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Album Details

• Artist: Supertramp
• Album: Some Things Never Change
• Label: Oxygen Records
• Year of Release: 1997
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: gwhill on 2013-01-10

Although Roger Hodgson is no longer in the band, this album certainly proves that Supertramp can work their particular form of magic without him. One really does not miss Hodgson on this disc.  This is a very strong album and a great addition to any fan`s collection. The lineup here is Ray Davies, Mark Hart (of Crowded House fame), John Helliwell, Cliff Hugo, Bob Stebenberg, Lee R. Thornburg, Carl Verheyen and Tom Walsh. These musicians are joined on the album by several sidemen.

Certain pieces have a very familiar Supertramp quality to them. For instance, “You Win I Lose” seems like it could have fit pretty well onto the Breakfast in America album. “Listen to Me Please” is another that seems closely tied to the group’s past.  The opening track, “It’s a Hard Road” isn’t as obvious a link to the Supertramp back catalog, but the poppy nature and saxophone work, make it clear this is still Supertramp.

Other cuts, though, take things in different direction.  There are hints of both Yes and Genesis on “Live to Love You.” The title track (one of the strongest cuts the band has ever produced) has a break that calls to mind War’s “Low Rider” and some keyboard work that earns comparisons to Pink Floyd’s Meddle era. “Sooner or Later” again calls to mind that War song, but there is also quite bit of Steely Dan in the mix.

The final analysis of the set is that, while some Supertramp purists will surely ridicule this, at least in part because Hodgson isn’t part of it, the album both echoes the classic Supertramp period and stretches things out a bit. If you’ve ever liked this disc and can give it a fair spin without considering the lineup, you’ll enjoy this one. It’s a fresh take on classic Supertramp sounds.

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