The 1981 Listening Post - Triumph - Allied Forces

Triumph - Allied Forces

#467

By Brian San Marco

Triumph

Allied Forces

Genre: progressive-blues rock

Allen’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Brian’s Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Highlights: 

Fool for Your Love

Magic Power

Allied Forces

Fight the Good Fight

Ordinary Man

In terms of Canadian progressive rock power trios.  Triumph would be the OTHER progressive rock trio that we all know and love.  Yet, while comparisons to Rush are possible, their progressive styles present themselves in a very different manner.  Triumph allows for their more bluesy roots to come through and depending on the song, you could make comparisons to many other acts at the time like BTO, Boston, Dio, to name a few.  This is not to suggest they’re more diverse than Rush, but rather more palatable to the ordinary listener.  

THAT SAID, I love Triumph.  Since I can remember, I’ve had a fondness for the band and I was always glad to listen even though I could not name one of their songs.  Maybe it’s in the name.  Maybe it’s because of my fondness for progressive rock and that other Canadian trio.   When a Triumph song comes on, I always know it’s them.  The particular timbre of Rik Emmett’s voice was always pleasing to me along with the screaming guitar solos and licks.  

As I listen to them today, I can’t say that they’re entirely original and one of a kind, yet they are.  It’s Triumph.  It’s really good rock mixing in all the tedious motifs and ideas that we heard so much of in the 70’s, but in. a pleasing, original, progressive way.  Why am I so pleased by this?  I don’t know.  Maybe you can tell me.  It’s striking considering I have no specific memories.  I sort of recognize songs like “Fight the Good Fight”, but not really.  Yet, I love it and I’m nostalgic for it.  Every time I get to listen to it, I love. It.  Like an old friend.  It’s weird that I don’t pursue it more often.  Maybe that keeps it novel for me.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6IL1IMpqQoAH2SJpVj1BWn?si=G1ASUKJ0Tk2L3uPzW4_ATg

The 1980 Listening Post - Triumph - Progressions of Power

Triumph - Progressions of Power

#125

Reviewed by Lori Alley

Triumph

Progressions of Power

Genre:  Hard Rock with some slow dances mixed in

Allen’s Rating: 4 out of 5

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

According to Wiki, this is Triumph's 4th studio album, released in 1980 and some songs made the Billboard 100+200.  That's saying something for a band that had plenty of competition in this genre, especially a band from Canada.  They are a much celebrated band with many many awards over the years.  BUT I DO NOT like this kind of music and that made this fun to review in a way.  I can appreciate that these guys are really great musicians and vocalists.  The quality of this stuff is very high.  For me, it's like discovering there's a Dior section at Walmart.  I can tell it's a VERY GOOD something of something I don't like.  The first song and their biggest hit "I Live for The Weekend has a George Thorogood/Zepplin sound (even kinda lawsuity if you ask me, but whatever, I don't make the rules).  The rock songs on this album are very very "Canadian,"  they have a down and dirty sound but with gentle and very polite lyrics like "chasing rainbows in the sky."  I spent a lot of time in Canada because my mother is from Nova Scotia.  This is the kind of music you'd hear when my uncle picked us up in his car from the ferry, wearing his slippers and smoking a cig (careful, the door is broken).  FIRST STOP - the liquor store to exchange your American money for Canadian because, let's face it, we have to go there anyway.  It also brings to mind Trailer Park Boys and Ricky's clearing stick, and Canadian cheese (same as American, but we're ARE in Canada aren't we)? and milk sold in a plastic bag.  But back to the review:  Confusingly, the album kind of falls apart after the first song, nothing that follows has the same roc energy verve and they're are stylistically all over the place.  If you told me it was a soundtrack to a musical that would make more sense.  Leo Kottke and Chet Atkins show up for "Finger Talkin" (just kidding, it's the guitarist playing a damn good instrumental but it sounds like a guest star showed up out of the blue) and same with the obligatory rock band ballad "Take My Heart" which is actually quite a masterful singer/songwriter piece.  Tear the Roof Off is a pretty good rock offering, I'd recommend it JUST for the guitar solo.  It makes me wonder if they were hoping that more singles would break out of this.  Otherwise, I can imagine going to the concert and getting my money's worth of musicality and fun, but it's not that original, it's just really well done.  AND these guys can play the hell out of whatever they're doing.  

https://open.spotify.com/album/3vv6d0yNu6OCQYQQfNlYcT?si=VHs275izTq2KjLIuKSvLgQ

The 1986 Listening Post - Triumph - The Sport of Kings

Triumph - The Sport of Kings

#378/2058

September 11 1986

Triumph

The Sport of Kings

Genre: Hard Rock

3.25 out of 5

Highlights:

Hooked On It

Take a Stand

Play with the Fire

So, this is a big test. 

Over the course of this project, which goes back to 1978, I have been consistently surprised by Triumph. Every album has received high marks, over 4. And that was a shocker to me. Yeah, I even liked Thunder Seven. Sue me. 

I sooooo wanted them to make this the exception that proves the rule of diminishing returns. But, I fear that, five quality records in a row is about all they can muster. That sixth one…just ran out of steam. 

For the genre, tracks like “Somebody’s Out There” is game but, honestly, it’s kind of garbage. But in a Journey sort of garbage-y way.

I’m forgiving of Triumph. They are my Guilty Power Rock Pleasure of the Listening Post experience. 

Yet, even with those highlights, this record is still just a 3.25. Go figure.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-sport-of-kings/1287321078

The 1984 Listening Post - Triumph - Thunder Seven

Triumph - Thunder Seven

#302
November 10 1984
Triumph
Thunder Seven
4.25 out of 5

Highlights:
Spellbound
Cool Down
Time Goes By/Midsummer's Daydream/Time Canon/Killing Time

If you asked me 10 years ago, 20 years ago or even this morning, "What do you think of Triumph?" I would say they are mediocre Scorpions sounding radio metal.
And that wouldn't be far from the truth.
But here's the thing:
Just a Game: 4.5
Progressions of Power: 4
Allied Forces: 4.5
Never Surrender: 4.5

And I would tell you that I don't really care for them.

But, looking back at my ratings...I guess I really do. I have not been disappointed by their brand of guitar rock. And what their brand is is American rock done by Canadians, which often means brighter, cleaner, shinier and...sometimes....better (Looking at you, Kick Axe).
They are really trying to bring the Zeppelin on tracks like "Cool Down" and they mostly succeed. This is definitely in the Fastway mold but I like it better than them.
The wanna be single "Follow Your Heart" is a direct line between 70s metal and the band White Reaper. You don't know White Reaper??? Listen to this song and then fire up "Judy French" immediately. It was my favorite song of 2016. I'll link it in the comments.
Side Two is even more Zeppy with the the terrific "Time Goes By" giving way to the acoustic "Midsummer's Daydream" leading into the a capella "Time Canon" and then the soaring "Killing Time" and it might be my favorite thing Triumph has ever done. It's just fun. For me, at least.
And it also shows that even on this later album, Triumph was still trying.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/thunder-seven/1287320162