Rating: 9/10

Track Amount: 8

Running Time: 37 minutes and 44 seconds

Genre: Hard Rock

Personnel: Brad Delp (vocals, guitars and percussion), Tom Scholz (guitars, electronics and production), Sib Hashian (drums and percussion), Barry Goudreau (guitars), Fran Sheehan (bass guitars), Jim Masdea (drums)

Producer: John Boylan and Tom Scholz

Recording Location: Foxglove Studios (Watertown, USA), Capitol Studios (Hollywood, USA), Record Plant (Los Angeles, USA)

Record Label: Epic Records

Art Direction: Paul Ahern, Charles McKenzie

Best Tracks: More Than A Feeling, Foreplay / Long Time, Rock & Roll Band

Quick Verdict: A Classic Rock album born out of the genius of Tom Scholz

This is an album that was way ahead of its time, and was recorded in such a professional and interesting way that it changed music forever. Tom Scholz was the brains behind this hit album from 1976, recording it, for the most part, quietly and meticulously at his home studio. He studied music at University before that. With a unique approach to Hard Rock and an acknowledgement of the various musical styles and sounds of the time, this went mega, selling millions of copies within the first year of its release. This paved the way for postmodern music, where an iconic individual, namely a singer of sorts, could create digital Pop Music using computerised software at home, aka the celebrity with a laptop phenomenon. This was a smart move back in 1976, however. This was a mainstream Rock Music album that arrived just before the onslaught of mainstream Disco Music and rebellious Punk Music counterculture. The album cover was also a nod to the spirit of the times, just before science fiction really took off as a film genre. This album sounds like a brilliant one to explore, so let’s go back to 1976 and take a listen. Hopefully, it will be good to listen to.

1. More Than A Feeling is the big hit from this album, which frequently draws comparisons to Nirvana’s own hit, Smells Like Teen Spirit. It begins with a soft fade-in of acoustic and electric guitar melodies, launching into a sweet, enjoyable song that sounds truly miraculous to listen to. It has some unique and gorgeous electric guitars that sound amazing and are a real ode to life itself. This sounds majestic, inspired and enjoyable overall. Boston may have been the brainchild of Tom Scholz, but the whole band have made a marvellous, sensationally wonderful tune that sounds brilliant. Very catchy, especially in the chorus. More Than A Feeling, indeed. This is some of the finest classic rock one can ever hear, to this very day. A truly wonderful music experience that sounds super cool and enjoyable to listen to. Very top, and a joyously inspired and pleasant listening. Also, this is a devotional song to music itself. Top notch to hear, to this very day. Absolutely top. The production on this song is light-years ahead of anything at the time as well. A fantastic and inspired song from the late 1970s to this very day. Superb.

2. Peace Of Mind begins with some neat and upbeat guitar strumming, launching into another fantastic and mindblowing song that sounds really great. The music, melodies and production are so good that one could easily be mistaken that this would be recorded at the time of writing. No matter, this was from 1976. The singing, melodicism and musicianship all sound truly fantastic and wonderfully amazing throughout. Brad Delp sounds miraculous on vocals, and he sounds driven and purposeful as he sings these glorious melodies. Some Black Sabbath-style guitars are prevalent here, and this whole song is a masterclass in pure effort throughout. Some unique phrasing on the guitars is used to make it sound glistening and amazing throughout. The music and sounds throughout are impeccable, and this album gives the Eagles’ Hotel California (1976) a serious competitor in its day. Absolutely amazing and fun to listen to, no matter if you are hearing it for the first time or the billionth. The guitar playing is also insanely great. Melodic parts and soloing conclude this gem. Fantastic. The outro is heavenly.

3. Foreplay / Long Time begins with some quirky organ parts that sound neatly layered, before launching into some punchy and powerful guitars and drums. This quickly launches into action and sounds quite 1970s and menacing in its very own way. The music and sounds are very supercharged and interesting, sounding like a dynamic, wonderful piece, likely inspired by Classical Music. This continues to blow one away upon listening to it. Eventually, it stops briefly with some Progressive Rock stylised structures and electronics thrown into it. This continues along into a surge of sound and launches into a Rock groove with some fantastic guitar playing that sounds simply great. This is the second half of the medley, when the singing emerges, and it sounds truly great. This is no doubt the sort of music that was designed for Rock fans back in the day. An acoustic guitar and handclap-led breakdown is present, which leads into another fantastic and wonderful sounding Rock tune with some amazing guitar soloing. A mindblowing listen that deserves to be explored by listeners of all sorts. This is an album that, if anything, is seriously underrated in the Rock Music history books. The multitude of sections, singing, playing, and powerful rhythm section make for a very awesome and sweet tune overall. The guitar shredding in the second half of this medley is absolutely jaw-dropping and deserves to be heard many times over. A truly wonderful, interesting and deep song that is a reminder of the short life span that we all live in. Sweet and crazy music to groove along with. Very, very good. The whole thing is a masterpiece in Rock artistry.

4. Rock & Roll Band begins with some overdriven and distorted guitars and drums that are menacing, launching into a song about the nature of being in a rock band. The music and sounds are miraculously awesome, and the whole thing sounds absolutely joyously wonderful and driven in general. This is a sort of story of Boston, the band itself. Of course, anyone who has an appreciation of the background of music itself will love this song. The guitar solos are absolutely fantastic on this song, and the whole thing sounds like a masterwork in sonic creation. An awesome tune that is perfect motivation for young people to get into music itself. Sweet and dynamic.

5. Smokin’ begins with a nicely overdriven guitar riff and enters into a fantastic and glorious song about the nature of music and having a great time in the process. Of course, this is a tune about smoking as well, which is ironic, especially given the name of the drummer of Boston. Even so, this is a seriously wonderful and fantastic tune that continues the amazing and totally enjoyable power of this album. The keyboard solo throughout is a nice touch as well, and this music genuinely is a mindblowing and wonderful listening experience to be enjoyed. Very, very cool. It leads into a multitude of guitars and harpsichord parts that sound sweet and enjoyable. This builds up to an interesting climax throughout, just sounding absolutely killer and wonderful in the process of it all. A bit of a Progressive Rock-informed delight, this is a smoking hot tune indeed. Boston does rock, and they do so incredibly well. A seriously wonderful song overall. Pure, fresh and sweet, many decades later on.

6. Hitch A Ride begins with some mellow acoustic guitar arpeggios and launches into a good and tuneful song that is really lovely and musically joyous. This is a nod to the spirit of Bob Dylan at hand, and it details a story of hitchhiking across the country from New York City. A really cool and wonderful song that is pleasant, upbeat and fantastic throughout. The organ soloing throughout this number is monumental and insanely good. Some neat guitar soloing is present in the middle, followed by some of the most pleasantly enjoyable vocal harmonies you will hear on a 1970s Rock record. A really cool and interesting song with some awesome-sounding guitar soloing that sounds fantastic. This utilises a bunch of crazy and cool leads throughout, which sound sweet and unique. A very solid performance by Boston that is world-class. Mind-blowing, it ends with sweet acoustic guitars.

7. Something About You begins with some murky and moody guitar parts, and some truly divine vocals that sound super great. This leads into another solid tune with dual-tracked guitars that also sound great. This continues on nicely with some introspective lyrics about growing up and growing stronger over time, with some relationship love-based lyrics at hand. A majestic and interesting Pop/Rock piece with some pseudo Black Sabbath styled guitars, which sound truly great and interesting to listen to. Another great song with some interesting and great Rock soloing. The harmonies throughout are also really blissful. A golden oldie that is designed to be blasted in one’s car at full volume to annoy all those with poor music taste around them. Boston seriously kicks some proverbial. Great work, once again.

8. Let Me Take You Home Tonight is the final track on the album, and it has a multitude of layered guitars and playing, matched by gloriously wonderful and sweet singing overall. A very tuneful and wonderful song that has some impressive, lovely and wonderful playing to it. The music and sounds are years ahead of their competitors, and this has some phenomenal singing by Brad Delp. This is an ode to lovemaking and all that comes with it. There is a neat section of organ playing and slide guitar, followed by some fantastic and punchy electric guitars. This music is a winner that has some enjoyably melodic and sweet sounds to it. Very lovely and wonderful overall, this is a sensationally impressive and loveable love song that is a great listen to finish off a solidly sensational album that definitely deserves your attention. It finishes up with a thrashy section of instrumentation that works incredibly well, complete with a key change. Nice work. It sounds furiously fantastic at the end.

This is a glorious masterpiece of an album that has some joyously impressive music moments about it all. The dynamism, range and ability of Boston to create fantastic songs at this point in time made for an instant classic album that is still considered one of the best debut albums of Rock history, and an underrated album in general. Without a doubt, this is a masterclass of how an album can be made to impress generations of listeners, both young and old. Definitely hear this album, as even non-Rock Music fans will find something to appreciate about this worthwhile listen.

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