News Archives - Page 48 of 54

Mark’s Quick Review – Cell 15’s – Chapter One

by Mark Monforti | Jul 20, 2017 | News, Reviews

Where did these guys come from? Wonderful album out of no where from Robert Richardson. The first 20 measures or so of the title track were a bit off putting because of how much is sounded like Spock’s Beard but it quickly diverges into their own sound.

This album was our pick for best debut album of the year but it not only was the best debut but one of the best releases of the whole year.

This is for any fan of crossover prog.

Album Highlights: Chapter One, Man With a Gun, Long Way Down, Faith Without Works, The Messenger

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(5.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.5 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.5 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(1.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.5 / 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: Brother Ape’s – Karma

by Mark Monforti | Jul 19, 2017 | News, Reviews

So here is a band that I have always hoped that their next album would be the one that I really like how ever again this album is hit or miss for me. If you like the same music I like I would suggest you give it a listen. There are three decent songs on here, but the ones I don’t like leave me puzzled and disappointed.

Album Highlights: Sixteen, Hina Saruwa, Karma

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(2.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(2.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.5 / 5)
DRAMA:	(2.5 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(2.5 / 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: Panzerpappa – Pestrottedans

by Mark Monforti | Jul 18, 2017 | News, Reviews

So this is rather difficult album for me to review because it is very jazz influenced and instrumental.

If you like Saxophone, drums, keyboard, Chapman Stick, guitar this album might be for you. When I like this music its typically watching it performed. I just never see me spinning this album in the car or at home.

I would love to get comments on this album from our listeners to hear what they think. As for me this one is a miss.

Album Highlight: Tredje Malist

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(1.5 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(1.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(2.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(2.0 / 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: Yuka and Chronoship’s – The 3rd Planetary Chronicles

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

70’s Progressive Rock and Modern Day Progressive Metal has a decent following in the land of the rising sun. It is only natural to expect some great music to follow. Yuka & Chronoship is just that.

The album is mostly instrumental which does not typically align with my default tastes but this album’s melodies and the song changes are done which such care that I really have no problem with this album being
instrumental.

This third album is a culmination of all their skills. Their song writing and playing are wonderful. The sci-fi subject matter is intriguing and most importantly their songs are enjoyable to listen to.

Notable Tracks: Stone Age, Galileo I & II, Birth of Earth Magma Ocean, E=C#M,Birth of the Earth – Embryonic Planet

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

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order.

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 – 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)

Click Below to purchase at Amazon US or Amazon UK and we’ll get a little referral bonus on your whole order.

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 – Cell 15’s – Chapter One

Mark’s Quick Review: Brother Ape’s – Karma

Mark’s Quick Review: Panzerpappa – Pestrottedans

Mark’s Quick Review: Yuka and Chronoship’s – The 3rd Planetary Chronicles

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

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

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