Member:
scooter_mcgrooter_13
(Profile)
(All Album Reviews by scooter_mcgrooter_13)
Date:
1/1/2000
Format:
CD (Album)
I have heard this album (their first, and only so far) compared to The Yes Album for the fresh, well crafted, intelligent prog-rock that it presented when released. Now I was only one year old when TYA was released, but it is an incredibly well written, recorded, and mixed album. More of a guitar driven album, but some great work on the keys as well.
Chris Shyrack - Guitars and lead vocals
Kurt Barabas - Bass
Matt Evidon - Keys
Paul Shkut - Drums
The first thing that amazed me is how well-written the songs are. Almost gives you the sense that Moving Pictures does, that these guys have hit a high after writing for many years. Hard to tell they have never recorded together before, though they have been on the club scene in L.A. for 10 years prior to this release.
It is power chord driven, but not as heavy as Dream Theater. Still has time for some acoustic sounding work mixed with the hard stuff ("This Golden Voyage"), some power pop ("Seeing Eye God"), a ballad-ish song with good vocal harmonies ("Reflections"), and even some bagpipes ("Breakwater")! There are a few tracks that log in at over 9 minutes - "The Time Being," and "From Henceforth Now and Forever" - with the latter being more of an instrumental.
The track that really does it for me is "Perfect World". The music almost gives hints of jazz, especially the instrumental beginning of the song. The bass player has some very fast runs. The lyrics are very haunting. It refers to a criminal act, the failed retribution, and the outlook for the future. Incredible.
The whole album is full of intelligent lyrics. Some will even make you smirk, like "Seeing Eye God" ...... if the song title already hasn't! :-) Great musicianship, good vocals, good harmonies, great sound, and production (self produced and mixed by Terry Brown of Rush fame).
Not typical prog rock, but enough to scare regular radio from playing them. Very good buy!
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