Title: Better than its predecessor but still a dud
Review: "Chicago XIV" is an improvement over its predecessor. For one thing, keyboardist Robert Lamm, by far Chicago's best and most prolific songwriter in the band's glory years, had been in a real slump on the previous two albums. "Upon Arrival," composed with bassist Peter Cetera, wasn't much to write home about, but on his more uptempo contributions, Lamm sounded fired up again. "Manipulation" was good, as was "Thunder and Lightning," cowritten with Cetera and drummer Danny Seraphine.But it was Lamm's "I'd Rather Be Rich" that served as the album's highlight -- it's musically fresh, and the lyrics consitute a scathing indictment of the yuppie lifestyle.Too bad the rest of "XIV" sinks under the weight of Peter Cetera's soft-schlock balladry. Cetera writes or cowrites six of the albums' 10 tracks, including the yawners "Song for You," "Hold On" and "Overnight Cafe."
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