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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: 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 …
Artist / Title: Dream Theater: Black Clouds and Silver Linings Month Reviewed: June 2009 Format: CD Buy: Let’s start by saying that this is quite possibly the best Dream Theater album yet! As you would expect, the instrumental prowess on display is extraordinary, but what saves it from being a …
Artist / Title: Suede: A New Morning Month Reviewed: December 2002 Format: CD Buy: Suede are one of those bands you either ‘get’ or don’t! This is their 6th album (I think) and, although not their best, it is still rather good. Standout track is the mesmerising ‘Astral Girl’. Pure …
Artist / Title: Francis Dunnery: the Gulley Flats Boys Month Reviewed: April 2005 Format: CD Buy: This is Francis Dunnery’s new album, a double, no less; though in truth it would all fit on one CD! Regardless, this is Francis’s mid-life crisis album and is full of pretty downbeat, looking …
Artist / Title: Diagonal: Diagonal Month Reviewed: September 2009 Format: CD Buy: I first heard of this band via a track on Classic Rock Prog Magazine. I loved it straight away and sought out the album. First things first, this is unashamedly retro, pulling in influences from Pink Floyd (early …
Artist / Title: Radiohead: Hail to the Thief Month Reviewed: July 2003 Format: CD Buy: Well, a new Radiohead album is upon us. Would it be all barking mad electronica or a return to guitar based rock? The answer is a little of both. In some respects this album is …