Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Gentle Giant
Release: 1980
Length: 35:07
Rating: 3.5/5
“Civilian” was the swan song of the legendary champions of eclectic progressive rock, who in their last years clung to the American market like a lifeline, since they’d always enjoyed more respect there than on home turf in Britain. Their hopes of survival inevitably fell flat, though. The creative chemistry between the band members just wasn’t what it used to be, and even the longtime fans weren’t exactly thrilled about the more commercial direction they took to reach American radio waves.
On “Civilian,” Gentle Giant carried on with the sonic trend of tighter, mostly melodic and hard rock songs that they’d started on “The Missing Piece” (1977). The innovative, highly complex and often provocative prog rock experiments of their golden days were now just a distant memory. After a relatively weak predecessor in “Giant For a Day” (1978), it seemed like they’d run completely out of ideas. Then, as a parting shot, they pulled off no small surprise and made a surprisingly fresh album with that signature eighties production.
The hard rock guitar lines from eternal blues lover Gary Green are pushed to the front in the mix more than ever before, while keyboardist and occasional singer Kerry Minnear gets a mostly supporting role on synths and piano. Because of that move, “Civilian” became their heaviest album since the self-titled debut. Here and there you can still admire some of their trademark sonic tricks, even though strings and woodwinds had long since vanished from their musical vocabulary. It’s mainly Derek’s and Kerry’s vocal harmonies that provide the unmistakable thread of continuity.
You could debate at length how much the American market actually responded to this record, but the fact remains that with “Civilian,” Gentle Giant managed to make an energetic melodic hard rock album without a single boring song on it. The tracks stick to simple structures and instant directness, which is certainly easy on the average American ear, yet they keep the band’s trademark British melancholy and lyrical humor. The opening hard rock bomb “Convenience (Clean and Easy),” with its lyrical jab at American “culture,” wins you over with its erupting energy. You hadn’t heard this much punch in their music since the self-titled debut. Derek’s charismatic vocal performance is backed up by Green’s bristling guitar riffs and Weathers’ merciless drum swings.
“All Through the Night,” with its witty riffing and Derek’s excellent singing, is a wildly successful hybrid of hard rock and melodic rock. With a different vocal approach and some production tricks, it wouldn’t be out of place on a Boston or Journey record. The ethereal ballad “Shadows on the Street” is one of the few songs whose Celtic atmosphere recalls their creations from the golden prog years. Kerry’s angelic singing is laid over gorgeous, melancholic piano harmonies. Later, mighty multi-part vocals join in through a bridge, adding even more to the ethereal mood. With “Number One,” they managed to craft one of the best songs of the late phase of their career, which bends under the hard rock potency thanks to Weathers’ mighty drum fills and Green’s witty guitar lines, while Derek once again shines as the charismatic frontman.
“Underground,” where they play around with the sounds of a rattling train, oddly veers toward something from their prog rock cousins Yes (Trevor Rabin era). Partly because Derek’s vocals, together with the backing harmonies, strangely lean toward Chris Squire. The cheeky “I Am a Camera” has all the makings of a potential hit, with a hypnotic chorus, spirited rhythms and a seductive melody. “Inside Out” stands out with its dark atmosphere, created by relatively paranoid vocal harmonies and rolling layers of synths, which brings it close to their symphonic prog rock manners of the past. “It’s Not Imagination” is another solid, uncompromising hard rock number with no shortage of energetic rhythmic lines, while the bonus track “Heroes No More,” with its melancholic-solemn mood, is a perfectly fitting finale for the fallen heroes of progressive rock.
“Civilian” is more than a respectable farewell from the legendary heroes of eclectic prog rock, who are still one of the most original and visionary rock bands of all time. With it, they managed to make a solid melodic rock album that’s of course a long way from their highly eclectic prog rock masterpieces, but has more than enough goodies to easily satisfy anyone who understands their sonic evolution. Sadly, plenty of fans openly hated “Civilian” when it came out, which only pushed the band members further toward the decision to mutually end the tale of the gentle giant.
In the following years, Derek became a successful music publisher, Ray went into producing, and Kerry became a music teacher. Only Gary Green, who still plays with local bands today, and John Weathers stayed on as active musicians. The latter later joined the legendary Welshmen Man, and more recently also worked with Wild Turkey. The chances of this incredible band reuniting today remain slim. Their music was undoubtedly not for every taste, but those who took the time and dove into the wonderful world of Pantagruel, Gargantua, Panurge and company were always more than richly rewarded.
Lineup
Derek Shulman – vocals
Gary Green – electric and acoustic guitar
Kerry Minnear – keyboards, vocals
Ray Shulman – bass guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
John Weathers – drums, backing vocals
Production
Gentle Giant
Tracklist
1. Convenience (Clean and Easy)
2. All Through the Night
3. Shadows on the Street
4. Number One
5. Underground
6. I Am a Camera
7. Inside Out
8. It’s Not Imagination
9. Heroes No More [*]
