At one time, Gentle Giant played some of the most worthwhile, state-of-the-art progressive rock extant. They carved their own idiosyncratic domain out of madrigal, Debussy and "I Am the Walrus" while completing the Jethro Tull revolution in rock counterpoint, breaking new ground in boogie polyrhythms and performing the most difficult and theoretical gambits with seamless, electrifying insouciance....

Interview is Gentle Giant's eighth and least cohesive album. Their last album and tour brought them closer than ever to mass acceptance. But this album is flawed by attempts to maintain integrity and still continue the momentum of success.

The intricate vocals and aversion to standard rhythms that were the group's strong points have become its excesses. The problem is exemplified by lyrics which...