This album seems a more consistent affair (though this does not necessarily mean better), than the first four albums, as there is only the two main songwriters, Gouldman/Stewart here. They try their hand at humour in some songs, but it is clear that they are already breaking into an AOR direction on most tracks. There is nothing wrong with that in my book, as most of the songs here are good.
'Feel the benefit' is gorgeous, probably one of the best things they ever did, with a soaring melody and great strings to support it. This is just as complex as anything Godley/Creme did, it has multi-parts. The fade out is epic and oozing with melody. 'People in love' also offers a more AOR direction and is a gorgeous balladm with strings. I think many feel Godley/Creme needed to leave 10cc to get their more adventurous side out. The same can apply to Gouldman/Stewart, they now had the chance to write straight forward and gorgeous love songs, without a twist or irony, as was the case before. (Take 'I'm not in love', 'I'm Mandy fly me'). 'The things we do for love' is a great pop song, that is insanely cathcy. Some of the more uptempo songs try to use the wit that 10cc is well known for, and it succeeds in 'Modern man blues' and 'honeymoon with B troop'. The B-sides are all rubbish, but I suppose this is why they were B-sides. I can't stand 'Hot to trot' it is irritating and repetitive. Same for 'I'm so laid back...'. 'Don't squeeze me like toothpaste' is as cheesy and flavourless as the title would suggest.
Highly recommended good album full of pop gems.

Simply put, this is outstanding music. They don't make music like this anymore, what a shame.

From the catchy beat of the novelty opening track "Good Morning, Judge" to the musical ride of the last title "Feel the Benefit", this is a solid album from top to bottom.

If you could only listen to one track(which would be a CRIME), make it the aforementioned "Feel the Benefit". It is truly an odyssey of wonderful orchestral musings with 10CC's signature guitar riffs amid flowing tempo changes. Just be forewarned that it is 10+ minutes long - but, for me, it was the best song I had never heard...

This has been one of my favorite albums for almost 30 years now, and it takes me back to high school very time!

This is the classic "this ain't the same band" situation that is omnipresent in the music business, and that the fans embody. Whether it's a band fragmenting or a new singer, many long time loyalists will refuse to acknowledge the "watered down" version of their long time beloved band. In many cases they're right. But there are many examples of when it works. I know what I like, and I love "Deceptive Bends." My knowledge of 10cc before this CD was very limited, with only "I'm Not In Love" rolling off the top of my head. And after hearing, buying and indulging in "Bends," I dug deeper into the band's past to see if there was something I missed. Well, at least for my tastes at that time, I hadn't. Early 10cc is to that band, what early Genesis is to themselves. Many grew on both's early music. But both bands evolved, for better or worse depending on who you ask. But the fact is, both also evolved into a more refined sound that found a bigger audience. "Deceptive Bends" is full of examples of a band that hit it's heights in strong songs. The opening 1-2 punch of "Good Morning Judge" and "The Things We Do For Love" are great examples of the range of audience this band could reach- the strong opening guitar licks, infectuous chorus and rhythm, and animated content of "Judge", and the lead vocals and lush background harmonies of "Things" provide the broad range of sound to follow on the rest of the CD. They're followed by 3 effectively catchy songs that if not found on the more progressive radio stations of the time, they were certainly heard being played enthusisastically by those who were listening to more than just one 10cc song for the first times in their lives. That's quite a turnaround, regardless of what you think the band became after it splintered. And there was still more pop left on the CD. "Honeymoon With B Troop; You've Got a Cold," and "Feel The Benefit" offer some quality and variety, and all with enough traces of early 10cc to maintain (though not necessarily outright) the loyalty of some fo their earliest fans. "Honeymoon" has some great hooks and pace, and eclectic flavored "Benefit" is a multi-tempoed, outright jam, offering a closing guitar jam that stands out as one of the best of its time. Originally, this record had outstanding sound quality. The remastered CD is superb, offering a more enriiched, crystal clear appreciation for a CD that spans such a wide variety of musical genres with a purpose. Though I've listened to a lot of their music over time, I hadn't bought any 10cc before, or since this CD. This mid 70s CD holds up well today.

Deceptive Bends was the beginning of the end for 10cc. The band had split into two bands: 10cc and Godley & Creme. "How Dare You" was the magnum opus, and in my view the best album that 10cc came out with, not to mention one of the best albums of a decade that was full of amazing albums.

But now the year was 1977 and Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart regrouped and came back with a beautiful pop album that showed a subtle change in the 10cc sound. The interesting thing is that for all the wonderfully quirky pop art that filled the first four albums that included Godley & Creme, the music was still alive with fresh ideas and inventive productions, just a bit less cerebral. Sure, this was no "Consequences", Godley & Creme's first album that was full of high art but lacking in accessibility; but Deceptive Bends has so many infectious melodies and grooves that it intensified what made this band so attractive in the first place... The pleasure of invention.

Every song on this album has become (more or less) a highlight for me, including the bonus tracks. But the first side of the album is definitely the stronger half. It is rare to have a perfect album- in my mind there are very few of those. But I've got to give Deceptive Bends five stars nonetheless, because take away few missteps and you have a pop masterpiece.


Bloody Tourists continued the success of inventive pop music that Deceptive Bends had brought- it was the weaker of the two but still was mostly great.

I think the music declined somewhat after that for 10cc. That's not to say Look Hear, Ten Out Of 10, or Windows In The Jungle aren't strong albums- they just don't have the allure that the albums up to Bloody Tourist have; Ten Out Of 10 probably being the strongest of the three.

One note: I though it was interesting how close the guitar solo on "The Things We Do For Love" sounds like the guitar solo from "Killer Queen" by Queen.