Uriah Heep - The Magician's Birthday

I'm certain i'm supposed to hate tonight's album (not from my dad's collection). I'm supposed to call the band purveyors of 70s cheese rock drivel, overblown theatrical rock stars writing proggy pseudo sci-fi sillyness on top of a foundation of simple power chords. But, considering that that's exactly what Uriah Heep was trying to be in the first place, i have to love it. You have to love it. The Magician's Birthday is exactly what every concertgoer and record collector paid Uriah Heep to create.

I'm violently repulsed by Ten Years After because they took themselves very seriously. They thought they deserved to be rock stars, and everyone rightly said "no thanks." Uriah Heep told everyone "we're just guys who don't really know what we're doing, but you clearly want us to do more of it, so here."

Supposedly it's "loosely based on a short story," but if you can suss out the plot i'll give you every penny of the 0.00 dollars i get paid to review albums. As far as i can tell, it's the same calendar date as it was when "the magician" was born, and girls are pretty awesome. Sunrise, sunset, presto-chango, it's my birthday (not MY birthday, you know what i mean).

I honestly think i love this album the same way Frank Zappa, Curt Cobain, and Lester Bangs loved The Shaggs' Philosophy of the World. It exists because they had to create it. They didn't have either the ability to argue with the impulsion, or any sense of embarrassment that might make them give up. They have every right to be proud of it, and they actually thank people for liking them enough to get to this point in the liner notes. Ten Years After literally wanted to copycat their heroes, but Uriah Heep said (just like Skid Row ten years after them), "we're glad this is working out, 'cause what the hell else are we gonna do otherwise?"

Same reason i adore The Chats right now. Same reason i can't truthfully say i hate Seals & Crofts. Rock isn't about talent or good looks or enlightenment, it's about being exactly who you are and getting your point of view far enough out into the world that people who couldn't possibly know you have to actually take a moment to consider whether or not they care.

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