Review of Rick Wakeman's Criminal Record submitted on 8th August 2003

I have always found difficult to classify Rick's music. It's a melting pot of classical, progressive, jazz and other genres. This album is no exception. Rick shines above the rest and consolidates not for his technique or exuberant live playing, but for its composition. I don't have any musical instruction, but "coherent" is the word I can find to describe the album. How the music relates to each of the Criminal Record themes... Do yourself a big favour in life and rent Scorsese's Last temptation of Christ movie, and then go listening to Judas Iscariot once more (with a subwoofer). If you don't cry or feel any goosebumps, you are already dead!! Do the same with The Birdman of Alcatraz, I think it's Burt Lancaster playing Stroud. Great movie too.