Artist: Boston Album: Corporate America

Year: 2002
Duration: 0:0-1

Taking a Close Look at Boston's Corporate America Album

Boston has been a prominent figure in the rock music industry ever since the release of their debut self-titled album in 1976. With an instantly recognizable sound and many hits under their belt, the band had consistently produced amazing music over the years. Fast forward to 2002, Boston released their sixth studio album, Corporate America. This album displayed a new direction for the band, as it's their first without band founder Tom Scholz's longtime collaborator, Brad Delp. In this post, we'll be taking a critical review of the album, Corporate America, diving into its music genre, the best songs of the album, the most innovative parts, and our critic of the album.

Corporate America saw Boston step away from their familiar classic rock roots, and instead, they experimented with a new sound that had elements of alternative rock and even a hint of rap in some songs. This is a significant transition from their earlier works, making the album's music genre difficult to define. Still, it's safe to say that it's a well-crafted collection of songs that showcase Boston's musical range. One thing that stands out is the prominent use of electronic sounds, which is a notable departure from their previous music.

The album's best songs include the opening track I Had a Good Time, Corporate America, and Stare Out Your Window. These songs capture the album's themes, which focus on corporate greed, disillusionment, and modern society's struggles. Brad Delp's vocals shine all over the album, and his voice stands out in You Gave Up on Love, which is a highlight of the album. The album's bold experimentation is showcased in Livin' for You, a song where Boston fuses rock with hip-hop beats with surprising success.

One of the most innovative parts of the album is the message conveyed through the lyrics, which reflect Scholz's views on contemporary American corporate and political culture. The album seems to take a dig on western capitalism and accurately portrays the country's high unemployment levels, political corruption, and reality television. Although it's not a unique perspective in the music industry, it's impressive how the band blends these themes into songs that still manage to be fun and catchy.

With that said, the album's biggest critics are its unnecessary use of sound effects and autotune. While the electronic experimentation is a welcome change, some may argue that it detracts from the otherwise solid rock instrumentation. The production of the album could have been improved had there been a little less emphasis on the unnecessarily added sound effects.

Overall, Boston's Corporate America is a necessary album to listen to for any rock enthusiast. While it's hard to argue that it surpasses any of the band's previous works, it stands on its own merit and remains a fascinating listen from start to finish. The album's themes are still relevant today, and the innovative use of electronic sounds and lyrical content makes this album consistently intriguing throughout. Despite some criticisms, the album remains a testament to Boston's continued musical evolution.