"Texas Hold 'Em" is trash but the rest is pretty alright

The beats are bland with only the occasional interesting one. However all of that is overshadowed by 21 Savage's poorly mixed and boring vocals.

For once this album does not miss!

Excellent tracks, feels like some multi-part songs were long and drawn out though.

Poor mixing, poor instrumentation, off-time tracks?

With it's fair share of good and catchy songs, the album falls short with it's spotty mixing and reused songs

Maybe one day he’ll be big and make a sequel

Very fun listen, very interesting as well with great vocals. Often however the tracks can feel very similar, not much variety. Good album though.

Love every song on this! One of the only albums where I won't skip, and have often listened to it like a playlist (Just had it on shuffled) the instrumentals are good, and the vocals. Only issue is that sometimes the songs can feel very similar, they all have a very similar sound.

I CHANGED MY MIND THIS IS GREAT, LITTLE ONE IS GREAT AND SI IS EVERYTHING (Except baby what a big surprise F U CETERA) hey hey what do ya know times change

I used to avoid this album, brushing it off of the beginning of Chicago's downfall and transition to trashy Pop Ballads. However this album is great! Although it's not the usual Jazzy Rock with Terry Kath that I enjoy from their previous albums (Except Chicago VIII) the production is the best of the Kath-era.

The Horns have some of their cleanest playing and solos, and Kath's writing and playing is still put on full display despite the heavy Pop emphasis!
Although I still prefer their albums ... read more

Apart from "Old Days" and "Oh, Thank You Great Spirit" does not have a lot to offer. Similar to VI it plays it really safe, and unlike VI it is a detriment to this album. Bland songs when we saw just the year before what they can do.

Genius level work. Definitely there most experimental work since Transit Authority and II and definitely some of their best. The Jazz pieces in the beginning are great and masterful, and the Pop songs towards the end are also great.

Has it's fair share of fun tracks however it feels like Chicago didn't give this album their all. Instead we get songs that aren't bad but are simple and basic.

Very refined, not as much as Chicago II but more than III and Transit Authority. I feel as if it starts off strong however towards the end the writing and playing seem boring and unoriginal. Plus I am personally more of a fan of Terry Kath focused songs so this album which didn't focus on his playing as much didn't hit the same. Good album altogether though.

Poor recording quality, however still good. I personally love the "Introduction" and "Free" recordings but the poor recording quality hurts the rest of the album.

Another great installment, starts out strong however starts to lull out towards the end.
A-

A perfect blend of Jazz, Pop, Rock, and even Classical. Much more refined then their first album while still showing off Kath and other member's, the songs also show the compositional genius of Lamm and Pankow.
A+

A solid start to Chicago, that although the writing is simple they give Terry Kath plenty of room to play and jam out. Most of this album is either Jazz or Terry shredding and it's awesome.

B-