Mark Monforti, Author at PROGROCK.COM

Mark’s Quick Review: Kepler Ten – Delta-v

by Mark Monforti | Aug 17, 2017 | News, Reviews

This submission was the first I have heard of this band but it has scored a nice tour with Lonely Robot and has booked a festival. So I thought it time to check them out.

There is not to much to say here I was pretty happy with every song but nothing really stood out as exceptional

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Red Skies Rise

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(2.5 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(3.0 / 5)

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Reviews: Art of Simplicity’s – When Fable Have a Bitter Taste

by Mark Monforti | Aug 16, 2017 | News, Reviews

So I was sent this album back in December and I finally got around to listening to it. This Greek heavy prog band has a great sound. The problem for me is that its not always melodic enough for my taste.

When they are in mellow I really like their tracks when the are too heavy and have machine gun type base drum going that does nothing for me.

If you are a fan of Prog Power this album you must check out I think you will love it.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Once, Telos

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(1.5 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(4.5 / 5)
MELODIC:	(1.5 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(2.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(3.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(3.0 / 5)

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Reviews: Fish’s 13th Star

by Mark Monforti | Aug 16, 2017 | News, Reviews

Full disclosure here. I am more a fan of fish than Marillion.

That being said I have liked most of his solo releases with the last 5 at least being above average or better.

This album is no different again some wonderful crossover prog. I was lucky enough to see some of this preformed live in New Jersey as well which inevitably makes me like this album a little more too.

Together with writer Steve Vantsis I think there are many strong songs on this album. I think I can comfortably say I like each and every song on this album.

Every song is between 4 and 7 minutes long and accessible. I struggle to find any 5 star song but there are some 5 star moments.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Zoe 25, 13th Star

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(4.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(4.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(4.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(4.0 / 5)

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Review: Able Ganz’s – Able Ganz

by Mark Monforti | Aug 13, 2017 | News, Reviews

So here we are with another band I probably should have heard of before but this was my introduction to this band. This was the album was the album that got them RoSfest and Terra Incognita gigs.

So this album as you might suspect is quite good. From the first note of Delusions Of Grander is captivating. The second song Obsolescence which is in five movements and according to Denis of the band that song and Thank You. are two must play songs in their set which leaves time for very little else.

This album does two things i thought were impossible. Make a song I like that sounds suspiciously like Bruce Hornsby at times and fuse a country song with some Gaelic and make is sound like a romance language.

Not only is this a great album but the members are gregarious and friendly.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Obsolescence, Thank You

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.5 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(1.5 / 5)
MELODIC:	(4.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(2.5 / 5)
DRAMA:	(3.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(4.5 / 5)

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Reviews: The Tangents – The Slow Rust Of Forgotten Machinery

by Mark Monforti | Aug 13, 2017 | News, Reviews

The Tangent seem to just get better and better. Andy is one of the best prog poets of our era and I consider him a friend. His RosFest, Summers End and Terra Incognita shows were all wonderful to see.

I must say that the early Tangent was not really in my niche. It has some jazzier moments that are not really my thing, but either my tastes have been growing or the songs are more on the rock side and less on the jazzy side of prog.

This album is very political without taking a side. The music is epic is size four songs over 12 minutes long. Each with some very amazing portions. Not really a clunker on the album.

Sometimes the vocals are a bit more like talking and not really singing. I think that some people wish that they had a different singer but these songs are so obviously personal I can’t imagine anyone else singing them.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Doctor Livingstone, Slow Rust

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(4.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(2.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.5 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(5.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(4.5 / 5)

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order. Even if you don’t order this album

Key:
These ratings are just attributes and may not have correlation to the most important: OVERALL RATING

PREVIOUS BAND RATING
0: Never heard of them or debut album.
1: Someone recommended. I give them another shot.
2: Some good moments in the past but never put together an album I really liked.
3: Some 4 or 5 star songs but albums can be hit or miss for me.
4: I like 80% of their songs and probably went to see them live.
5: I would, and probably have gone on a plane to see them live.

ACCESSIBILITY EXAMPLES
1: Weather Report
2: Zappa
3: Genesis – Selling England by the Pound,
4: Marillion – F.E.A.R
5: Kino – Picture

HEAVINESS EXAMPLES
1: IQ – Seventh House
2: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
5: Opeth – Black Water Park

MELODIC EXAMPLES:
1: Opeth – Black Water Park
2: Vanden Plas – Chirst 0, Dream Theater – Scenes From a Memory
3: Porcupine Tree – In Abstentia, Shadow Gallery – Tyranny
4: Discipline – Unfold Like a Staircase
5: IQ – Seventh House

OVERALL RATING:
1: Will Never listen to again and deleted under no circumstances should you buy this
2: Not my thing maybe one redeeming song.
3: I like parts of this and I would check them out if they were near me.
4: I would get in the car and road trip to see this album live
5: I would get on a plane to see this performed live

See if our likes are similar See my Last.fm Page

https://www.last.fm/user/mon40/library/artists

Mark’s Quick Review: Kepler Ten – Delta-v

Mark’s Quick Reviews: Art of Simplicity’s – When Fable Have a Bitter Taste

Mark’s Quick Reviews: Fish’s 13th Star

Mark’s Quick Review: Able Ganz’s – Able Ganz

Mark’s Quick Reviews: The Tangents – The Slow Rust Of Forgotten Machinery

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