conjure up a nostalgic, hypnotic chorus.
»More Will Be Revealed« also has a few determined guitar phrases tying together the melodic structure of yet another beautifully arranged gem, peaking in a nostalgic chorus. »America« combines social criticism aimed at American leaders with a somewhat naive take on the positive changes that ‘American values’ are supposed to bring and cement among the people. The decidedly upbeat chorus is arranged with melodic horn parts and brilliant vocal harmonies that really make your heart sing. »Crazy Happy« has a slightly dreamy, jazzy pulse, while the playful chorus with its ‘feathery’ vocal melodies keeps the good times rolling.
The energetic »Free At Last« has an interesting offering of guitar chords from Keith Howland and some good rhythmic twists, while the superbly synchronized sax maneuvers back up the spirited chorus in a wonderful way. The power ballad »Love Lives On« is only the first song on the album with openly romantic lyrics, so despite their past reputation as incorrigible romantics and heartbreaking ‘softies’, Chicago keep that theme within the bounds of good taste on »Now«. Fans of their earlier power-ballad hits will definitely enjoy the excellently arranged and masterfully sung chorus.
»Something’s Coming, I Know« has a retro rhythmic pulse and a nostalgic chorus, and together they conjure up a magical atmosphere, with a brilliant guitar solo thrown in for good measure. The dreamy »Watching All The Colors« has a similar vibe and is slightly reminiscent of some of Chicago’s late-seventies work. »Nice Girl« is a track with cheeky lyrics and a phenomenal vocal performance, especially in the chorus, where the tireless horn section shines again.
It’s good to hear socially critical and pacifist lyrics slowly returning to Chicago’s music. Lamm has been knocking on the conscience of his fellow Americans with them since the very beginning, and the closing track »Naked In The Garden Of Allah« proves it. It has the darkest, most solemn atmosphere on the album, along with an orientally spiced rhythmic pulse and some surprising instrumental finesse. Here Lamm takes a swipe at religious fanaticism (not just the Islamic kind, even though the title was inspired by the legendary sect of the Assassins), which in its blindness causes all sorts of violence. The bonus track, »Another Trippy Day«, is no worse than the ‘regular’ material on the album: a superbly arranged pop rock number with dynamic horn flights and a masterfully sung, instantly catchy chorus.
The masters are still masters. »Now« is some of the best stuff Chicago have done since the end of the seventies, a deliciously tasty blend of the different styles they’ve experimented with throughout their career, with a big emphasis on the horn section. »Now« is a veritable wellspring of nostalgia and a wonderful achievement by top-notch musicians who haven’t forgotten the days when (almost all) music was still made with heart. Chicago remain one of the best textbooks on how sophisticated pop rock with a jazzy molasses and the occasional pacifist message should sound.
Lineup
Robert Lamm – keyboards, lead and backing vocals, arrangements
Walter Parazaider – alto saxophone
Lee Loughnane – trumpet, horn, lead and backing vocals
James Pankow – trombone
Jason Scheff – bass guitar, lead and backing vocals, arrangements
Keith Howland – guitar, lead and backing vocals, arrangements
Tris Imboden – drums
Lou Pardini – keyboards, lead and backing vocals
Walfredo Reyes, Jr. – percussion
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Philippe Saisse – keyboards (1)
Verdine White – bass guitar (1)
Dorian Crozier – drums(1)
David Williams – guitar (1)
Michael O’Neil – guitar (1)
Luis Conte – percussion (1,6)
Harry Kim – horns (1)
Daniel Fornero – trumpet, horn (1)
Arturo Velasco – trombone (1)
George Shelby – tenor saxophone (1)
Schiela Gonzalez – baritone and tenor saxophone (1)
Hank Linderman – guitar (2), backing vocals (10), arrangements
Ray Herrmann – alto saxophone (2), soprano saxophone (2), tenor saxophone (5,9)
Trent Gardner- horn arrangement (3,4,5,10), trombone (5), synthesizer (5)
Larry Klimas – alto saxophone (3,4,11)
Nick Lane – trombone (3,4)
Steve Lu – synthesizer (6)
Tim Pierce – electric guitar (6)
Jeff Babko – horn arrangement (9)
John McFee – piščal (10)
John Van Eps – synthesizer and programming (11), arrangements
Production
Hank Linderman
Track list
1. Now
2. More Will Be Revealed
3. America
4. Crazy Happy
5. Free At Last
6. Love Lives On
7. Something’s Coming, I Know
8. Watching All The Colors
9. Nice Girl
10. Naked In The Garden Of Allah
11. Another Trippy Day (bonus)
