My parents advised me growing up that if I can’t say something nice, I shouldn’t say anything at all.

Robert Lamm shows that he can still write and arrange great Chicago songs, but it’s a shame the production betrays him.

What does it say about the state of this band when Chicago doesn’t even phone it in for the best track on ‘Chicago XXXVI: Now’?

Like so many goodbyes, nobody knew “Better” would represent Bill Champlin’s last released original recording with Chicago.

‘Chicago XXX’ hadn’t lived up to its cross-genre promise – that is, until “Lovin’ Chains” finally offered a fizzy, long-hoped-for combination of mindsets.

“Already Gone” shows once again that ‘Chicago XXX’ isn’t a bad album. It’s a good album that was just ruined by poor production.

In retrospect, it’s not hard to see why this copycat-sounding self-titled debut is their only LP. ‘Gerard’ is perhaps the best Chicago album of the era.

“Come to Me, Do” is perhaps the best track Robert Lamm has contributed to Chicago since “Over and Over” on 1986’s ‘Chicago 18.’

“Where Were You” stands out for what’s not there: A gaggle of hired-hand sessions guys meant to bolster Chicago musically.

This checks all of Chicago’s boxes, including prominent horns and alternating lead vocals. Where “90 Degrees and Freezing” fails is in the production.