wow, has it really been 40 years? The Birmingham lads are up to studio album #16--and #6 after the reformation--and I have to say there is still life left in the Magnum machine. I'll save everyone the pain of reading an epitaph (which is http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/rea ... msg-913597 if you really want to read it), but I do believe they are figuring out what made the band so great in the first place. Perfect? no, and I tend to agree with Andrew that the tracklisting needs some tweaking, but somehow Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin have released probably the best album in some time. They have also managed to not turn Magnum into a nostalgia act. Go to a show and you'll probably get 6 or so new songs and about half the set will be post-reformation songs--other bands should try this! Take some combination of AOR, melodic rock, progressive tendencies, British pomp rock, and add a very tight band with one of the best singers out there, and this is what you end up with.
Magnum - On the 13th Day
Shadow Town http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqLneoW2z5Y
Blood Red Laughter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ-W2gRmL04
So Let It Rain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztjLcPIgi9M