Mark Monforti, Author at PROGROCK.COM

Mark’s Quick Reviews – Cosmograf’s – The Hay-Man Dreams.

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

The reason I have the previous band rating is so you know the personal bias I have going into listening the new album. Lets face it, that is a big part of what goes into your like or dislike of an album. So seeing as I was going into this album thinking that this is a band I would travel to see live I was expecting a lot from this album.

Luckily Robin Armstrong came through with another wonderful album. He has really come through with 4 albums in a row that are poignant and melodic and filed with high points. Something about the vocals paired with a haunting piano that I really like.

I particularly think this album is a great addition to their cannon and if you have never heard of them I think they best compare to Gazpacho.

Album Highlights: Tethered and Bound, The Motorway, Cut the Corn, Hay-Man

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

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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: Flicker’s – How Much are you Willing to Forget

by Mark Monforti | Jul 15, 2017 | News, Reviews

So I forgot where I read about this album on some review blog somewhere. I decided to listen to their free crappy bit rate version on https://flicker-band.bandcamp.com/. I was absolutely floored from first listen and listened to it back to back to back. I immediately contacted the band for an interview only to find out they didn’t even really know what prog was.

They said that Everywhere face was their favorite song and that the crowds seem to like that song the best. But I am here to tell you that there are 3 amazing songs on the album: Out There, where Ellis holds a note for 20 seconds, the sublime Counting Time, and Breathless which is even a little better than the other two outstanding tracks thanks to a flamenco guitar.

The artwork is wonderful and I find myself staring into the cd while listening to the album.

A few months after hearing the album we did what we said we do with 5 star albums. Yes we flew from Chicago to Aylesbury to see them perform this album.

On a side note: Because I have decided to review an album every day you are going to see a skewed result of more 5 star albums as I go back and review albums from the past along with new releases but let me assure you a 5 star rating is quite rare.

Notable Tracks: Go, Out There, Counting Time, Breathless

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(4.5 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(5.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(4.5 / 5)
DRAMA:	(5.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(5.0 / 5)

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: 3RDegree’s – Ones and Zeros

by Mark Monforti | Jul 14, 2017 | News, Reviews

This is the first 3RDegree album that really caught my ear. George’s soulful singing is a great pairing for this album that has some moments of drama. This album is made for music patrons that like Ayeron’s subject matter as this album is probably the best excuse for a Dr. Who plot since Genesis’s Get ’em out by Friday. The album is accessible and has some very pleasing changes for the prog lover.

Album Highlights: The Gravity, This Is the Future, We Regret to Inform You, More Life.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(2.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.5 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.5 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(4.0 / 5)

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 a solid album.
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 gotten 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: Damanek – On Track

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

So in an unusual move I gave a debut album a PREVIOUS BAND RATING of 4 for a debut album. That was due to the strength of previous band members works in other bands. Most notably Guy Manning and Sean Timms who I liked so much I flew them both to Chicago at different times to perform. Together with the musicians Dan Mash and Luke Machin who I have seen perform as Concrete Lake, Machine and The Tangent. Guest performers Phideaux Xavier and Brody Thomas Green have also played our Chicago venue. Tim Irrgang was great live with Unitopia and in the studio with UPF and Steven Dundon was wonderful playing with Galahad. Not to slight the other musicians on the album but I speaking to the point that I gave a debut album a PREVIOUS BAND RATING of anything other than zero.

The vocals have been altered just slightly in post production so if you were someone that didn’t particularly like Guy’s unique vocals this is worth at least one spin for you. Others that like Guy’s past work should love this album. Guy still has his iconic sound and the songs subject matter jumps off the page in a memorable ensemble of well structured and varied songs.

Memorable Tracks: Nanabohzo & the Rainbow, Big Parade, Dark Sun

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(4.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.5 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(1.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(4.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.5 / 5)
DRAMA:	(3.5 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(4.0 / 5)

Key:
These first ratings are just attributes and have little correlation to the final 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 a good album.
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 gotten 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: Djam Karet – Sonic Celluloid

by Mark Monforti | Jul 12, 2017 | News, Reviews

In many ways I am the wrong person to review this album as instrumental albums are never really my go to albums. The opening track is very reminiscent of Tom Baker era doctor who. I almost expected to hear a sample of the 4th doctor saying “It’s the end… But the moment has been prepared for” on top of this song. All parts of this album are enjoyable but no real drama in this album. I would say this is for lovers of instrumental music. You should find this quite suitable album for you listening pleasure. I would love for others to comment here on what they think of this album.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(1.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(4.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(1.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(3.5 / 5)

Key:
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 a good album.
3: Some 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 gotten 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 – Cosmograf’s – The Hay-Man Dreams.

Mark’s Quick Review: Flicker’s – How Much are you Willing to Forget

Mark’s Quick Review: 3RDegree’s – Ones and Zeros

Mark’s Quick Review: Damanek – On Track

Mark’s Quick Review: Djam Karet – Sonic Celluloid

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