RETURN TO FOREVER — Romantic Warrior (review)

RETURN TO FOREVER — Romantic Warrior album cover Album · 1976 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Warthur
Though most fusion fans swear by this album, personally I don't consider it a revolutionary and inspirational piece so much as a continuation of the classic-era Return to Forever sound as established from Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy onwards. To be honest, it sounds a bit tired-out to me, bringing little to the table which the three preceding albums hadn't provided in spades, but if you are a keen Return to Forever fan "more of the same" is probably precisely what you want. The medieval theme is an interesting twist, but ultimately prog bands such as Gentle Giant had updated medieval music for modern audiences in a much more innovative and compelling way, and here it seems to merely be a gloss over otherwise standard fusion. Three stars.
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Warthur wrote:
more than 2 years ago
In fact, I'd say reviewing the album from a modern listener's point of view is far more valuable than reviewing it from the point of view of someone who was there at a time. If a review's reader heard the album at the time it came out... then they don't need the review, because they've already heard the album and formed their own opinion on it. The people who most need the review are people who haven't heard the album yet, and they're going to hear it in the context of having heard Eddie and Steve Vai and all the rest.
Warthur wrote:
more than 2 years ago
I think it is fair for a review written in 2011 to reflect the experience of a listener hearing the album for the first time in 2011. In my view, it's fair enough to point out that an album was exceptional for its time but became overshadowed by later developments, but at the same time not all listeners are interested in how the album sounds compared to what else was on the table in 1976 - they care about how it compares to the entire body of music available to us now.

Basically, you're right that I like a lot of listeners weren't around when the album first came out, so I can't give it the sort of review I would give if I'd heard it in its original context... but none of us can hear it in its original context any more, because that was over three and a half decades ago.
mittyjing wrote:
more than 2 years ago
the problem with reviews of this nature is that many of the reviewers weren't around when these albums came out. They've already heard what came after these. When this album came out, it was amazing! First, you had Chick playing one of the first polyphonic synthesizers! Many bought just to hear that! Many rock fan bought this because Al Di's playing was so incredible. There was no Eddie, no Steve Vai. None of the rock players played that fast and clean. The tunes were incredible, a sort of concept jazz album. So i don't know if some of these reviews are fair.

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