Civilian

Artist: Gentle Giant
Label: One Way Records Inc
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 079892859126
EAN: 0079892859126
ASIN: B00000DAG7

Release Date: 1997-10-28

Civilian

Related Categories:

General

| Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock

| Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock

| Pop | Styles | Music

CDs $7 - $10

All Bargain Titles

Tracks:

Convenience (Clean and Easy)
All Through the Night
Shadows on the Street
Number One
Underground
I Am a Camera
Inside Out
It's Not Imagination
Heroes No More [*]

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Gg at the Gg: BBC Sight & Sound in Concert
Acquiring the Taste
Octopus
The Missing Piece

Album Description

U.S. version of their last studio album with a remastered version of the bonus track 'Heroes No More' (inferior U.K. copies included a muddled sounding version of it), taken from the original master tapes & supplied by Ray Shulman himself! Originally released on Chrysalis in 1980. Nine tracks total. 1997 One Way Records release.

Customer Reviews:

Gentle Giant's final studio album (and what a shame!!).......2006-10-19

"Civilian" was Giant's twelfth and final studio release after an eleven year career as one of the finest progressive rock bands ever to grace vinyl. Released in 1980 and, for the first time, recorded in America, this album was to be their commercial breakthrough and a gateway into a new era of music which would still be wonderful to listen to yet radio friendly. In doing so, they were a full two years or more ahead of their contemporaries, who did manage huge success. Genesis released the excellent "Abacab" in 1982, along with Asia's chart-busting debut album and tour. In 1983, the reformed Yes scored their biggest hit ever with "Owner of a Lonely Heart". Perhaps if Giant had waited just a bit longer for the MTV craze to really catch on, they could have released a video which would have cemented them into this top echelon of prog bands who managed to "make it" commercially. Alas, for whatever reason it was not meant to be. And I, for one, think that Giant was the most deserving of platinum success with this incredible release. Not that I dislike any of the previous examples, because I love them all for their great rhythms and arrangements coupled with an easy accessibility which really is a great alternative to the "difficult music" of the 70's. But Giant, even in the absence of their trademark earlier styles and influences, had that extra something which only hinted at what could have been.

Semi-conceptual in nature, "Civilian" was a no-holds-barred at the impact of modern life on society and the individual. Everything from subliminal advertising and the hectic pace of daily life, to the selfish attitudes of the "Big 80's" and the growing phenomenon of constant video surveillance was examined here, and the results are quite profound without being overly "preachy". "Shadows on the Street" is one of the most hauntingly beautiful melodies ever written by the band, and "Number One" should have been the first of many hit singles for the band with its straightforward rock feel and lyrics almost anyone can identify with; namely, the frustration felt by having people who you're only trying to help take absolute advantage of you.

The only gripe I have with the CD releases of this album is that the ending montage after the final fade of "It's Not Imagination" was not carried over from the original vinyl. As with 1973's "In a Glass House", the album ended with a brief montage of snippets from the album. However, instead of a section from every track as with House, this one was merely four snippets, which when taken together said "that's all there is". Giant knew, on some level, that this would be their final release, and while that little sound bite is no huge deal really, it still feels like something is missing when compared to the old vinyl dub onto cassette tape I wore completely out when I first discovered Giant in the late 80's. On the bright side, the new CD releases have a clean recording of a track which was left off the final version (as opposed to the first CD release which had the track copied from an ancient cassette copy), called "Heroes". The song is as good as any on the album and would have been included but for the fact that the band did not want the grooves on the vinyl copies to be too close together.

There simply is not a weak track on this CD, and in my humble opinion it stacks up against Giants best prog efforts from the early and mid 70's. Those of you who have a problem with the more commercial efforts from the great progressive bands can skip this release, but in doing so you are missing out on some wonderful music, the fact that there are no crazy meter changes or experimental arrangements nonwithstanding. If you don't have this gem in your collection yet, you should definitely consider picking it up, and reflect for yourself on what could have been in Giant's future, if only the chips had fallen a bit differently.

What a shame.......2006-05-12

I truly love Gentle Giant, but this album shows how corrupt the world we live in really is. I believe that Gentle Giant had a modest fan-circle, so they decided to boost it by making commercial (I can't say the word, though I'd really love to). Or maybe I do them injustice, cause they had an accident on their tour which made them loose their ingenious sense for perfection. If you compare this album to their early ones, it's like a rocket scientist became a garbage man, cause he thought the pay is better. If you like earlier music of Gentle Giant, don't buy this one. This album is blasphemy.

Sharing a thought & remembering a 'pop' GG classic.......2005-08-05

Although I haven't heard Civilian in over 20 yrs., I always felt Men at Work(bascially Colin Hays-is that the right name?)ripped GG off with Business as Usual. They(with the help of MTV)achieved what GG tried to avoid their entire career, commercial sell out. GG weren't a bubblegum rock band. It's ironic, that both these albums were on Columbia/Sony originally. It's a shame Civilian still isn't, I'm itching to hear it again. Listen to a couple of songs on the Men at Work CD & you'll hear the resemblance. I would like to see someone else's response or opinion on the matter. Civilian also reminds me of Yes-Drama, another great underrated album released in 1980 or so. Same era, same memories.

Gotta Love This Band.......2005-06-28

I know many people would be surprised if i gave this album a five stars. However, I am giving all their albums five stars. They all deserve them.
This album was a sharp chagne from even the previous two. very guitar heavy and very mucha new wave kind of sound. I love this style of music, and it's great to hear it from the giant. I know teh band tends to frown a little on this period and on this album, saying they didn't ahve the passion they once had. On this album it honestly doesn't show. Very stron from start to finish. It is simple, and non varied, but the sound is so great, and the songs so interesting that I can't fault them. Better than hearing them repeat the same style ad nauseum for years. A good ending to an great career, showing the world they are capable of any style.

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