PENDULUM

Although not as flawless as 1969's WILLY & THE POOR BOYS or 1970's COSMO'S FACTORY, PENDULUM (also released in '70) certainly has its moments. It may only contain one certified hit single (the chugging, melancholic "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?," one of singer/songwriter John Fogerty's best), but both "(Wish I Could) Hideaway" and "Hey Tonight" have become staples on FM classic rock radio over the years, thanks to Fogerty's memorable melodies and inimitably gritty singing style. Interestingly, PENDULUM is CCR's most ambitious album, with progressive arrangements, instrumentation (including brass and a vocal choir), and a higher gloss to the production. But Fogerty's songwriting is as solid as ever. The album's bluesy opener, "Pagan Baby," with its great guitar riff and tight ensemble playing, remains one of the band's most underrated songs. The style is mixed--from the poppy singalong "Molina" to the ballad "It's Just A Thought" (which contains some fine swirling organ work) to the adventurous album-closer "Rude Awakening #2" (one of the band's few instrumentals)--but PENDULUM proves that even when the band branched out, they could still deliver the goods.