Three Friends Gentle Giant

“Gentle Giant’s third album was another advance, this time in the direction of a harder rock sound – everything sounds turned up here, especially the guitars, the bass, and the electronic keyboards. ‘Three Friends’ hardly sacrificed any of the group’s progressive intentions, however, and there are some softer moments here, such as the playful, sprightly first half of “Schooldays”; the harmonies and arrangements still had a distinctly medieval feel, and the melodies, though a little harder to discern here, were quite engaging. This is supposed to be a concept album, about the relationship between three friends across a lifetime, and the original notes and lyrics have been reprinted, but none of that is necessary in order to enjoy the songs here.” - Bruce Eder, AllMusic