A # C O L L E C T I O N # O F F # P R O G R E S S I V E # R O C K # R E V I E W S
I have bought a lot of prog rock albums lately through Ebay and second hand shops. I am here fulfilling a twenty years old ambition.
I feel that it is a good idea to take notes of which albums who are good and whose are wasted money. I hope my notes may be useful for others. That's why my notes will be included in my homepage.
I am not an authority on Progressive Rock or any other music. For those who want better qualified opinions, please go to Progarchives and VintageProg
Throughout this webpage and my reviews; I will refer to a scene called the Canterbury Scene. This scene is described in Wikipedia as "The Canterbury scene (or Canterbury sound) is a term used to loosely describe the group of progressive rock, avant-garde and jazz musicians, many of whom were based around the city of Canterbury, Kent, England during the late 1960s and early 1970s.". The rest of the article can be found at Wikipedia
I will try to describe the music at the best of my abilities and then add my personal views. But to help myself and others; I will add my opinion in bold script with a rating going from 1 star to 6 stars. I hope this may be helpful.
R A T I N G
****** = A brilliant masterpiece
***** = A very good release
**** = A good release
*** = An average release
** = A mediocre release
* = An awful relase
More albums will be added during the coming months.
Torodd
August 2007
I have well over one hundred albums to review so I have to start somewhere. I start with a good sampler....
Various Artists "The Best Prog Rock Album Ever" 2005 (Prog Rock)
CD1: 1. Theme 1 - Van Der Graaf Generator 2. Dancing With The Moonlit Knight - Genesis 3. Roundabout - Yes 4. Joybringer - Manfred Manns Earthband 5. Back Street Luv - Curved Air 6. Silver Machine - Hawkwind 7. Locomotive Breath - Jethro Tull 8. Hocus Pocus - Focus 9. Hoedown - Emerson Lake And Palmer 10. Tomorrow Night - Atomic Rooster 11. Child In Time - Deep Purple 12. Valentyne Suite - Colosseum
CD2: 1. Here Comes The Flood - Peter Gabriel 2. Tubular Bells (Part 1) - Mike Oldfield 3. Winter Wine - Caravan 4. May I - Kevin Ayers And The Whole World 5. Sympathy - Rare Bird 6. Salty Dog - Procol Harum 7. Mocking Bird - Barclay James Harvest 8. Which Way The Wind Blows - Anthony Phillips 9. Lucky Man - Emerson Lake And Palmer 10. In Every Dream Home A Heartache - Roxy Music 11. 10538 Overture - Electric Light Orchestra 12. Mumps - Hatfield And The North
CD3: 1. Peaches En Regalia - Frank Zappa 2. Rhayader - Camel. 3. Pantagruels Nativity - Gentle Giant 4. Germ Patrol - Egg 5. O Caroline - Matching Mole 6. Bedside Manners Are Extra - Greenslade 7. Meditation Of The Snake - Steve Hillage 8. Spectral Mornings - Steve Hackett 9. Ships In The Night - Be Bop Deluxe 10. Keep On Crinting - Man 11. Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers - Van Der Graaf Generator
A superb intro to progressive rock and easy to find at for example Amazon. Three CDs full of superb music. I use it to check out new bands and just to listen to superb music. I do not like all tracks though. But one of the strong points of this sampler is that it covers most of the different progressive rock styles. From space rock, via art rock to symphonic prog. This is as close to essential as a sampler can get.
***(*)
6. August 2007
2112 “Intro” 1994 (Prog Metal)
This trio from Argentina have modelled themselves on Rush, but misses the boat. Where Rush has got some very clever and original music, 2112 is going down the well trodden progressive metal path. More metal than progressive metal, in fact. The vocals are pretty annoying and weak too. I respect this band, but this album is nothing more than a waste of time.
*
21. February 2008
Cairo "Cairo" 1994 (Symphonic Progressive Metal)
The opening track on this, the debut album from this American band, gives some associations to Arabic folk music. Then the western sound come through. The sound is a mix of Saga, ELP and Yes. Some also would say Genesis, but I disagree with that. The final 22 minutes long Ruins At Avalon's Gate opus is a definate ELP rip-off. Somehow, I quite like this album. I loved it when it was first released. But it has faded in my view. The album has too much commercial AOR leanings in my view. It is not enough "true" symphonic prog. It comes across as too much commercial prog. Which probably explains why I loved it back in 1994. When that is said, this is not a bad album. It has some great pieces of music. The musicianship is great. I still listen a lot to this album.
****
4. September 2007
Captain Beyond “Sufficiently Breathless” 1973 (Heavy Prog)
Rod Evans was the vocalist on the first three Deep Purple albums. He started up this band which basically continued along the lines of those three albums. This, their second album out of in total three albums, is a lot more progressive than the two other albums. Unfortunate, without the big ideas and good music. The good stuff here is actually in the Canterbury vein with some good groovy jazz melody lines. But it is not enough of these to keep my interest throughout the thirty-six minutes. Not my cup of tea.
**(*)
14. February 2008
Caravan "In The Land Of Grey And Pink" 1971 (Art Rock/Canterbury Scene)
This album is claimed to be one of the best albums from the Canterbury scene. I do not have the full oversight over this magic scene so I cannot comment on that. But I like Caravan and this album. In The Land Of Grey And Pink is both melodic, jazzy, spacy and pretty eccentric prog in the pop vein. An jazzy spaced out organ and some pretty good accoustic guitars are the main things I note here, besides of the good melodies. I also note that the album has a madcap english eccentricity around it. It has a flavour of cricket, garden shows and warm beer, if you get my drift. I really like this album.
*****
6. August 2007
Caravan “Green Bottles For Marjorie” 2002 (Canterbury)
This review is more a warning than a review. This live recording is a radio-show from the late sixties, taped by a listener and then released some years ago. The result is a bootleg quality sound, unworthy of this great band. Thankfully; the same show and another show was released last year as “The Show Of Our Lives: Caravan At The BBC 1968-1975”. That one is recommended; not this album. There is nothing wrong with the good songs, btw. But still; a waste of money.
*(*)
14. February 2008
Cathedral "There in the Shadows" 1993 (AOR Prog)
No, this is neither the superb symphonic prog rock act from the '70 or the doom metal act from England. This is a now disbanded American band who released two albums in the '90. This is their second and final album. The music is distinct AOR, but with a proggy edge. Too americian sounding in my view, but it still have some good music. The guitars are good and so are the synths. The sound is typical for the '90s. It is not a must have or something I would pay much money for, but it is a solid and rather unspetacular album. If you like AOR, this will be a good album for you. I like it.
****
12. August 2007
Colosseum “Valentyne Suite” 1969 (Jazz Rock)
This album is in my view overrated. OK, the seventeen minutes long title track is OK. It does have some good stuff. But the other twenty five minutes of music, divided on four tracks, is a mix of funk and blues. I have tried to like this band and this album. I have been listening to this album far too much for my liking. I do not understand why this band is so popular. For me; there are far better bands and album out there who deserve my attention.
***
14. February 2008
Disen Gage “The Screw-Loose Entertainment” 2004 (Eclectic Prog)
Vow !! A forty minutes long album now available as a free download and a bloody good one too ! This Russian bands looks like some mad professors from a university in Moscow. Their biography confirms my “worst” fears. Their music is instrumental eclectic prog with one foot firmly rooted in fusion-rock and jazz. The other foot is firmly in King Crimson land. The first ten minutes of this album are really infectious groovy. The rest is pretty good too. The album also has this Russian feeling with myriads of other cultures thrown in. It is a true melting pot of everything. The main instrument are guitars, but they also use a myriad of instruments and that to good effect. I am not a fan of instrumental music, but this one is a good one. As this album is for free; grab and enjoy. I guess I need to get their second album too and I will gladly pay for that one.
***(*)
26. February 2008
Dream Theater “Awake” 1994 (Progressive Metal)
I added this album to the “Classic Albums” list ten years ago, but I no longer believe it is a classic album. I think it is good album, but this band have released better albums than this one. Dream Theater is without any doubts the undisputed kings of progressive metal and rightly so. “Awake” is their third album and probably their heaviest album ever. But it is still firmly rooted in progressive rock. Some of the songs are superb and there is nothing on this album I can fault. Dream Theater needs no further introduction and if you like them; this album is a must-have as far as I am concerned.
****(*)
2. March 2008
Druid "Fluid Druid" 1975 (Symphonic Prog)
All obscure prog does not have to mean good prog. This English band is totally unknown in spite of releasing two albums. This album maybe explain Druid's lack of recognition. Some parts of this album is utterly waste of space. Other parts again is pretty good. The music can loosely be called symphonic prog. But the music is far less complex than most of the albums and bands in this genre. The symphonic parts are flute and mellotron driven and more spacy/dreamy than really symphonic. I am afraid this album does not impress me in a sea of far bigger fish.
***
6. August 2007
Eloy "Live" 1978 (Space Prog)
Eloy’s albums have some superb artwork which attracted me to this band. So I got their albums and I like most of them. Their music is a highly original blend of space rock and symphonic prog. I have yet to hear any other band with the same sound. The vocals are strange, to say at least. But they fit the music perfectly. The average length of the songs are nine minutes and the sound quality is great. The music can best be described as spaced out symphonic prog with some references to the Krautrock scene. This is the only live album by Eloy. It is also a very good introduction to this great band. It is one of my favourite live albums.
****
3. March 2008
Emerson, Lake & Palmer "Picture At An Exhibition" 1972 (Symphonic Prog)
Symponic prog taken to it's extreme. Emerson, Lake & Palmer was a supergroup which evolved from The Nice and ended up as a headcase. Like this album, for example. It is a live album, consisting of some great music between classical music, jazz and rock. A 37 minutes long orgy of over-statements and megomania. Personally; I think this is great. Emerson, Lake & Palmer do progressive rock down my alley. Intense difficult to listen to, but still rewarding. Despite or because this album is such a difficult album to understand, I would recommend it.
****(*)
5. February 2008
Focus "Hamburger Concerto" 1974 (Symphonic Prog)
This Dutch band is most famous for their Hocus Pocus hit single (which includes some hilarious yodeling). That track is actually untypical for this band (and not included on this album). What I remember them for is this album, Hamburger Concerto. This is not a live album. It is a studio album and the twenty minute long title track is the main piece of music here. But the four other tracks are also very good. The music is symphonic and sometimes driven by moog and flute. The thing that fascinate me most with this album is the almost cathedral mood I get from this album. Focus raided and copied a piece from the classical composer Haydn for this album. The very evident crossover between classical music and symphonic rock on this album may explain the cathedral feeling. The mood, the music, the feeling of greatness. This is a masterpiece.
*****(*)
6. August 2007
Frost “Milliontown” 2006 (Neo Progressive)
The first Dream Theater like minutes of this album blew me away. The music is pretty symphonic throughout and laden by excellent guitars and keyboards. The right stuff, in other words. The vocals are great too. The music swings between quiet reflection and bombastic heavy parts. The twenty six minutes long title track is a typical example. Although the rest of the one hour long album is not as strong as the beginning, this album is one of the strongest progressive rock albums released during the last two years. Milliontown being the debut album from this UK band, I am looking forward to the follow up album.
****
24. February 2008
Fruitcake "Man Overboard" 2004 (Neo-Symphonic Prog)
This Norwegian band has excisted for a long while and I knew the main songwriter when I lived in Norway. He was actually one of those who got me into prog in the first place. It is a pity that the only Fruitcake I have is not as good as I wanted it to be. The music is at times symphonic pop, but too many times just plain rock. Some good pieces is scattered among this mediocrity. That is not good enough for me. I cannot recommend this album taken into the account that the scene has a lot better things to offer.
**
6. August 2007
Genesis “The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” 1974 (Symphonic Prog)
How can I describe a concept album/double album of this outstanding beauty ? An album I would carry with me to a desert island if I got the chance ? An album I have been listening to for ages and where I still discover new layers of beauty ? Not all the 94 minutes are pure perfection, but the good stuff here is just breathtaking fantastic. The music is laden with guitars, moog and some fantastic vocals from Peter Gabriel. It is not bombastic and there is no hit singles here. It is just bloody good melodies who flows into each other with no effort. Highly intelligent and probably the Genesis highlight. An album so difficult to make it tore the band apart.
If you want to get into progressive rock, this double album is simply one you need to have… but start with Selling England By The Pound first because The Lamb… is not for beginners.
******
23. February 2008
Gentle Giant “Playing The Fool – The Official Live” 1977 (Eclectic Prog)
Somehow, I have always regarded Gentle Giant as the progressive rock’s answer to a chamber orchestra, playing baroque music. And that is the best description I can find of this truly unique band. Gentle Giant uses more or less the same instruments as a chamber orchestra + electric guitars, bass and drums. The vocals too has a classical feel. This album is their only official live album and an excellent starting point for those who want to find out more about Gentle Giant. The music is very complex at times. Mostly due to Gentle Giant being different from the rest of the music scene. The music is very catchy at times. The melodies very strong. I have been listening to the 35 years anniversary edition (double CD) for some months and I discover new layers all the time. Gentle Giant has never been a favourite of mine, but I guess it is about time to give this band the recognition it deserve. This live album is absolute superb.
*****
24. February 2008
Gnidrolog "In Spite of Harry's Toe-Nail" 1971(Art Rock)
This album has been described as a hidden gem and that make me fork out some money to get it. If they had added “sounds like Van Der Graaf Generator and Gentle Giant”, I would not have bothered. Gnidrolog’s brand of folk, jazz, pop, space-rock and prog is too eccentric for my liking. But the album still have some good songs and is by no means a waste of space. But this album is probably not for me, although I will listen to it some more. I would recommend this album though….to fans of the two above mentioned bands.
***
13. August 2007
Haggard "Awakening The Centuries" 2000 (Goth Prog Metal)
The label "Black Sabbath meets Johann Sebastian Bach" is a pretty correct description of this album. I would add that this album takes the goth metal scene to the extreme in it's flirtation with opera and classical music. It is still too much metal though and in particular my pet hate; too much German beer keller metal orientated. Which in my views destroys the good idea behind this album. But some of the music on this album is quite good. But it is not prog and it does not appeal to me.
**
11. August 2007
Steve Hillage "Live Herald" 1978 (Space Prog)
One of these unknown, but essential live albums from the prog rock scene. Steve Hillage was a part of the Canterbury Scene and the former guitarist in Gong, a weirdo space rock outfit (see reviews). This live album is full of spaced out jazz improvisations in addition to some pretty hard rock and symphonic prog. But all music is very melodic too. The music is guitar driven (this being Steve Hillage's instrument) with some moogs thrown in. The music is very good and rapidly imprison the listener into Steve Hillage's world. I really love this album and recommend it to everyone. This album being a hybrid between all prog rock styles; it is a very good prog rock beginners album. The sound is good too so this is a must-have.
****(*)
6. August 2007
K2 “Book Of The Dead” 2005 (Symphonic Prog)
I was listening to the 25 minutes long opening track with the BritAwards on TV in the background. The contrast between those three minutes long tunes and K2’s music was startling. K2’s music can be compared to both Yes, U.K. and Genesis. In other words, wonderfully lush with tonnes of guitars and keyboards. The vocals too is great. Unfortunate, some parts on this, a four tracks long album is a bit bland and not in the same league as the three above mentioned bands. But this is still by no means a bad album and I am pretty sure I will listen to it a lot in the future. Unfortunate; the vocalist died just after making this album and K2 is no more. This is their only album, but they left on a high.
****
21. February 2008
Khan "Space Shanty" 1972 (Canterbury)
It is a crying shame that Khan only released this album. The musicians (including Steve Hillage and Dave Stewart) later went on to their solo careers and bands like Hatfield & The North, National Health and Gong. The music on this album is full of intricate, but still melodic and jazzy keyboard and spacy guitar driven compositions in the classic Canterbury style. Some of the music is superb. Most notably the opening title track. The rest is good to mediocre. The best parts of this album is the mix up of groovy jazzy parts and the typical Canterbury parts. That’s when this album become really interesting. There are as I stated some pretty mediocre parts here too, but I really like this album.
****(*)
12. February 2008
Magellan "Hour Of Restoration" 1991 (Neo Symphonic Prog)
Very few bands divides the scene like this American band. With good reasons. But to this album.... Hour Of Restoration was their debut album and it is heavly influenced by bands like Kansas, ELP and Genesis. In my book; a good thing. The result is a pretty accesible album, with the opening track Magna Charta clocking in over ten minutes. The rest of the album contains of shorter, commercial radio-friendly songs. These songs are good, but not as good as Magna Charta which ranks pretty high on my list of alltime favorite prog-rock epics. The music is very much based on synths, but with some metal guitars included too. It is obvious that the likes of Dream Theater has been an inspiration (and close personal friends, according to their biography). It is hard to dislike this album and I rank it as one of the better neo-prog albums ever released.
****
2. September 2007
Magenta “Another Time…. Another Place” 2004 (Neo Progressive)
Why this fine Welsh prog rock band released a double live album only after two full length albums and one EP; only God knows. On the other side; this is actually a highly entertaining 110 minutes long live album. Music wise, Magenta is more in the vein of Renaissance, Yes and Genesis than most other neo progressive bands. The comparison with Renaissance is quite obvious, both being fronted and based around female vocals. Magenta’s music is very symphonic at places, but also at time driven by piano and female vocals. There is also plenty of guitars and keyboards in their sound. Their sound could overall be a bit more dense and that is my only problem with Magenta. But Magenta is as far as I am concerned one of the best prog rock bands on this planet and a firm favourite of mine. This live album is recommended.
****(*)
24. February 2008
Marillion "Misplaced Childhood" 1986 (Neo Symphonic Prog)
I love the Fish era Marillion. All their albums, in fact. Even their blatant Genesis rip-off. Their best known album is this album. They sold millions of it and deservedly so. They even had hit singles. For me; I regard this album as one piece of music. It is a virtuous piece of grand music, heavy rooted in symphonic rock and classical music. I do not think Johan Sebastian Bach would had been ashamed had he written this piece of music. This is among the ten best prog rock albums ever and a true classic. Despite of this; this album is actually not my favourite Marillion album (Clutching being my favourite). But this album is still essential.
*****
13. August 2007
National Health “Of Queues and Cures” 1978 (Canterbury)
Although it is branded Canterbury prog, this band’s music is leaning very heavily into Jazz-Rock. The music very playful and melodic. The sound is distinctive Canterbury with references to Caravan and Hatfield & The North. Which makes a perfect blend between Jazz and Progressiv Rock, in my view. Guitars and keyboards happily plays together with good solos and intricate melody lines. The music is at times very groovy (jazz) too. Not to mention fresh and timeless. There are some vocals on this album, but most of it is instrumental. I love this album and it is one of my favourite progressive rock albums.
*****
12. February 2008
National Health "Dreams Wide Awake" 2005 (Canterbury)
This double cd is a mishmash of their two brilliant first albums “National Health” and “Of Queues and Cures ”. Both albums are difficult to find now. Not to mention expensive. This double CD includes all the tracks of the two above mentioned albums. Despite it’s cheap & nasty packaging and ditto pretty pointless existence, this is a good enough reason why you may buy it from Ebay or somewhere else. Just rip the CDs over to your computer and then put together those two respective albums again as their respective entities. The music is superb.
****
3. March 2008
The Nice "Five Bridges" 1970 (Symphonic Prog)
The opening minute of classical music says it all. A mix of classical music and the magic music of Keith Emerson. Yes, that guy who later joined Emerson, Lake & Palmer. The seeds of most of their output can be found on this album, in my view. The Five Bridges album is a tribute to Newcastle, England. Only God knows why. The music is truly symphonic with a mix of classical instruments and moog. It has a lot of good pieces which fascinate me and keep my interest high. This is most definate a demanding album. Give it your full attention and you will enjoy it.
****
7. August 2007
Pendragon “The Masquerade Overture” 1996 (Neo-Prog)
The opening title track promises a symphonic prog album, but the rest does not deliver on this promise. The music is neo-prog with some good guitars and keyboards. I have never liked the vocals, though. But the music itself is very good, although some of it is a bit bland. This is commonly regarded as the best Pendragon album and I have to agree. I guess it will still grow on me in the coming months and years. I am not a fan of neo-prog, but I really like this album. This is an album for the future.
****
17. February 2008
Premiate Forneria Marconi “Per Un Amico” 1972 (Italian Symphonic Prog)
Besides of the language, I am not entirely sure what’s the difference between Italian Symphonic Prog and Symphonic Prog is. This is the first Italian album I have ever heard and it seems a bit more poetic in style than the rest of the symphonic prog scene. This album is regarded as the album who sums up the whole scene. In that case, this scene is most definite a scene to explore. The music is both based on the usual prog rock electric instruments in addition to acoustic instruments like flute, violin and piano. Something which creates an unique sound. The opening track “Appena un Po'” is brilliant with haunting moog, flute and violins. The rest of the album too is just superb. The music is not easy to access. It took me a lot of time to get into this album due to it’s intricate nature. The (Italian) vocals is brilliant and adds colourful textures to the music. It is an overall beautiful album and I can see myself as a fan of Italian prog in some months time when I have digested some more albums. This is a
highly recommended album.
*****
2. March 2008
Renaissance "Ashes are Burning" 1973 (Symphonic Prog)
This is a personal favourite band of mine. Well, at least their earlier albums. Unfortunate, the band did a Genesis in the '80 and became a bad copy of ABBA. But on this album, one of their first ones, they manage to blend folk rock with symphonic prog and clasical music in an almost perfect manner. Add the strong (female) vocals of Annie Haslam and you have the Renaissance trademark sound. Add some very strong piano driven melodies and you have one of the best prog ever released. This album is not as strong as the Scheherazade album, but still a gem.
****
13. August 2007
Renaissance “Scheherazade And Other Stories” 1975 (Symphonic Prog)
Finding this album was one of the biggest revelations of my now one year long exploration of the progressive rock archives. The album kicks off with an incredible good piano playing before the vocals of Annie Haslam kicks in on the fantastic ten minutes long opening track Trip To The Fair. The next two short songs are not my favourites. But the almost half an hour title track is a true symphonic prog track with tonnes of good melody lines. Never boring; highly rewarding. This is for me one of the great symphonic prog albums.
*****(*)
12. February 2008
Riverside “Second Life Syndrome” 2005 (Prog Metal)
Prog Metal...... but not like Dream Theater or any other band. Actually; Riverside is what they are; a band from Poland. Dark and brooding. The associations to Pink Floyd is not as strong as I thought they would be on this, their second album. Maybe on their two other albums, but not on this one. I get a lot of associations to Pearl Jam’s debut album when I am listening to this album. Porcupine Tree is also a good reference. But most of all; Riverside is a unique band and so is this album. It is as usual driven by both guitars and organ. Actually more guitars than keyboards. The vocals are superb too. The epic title track is brilliant and so is most of this album. I do understand why this band is so popular and I this album is most definite a must-have. I do feel this album has more layers which I have yet to penetrate and it will most definite be on my play-list for a long time.
****(*)
21. February 2008
Rush “Snakes & Arrows” 2007 (Art Rock)
I am a Rush fan and I remember the very encouraging studio reports. I had high hopes for this album, their second album after the comeback some years ago. It is a miracle that Rush still exist. Why they still exist, is very much evident in this album. Rush is three guys who loves creating new music, the Rush way. They brought in a new producer for this album and that has resulted in one of the best sounds I have ever heard. The music too kick ass. Rush, who has existed for over 35 years, sounds fresh and very vital on this album. The music is at times heavy, but also reflective and melodic. The keyboards has almost gone and the guitars is very dominant. The bass and the drums are flawless and the vocals better than ever. The songs are superb, with a couple of exceptions. The album was voted best album of the year by the Classic Rock magazine and I can only agree. I am full of admiration for this band and dead proud of this album from my all-time favourite band.
****
22. February 2008
Saga “Saga” 1978 (Heavy Prog)
Twenty five years ago, me and my parents had a cabin in the Norwegian mountains. The neighbour was a big Saga and Camel fan. He played this album to me several times and it turned me into a prog head. Listening to it again after finally buying it, I still see why it changed my life. The music is heavy laden with synth, but the guitar solos are the ones which turned me into this band. In particular the last twenty minutes of this album. The jazzy flow of the album is a major plus for me. I admit that this albums has some flaws, but I do not care. For me; this album is the one I return to time after time.
****
17. February 2008
Spock’s Beard “Snow” 2002 (Symphonic Prog)
A two hours long concept album, released as double cd and digi-pack. A progressive rock’s smorgasbord, no less. The problem is that this album is not a traditional symphonic prog album with heavy leanings on classical music. This album leans more towards The Beatles than Richard Wagner. It is rock through and through. Which is the reason I did not like this album in the beginning. I spent, for me, a small fortune on this album some years ago and I was about to sell it on Ebay. But I thought I should give it a final chance. I am glad I did that. After some hours of listening; it grew more and more on me. Now; I think it is a masterpiece and I curse myself for ignoring it for many years. The melodies are superb and there are far between uninteresting parts on this album. This album also leans a lot on Genesis masterpiece Lambs… Broadway, but that is a good thing in my view. I really love this album and I cannot recommend it highly enough. The melodies are too strong to be ignored.
*****
17. Feruary 2008
Starcastle "Song Of Times" 1978 (Pomp AOR)
This US band was back in the seventies a good Yes clone. They released some good albums back then (which I hope to get soon). I have a live cd with Starcastle which is very good (review will follow). So I had some hopes for this album..... which was promptly dashed. This album is at it's best pomp rock. At worst; bland AOR. Unfortunate; the latter is the dominating factor on this almost one hour long album. Some good music here, but mostly stuff which should cure insomnia.
**
7. August 2007
Torman Maxt “The Problem Of Pain” 2007 (Prog Metal)
The band says their music is in the vein of Rush, the “2112” era. But this is not the case. This forty one minutes long album is partitioned into five symphonies. The vocals are very annoying. A mix of crying and singing. An emotional overkill, in other words. The music is fairly symphonic with some metal edges, laden with guitars and keyboards. It is also dull with no memorable pieces and I get the feeling that I have wasted too much time of my life on this album. Mercifully, this album can be downloaded for free from their homepage. That’s the only saving grace here.
*
21. February 2008
Triumvirat "Illusions on a Double Dimple" 1974 (Symphonic Prog)
In my search for good symphonic prog, I find gems like this band and this album. That's makes the Ebay stress worthwhile. Over forty minutes of music, divided on two tracks. The music is very much in the ELP (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) vein. But not a clone. This German band does prog a bit less complicated than ELP. Still, this album is a big mouthfull which require quite intense concentration. This is certainly not an album for the masses. The music is moog based, with some strings inbetween. The music is not particular heavy or bombastic. There are some vocals, but most of the music is instrumental. I find this album very interesting. A hidden gem, indeed.
****(*)
11. August 2007
U.K "U.K" 1978 (Symphonic Prog)
The debut album from what most people consider as the last really classic prog rock supergroup. It contains well known members like John Wetton and Bill Bruford. I really dislike their other supergroup Asia. That band is too AOR for my liking. But U.K is different matter....thankfully ! U.K. does a mix of jazz and symphonic music. The music is pretty light, playful and fluent, with some good melody lines. The instruments is the classic guitar/moog/bass/drums setup. The album is 45 minutes long. This is probably more a jazz than symphonic rock album. It is a good album in the vein of National Health. I like it now, but I guess this is more an album I will enjoy in the future.
***
2. September 2007
Van Der Graaf Generator "Pawn Hearts" 1971 (Dark symphonic prog)
The 23 minutes long A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers must be one of the finest pieces of music written in the 1970s. The song starts like a mournful hymn and continues into space rock. Never dull, never simplistic. Just utter fascinating. This song takes up half of the album. The two other tracks, Lemmings and Man-Erg is both ten minutes long opuses. The music can best be described as dark symphonic prog, very much dominated on the vocalist Peter Hammil's voice, piano, saxophone and moog. It is almost church music, with the same feeling as being inside a churh with the congregation who are waiting for God. No joy, just God. Throughout the forty five minutes, there is no letup of good ideas and fantastic music. This album is rated among one of the best prog rock albums ever. Confronted with pure genious; I agree.
******
2. September 2007
Waterloo “First Battle” 1971 (Art Rock)
The first Belgium progressive rock band, according to themselves. The album was re-released through Musea a couple of years ago. The music is a mix of rock, funk, some jazz and Jethro Tull plagiarism. Yes, the flute player is very much a ‘Tull copyist. The problem with this album is that it has no real good tunes and no identity. It is a pretty bland album which never present anything good. You get guitars, bass, the flute and some moog. That’s it. The vocals are also best forgotten. This is not an album I will remember.
*(*)
23. February 2008
Yes “Yessongs” 1973 (Symphonic Prog)
One of the best live albums ever released, in my humble opinion. Originally released as a triple-album and re-released as a double CD. The music is mostly gathered from the Close To The Edge, one of the pillars of progressive rock. The music is very symphonic with some mad virtuous guitars, bass and keyboards. The vocals an acquired taste. The album is bombastic at time. Other times, it is pretty melancholic. The sound is very much the product of the 1970s and that is one of the charms of this album. This double CD is very much the ABC of symphonic prog rock and a must have.
******
24. February 2008
More reviews to be added later