In a Glass House (Gentle Giant)

I absolutely love this album. I am relatively new to Gentle Giant music (going on about 8 years). I first heard/bought this album this year and I am totally smitten with it. Every song is amazing. "In A Glass House", "Experience", and "The Runaway" have to be some of the best ever songs by anyone. If you, like me, are new to Gentle Giant this will not disappoint. In fact, it is a great introduction to this band if you are looking to try them out. The live version of "The Runaway / Experience" showcases how powerful this band was on stage. It will blow you away. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! (Also, those GG fans looking for other bands with similarities should check out Echolyn.)

Actually recorded in July of 1973, this is Gentle Giant at their best and my favorite progressive rock album of all times. Nothing these days come close to the creativity here. Any Gentle Giant album is a gem, but this one tops them all. It is a rare treat that it is finally released in the US on CD. Prior to this, I copied the vinyl to cassette as a backup but I've always feared losing it to dried up tape or a broken turntable. Now I am safe. If you love innovention in prog-rock, buy this CD.

As the author of the Jefferson Airplane book "Take Me To A Circus Tent" I am often asked for my views on various rock and roll albums from the 60's and 70's. When it comes to Gentle Giant it is a pleasure to write about them. I have been collecting every release for over three decades. "In A Glass House" which could be argued as the best album Gentle Giant recorded was never released on vinyl in America. This hurt the band and let numerous progressive rock fans in the dark about a tremendous effort. For those of you that have enjoyed the sounds of Gentle Giant over the years but would not consider yourself a true believer you can be convinced with four listenings to I"n A Glass House." On the first one play the CD straight through without any interruption. The sounds of The Runaway, Experience, and the title track will leave you speechless. On the second review listen to the vocals of Derek Shulman. No other singer sounds like him and no other could take his place in the... Read more

I have to admit, I've been listening to this CD constantly for the past few weeks. It's just that awesome. I'm a newbie to the whole prog rock thing, but man, this CD rocks! My favorite tracks: The Runaway Experience In a Glass House

Everything about this semi-conceptual album from 1973 is as close to perfect as you're going to find if you're a fan of progressive rock or art rock. Not all of Gentle Giant's albums were conceptual in nature, but this one is, and everything from the original packaging to the lyrics and arrangements tells you without a doubt that you will be taking a close look at the darker side of the human psyche with this music. The opening salvo of "The Runaway" sounds of breaking glass and is a reference to the old saying that people in Glass Houses should not throw stones. The song itself is a rather heavy tune by Gentle Giant standards, but has some well-placed quieter moments which utilize the band's trademark recorders and flutes. The next track, "An Inmate's Lullaby" is a montage of the thoughts which might run through the mind of someone who has been institutionalized due to a major psychotic break, and you can almost imagine someone's tortured inner child being put to music. "Way ... Read more