JUSTIN HAYWARD - THE VIEW FROM THE HILL - 1996

The View from the Hill mostly showcases some of Moody Blues vocalist/guitarist Justin Hayward in excessive form, though its best tracks may alone be worth the price of admission for serious fans. The album opens with the engaging "I Heard It," a catchy number whose electronic flourishes recall the Moodys' "Your Wildest Dreams." Up next is the album's clear highlight -- the ethereal, hypnotic "Broken Dream," which boasts a flamenco-spiced guitar and a prominently mixed vocal that ranks with Hayward's finest. From there, The View from the Hill is mostly filled with lyrics about "pockets full of dreams," "the dark of the mystic night," and "sadness in your eyes." ~ Jeff Burger
Though its few best tracks may alone be worth the price of admission to serious fans, The View From the Hill mostly showcases some of Moody Blues vocalist/guitarist Hayward's worst excesses. The album opens with the engaging "I Heard It," and a catchy number whose electronic flourishes recall the Moodys' "Your Wildest Dreams." Up next is the album's clear highlight -- the ethereal, hypnotic "Broken Dream," which boasts a flamenco-spiced guitar and a prominently mixed vocal that ranks with Hayward's finest. But The View From the Hill is mostly downhill from there. Blame overproduction and clichй-ridden lyrics about "pockets full of dreams," "the dark of the