2 Years On (1971)

• Chris Anderson's Review

  Okay. First album after the split that lasted two years, hence the album title and title song. There are some good songs here in the shape of 'Portrait of Louise', 'Tell Me Why', 'The 1st Mistake I Made', but somehow they don't quite stand out as clearly as the good songs in the past. Robert Stigwood said that he felt the edge had gone a little, and i'm inclined to agree. Two rockers stand out on the album: 'Back Home' and 'Every Seond, Every Minute', but again, they don't stand out quite as clearly as other songs in the past.

  Other songs, like 'I'm Weeping', and 'Alone Again', no matter how many times i listen to them, i can never remember the melodies, which is unusual for a BeeGees song. 'Lay It On Me', Maurice's song on the album, i don't like at all. It sounds like the sort of thing that might have come out of a spare five minutes and was recorded in a spare few moments in a recording day. Definitely not album material.

  The album's single, 'Lonely Days', although gave them a massive US hit, is in all honesty, not the greatest song i've ever heard.

  When listened to, the album will give you a sense that something is missing.

• Marty Hogan's Review

  Barry Gibb once mentioned that "2 Years On" was the weakest album the trio had recorded. True. Granted that it garnered the huge American hit "Lonely Days", the rest of the album seems like leftovers from their attempts at solo careers. 
  
  Wince while listening to "I'm Weeping". Shake your head in bewilderment at "Tell Me Why". "Lay It On Me" passes the test, but it seems Maurice shot his entire solo wad on that one. Do note however, that the song "2 Years On" is a rare early Robin and Maurice collaboration. "Man For All Seasons" clearly hints at the Gibbs' easily obtained falsettos to come. "The 1st Mistake I Made" is a surprising success, if a bit long. Strong emotional strings and guitar/piano riffs can't help but 'get you'. Otherwise the remainder of the songs are 'fluff'. This 'fluff' led to a magnificnet album less than a year later. The fantastic "Trafalgar"; the album that brought the Brothers Gibb into maturity.