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Each month (mostly!) I will review a CD / DVD. The material reviewed will not always be “progressive rock”, but will hopefully inspire you to check it out. By definition, what I review, I like.
Artist / Title: Francis Dunnery: Man Month Reviewed: March 2002 Format: CD Buy: Apparently, this album will only be available via the Internet, but don’t let that stop you from buying it! Having dropped the band format of his last album – the totally brilliant ‘Let’s Go Do What Happens’ …
Artist / Title: Spock’s Beard: Feel Euphoria Month Reviewed: October 2003 Format: CD Buy: As many of you reading this will know, SB parted company, or the other way round, with main songwriter and vocalist Neal Morse. Enter stage left the drummer! And what a great job he makes of …
Artist / Title: Opeth: Ghost Reveries Month Reviewed: November 2005 Format: CD Buy: Giddy Up!!!! Buy this CD – it’s incredible. Really, no kidding, this is a must buy album.
Artist / Title: Quidam: the Time Beneath the Sky Month Reviewed: July 2002 Format: CD Buy: Quidam release their latest album (their 3rd studio work) and it features 10 tracks, among which is a cover of Led Zeppelin‘s ‘No Quarter’. Apart from that track, all the others are sung in …
Artist / Title: Porcupine Tree: Stars Die Month Reviewed: April 2002 Format: CD Buy: Stars Die is a double CD of the bands best work for the Delirium Records label in the period 1991-1997. It comes in a nice box with a rather excellent 36 page booklet packed with interviews, …
Artist / Title: Kayak: Merlin – Bard of the Unseen Month Reviewed: February 2004 Format: DVD Buy: This double concert DVD took some finding, but it sure was worth it! This set features the full concert version of the bands last studio album, 45 minutes of greatest hits and a …
Artist / Title: Deep Purple: Rapure of the Deep Month Reviewed: December 2005 Format: CD Buy: I bought this album in its limited edition variant (tin plus extra track!) and I am so glad I did. This album is one of the bands best; it positively burst with wit, great …
Artist / Title: Camel: a Nod and a Wink Month Reviewed: August 2002 Format: CD Buy: Well, what a surprise! This is the bands 30th anniversary release and, as such, is a compendium of all their styles. It sounds like a ‘classic’ album and all the songs (7 of them) …
Artist / Title: Pink Floyd: the Final Cut Month Reviewed: May 2004 Format: CD Buy: This is one of those albums you either love or hate. As for me, I love it! This new re-master sounds fabulous and the single only When the Tigers Broke Free fits into the running …
Artist / Title: Jason Mraz: Mr A-Z Month Reviewed: March 2006 Format: CD Buy: Wow! What an album this is! I first heard of this singer/song-writer by way of a cover he did of Queen’s ‘Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy’. Impressed by his vocal abilities, I nipped out and got …
Artist / Title: Spock’s Beard: Snow Month Reviewed: September 2002 Format: CD Buy: Finally received my copy of this album: look out for the limited edition 3CD package that comes in a nice box, with some stickers and the story! Very nice package indeed. And what of the music? Well, …
Artist / Title: Morrissey: You are the Quarry Month Reviewed: July 2004 Format: CD Buy: Morrissey’s latest solo album is by far his best yet. In terms of sound and production, it is top notch: punchy and powerful. Vocally, he is in excellent form and delivers an outstanding performance. The …
Artist / Title: Pure Reason Revolution: the Dark Third Month Reviewed: June 2006 Format: CD Buy: This is a totally fabulous album! – like early Floyd/Hawkwind/BOC served up in a modern Porcupine Tree style. Probably. Regardless, it is superb. Great vocal harmonies and catchy, melodic tunes. It sounds old, yet …
Artist / Title: David Gilmour: In Concert Month Reviewed: October 2002 Format: DVD Buy: Buy It!!!!
Artist / Title: Pain of Salvation: Be Month Reviewed: October 2004 Format: CD Buy: Buy this album!!!!! Fantastic to the nth degree, this is truly one of the most progressive and awe-inspiring albums I have heard in a long time. Seriously heavy going and requires a good few spins to …
Artist / Title: Circulus: Clocks are Like People Month Reviewed: September 2006 Format: CD Buy: Well, this album is quite the discovery! To the unprepared, it may even sound a tad bonkers. However, give it a few spins and is charms begin to sink in. Sounding not unlike a cross …
Artist / Title: Ben Folds: Live Month Reviewed: November 2002 Format: CD Buy: Well, what can I say? This is a tremendous album – one of the best live releases I have ever heard. Yup, it really is that good. Initial purchasers note that you get a free 35 minute …
Artist / Title: Rufus Wainwright: Poses Month Reviewed: December 2004 Format: CD Buy: Wow! What a great album. Featuring 13 songs sung with a rare passion and delivery, this is terrific stuff. Hugely melodic, complex, yet simple at the same time, this album is one of those that rewards repeated …
Artist / Title: Magenta: Home Month Reviewed: November 2006 Format: CD Buy: I have enjoyed previous Magenta albums very much, but this one really hits the nail on the head: great playing throughout (some superb guitar solos!) and fabulous vocals from Christina make this a must buy for any rock …
Artist / Title: Dream Theater: Train of Thought Month Reviewed: December 2003 Format: CD Buy: On first hearing, I was very, very disappointed with this album. Sure, it is very heavy, lyrically and musically, but there seemed to be a complete lack of melody. However, spin it a few times …
Artist / Title: Spock’s Beard: Octane Month Reviewed: February 2005 Format: CD Buy: I have to say this is extremely impressive, though bound to disappoint fans of the bands previous prog output. This is a ROCK record, sometimes a very heavy rock record. However, the first 7 songs (A Flash …