Reviews Archives - Page 34 of 41

Mark’s Quick Review: Hadal Sherpa’s – Hadal Sherpa

by Mark Monforti | Aug 5, 2017 | News, Reviews

Well here I am with another instrumental album that I typically do not go for. This album however is really excellent. The melodies in Nautilus Parts I and II are wonderful. The third track harkens back to the 60’s.
Ikaros has some wonderful changes.

This is one of the most accessible progressive instrumental albums out there. Nothing too difficult to wrap your ears around on first listen.

Composer Vesa Pasanen has really struck a cord with me and though I will probably not play this as much as it deserves. It does deserve to get a spin in your music player of choice.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Nautilus pt I & II, Ikaros, Heracleion

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(4.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(1.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(2.0 / 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: Toy Matinee’s – Toy Matinee

by Mark Monforti | Aug 4, 2017 | News, Reviews

So I probably should have made my first review this album. This is the whole reason I own progrock.com.
I heard last plane out on the Devon Bus in Chicago on some Rock station probably 97.9 the loop.
I didn’t know what it was I had to sing it to some poor guy at tower records at clark and belmont 1/2 mile south of Wrigley Field. He recognized it and I got the album. The whole album I loved from top to bottom.

Then later when I became a web developer in 1997 I would try every search engine that came out and search by Toy Matinee and never would I get any results back.

Then one day goto.com came out and suddenly 100 or so hits. Kevin Gilbert was gone, Thud a solo album came out and 1/2 of an album was made called Shaming of the True.

Fast forward to my next Job when I had bought the shaming album and a t-shirt. Well someone at work recognized the t-shirt and gave me Flower Kings Porcupine Tree and Spock’s Beard and the rest is history.

So back to the album again like the review before this one not really progressive but somehow it spoke to me. When I found out later that Shaming of the True was to be his The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway I should not have been surprised I guess.

The whole album has some amazing hooks in there and the lyrics are smart and poignant.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: Last Plane Out, There Was a Little Boy, The Ballad of Jenny Ledge, Things She Said.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(5.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(1.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(4.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.0 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(5.0 / 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: Steven Wilson’s – To The Bone

by Mark Monforti | Aug 3, 2017 | News, Reviews

So yes what you heard about this album is true its closer to a straight rock album than anything else he has done. It makes it quite clear that 4 1/2 needed to come out as those song certainly do not belong on this album. Do not let that worry you. As a matter of fact don’t let it fool you that you are going to be able to make a judgement on this album with one listen. Songs are still more complex and varied then they seem.

I am almost worried to give a review on this after just a few listens but I think its time.

So maybe I do not quite like this album as much as the two previous but good luck topping the last two albums Hand.Cannot.Erase and The Raven that Refused to Sing. This album starts of very strong the first 4 tracks I think are very good. I certainly hear the XTC influence in Permanating but to me all I can hear is Mamma Mia. It’s fine just not my thing I am sure some people will love it.

Ninet Tayeb who is on Pariah and Song Of I does a wonderful job on this album I really like Ninet and had the pleasure of seeing her sing a few extra songs in Chicago as Steven had to bow out from singing due to a virus.

I am sure I will go see this tour and that will effect my thoughts on this album. For now I say give it three listens you will probably like most of this album.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: To the Bone, The Same Asylum as Before, Pariah,

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(5.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.5 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(4.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.0 / 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. 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: Shadow Gallery’s – Tyranny

by Mark Monforti | Aug 2, 2017 | News, Reviews

I remember where I was…I was bowling at a tournament in Knoxville, Tenn when a teammate came up to me after are squad and said that our friend Marty was talking about spock’s beard and said, “Wasn’t that a band I liked?” It was of course, and Marty and I who knew each other from being in the same tournaments and leagues told me, “well you like Spock’s beard you have to check out these three albums”. He gave me Ayreon – Into the Electric Castle , Threshold – Hypothetical, and Shadow Gallery – Tyranny.

That was a magical day for me as in time all three of these albums have become some of my favorite albums. Curiously I really latched onto Threshold and Ayreon and it took my wife Rayna to have me listen to the album again and frankly I thought back in 2003 that it was one of the best albums in this revitalized prog movement that was starting to happen.

The one thing you might have to over come is the Late Mike Baker’s vocals and the mix have a bit of an 80’s hairband sound.

If that doesn’t bug you and you like your prog rock slightly harder this should be an album you are spinning for quite some time.

This is the first album of a 2 album story continued by Room V. The subject matter equates to Styx’s – Mr. Roboto. But the similarities end there. This album has very little “camp” and much more drama. Gone are songs like Haven’t we been here before and in with epic songs likeGhost of a Chance.

This is a byproduct of a real genius and multi-instrumentalist Gary Wehrkamp who is a really under-rated
song writer. To see him play live on stage is wonderful and he and Joe occasionally trade off on the drums.

I wouldn’t say this about all of their albums but if you ever wondered what a Def Leopard prog album would sound like. This is it.

This album’s Overall rating is justified as Rayna and I flew to Kingston Upon Thames to see them at The Peel in 2010.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(4.0 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(3.5 / 5)
MELODIC:	(2.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.0 / 5)
DRAMA:	(4.5 / 5)
OVERALL RATING:	(5.0 / 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: Resistor – Underground

by Mark Monforti | Aug 1, 2017 | News, Reviews

This album is head and shoulders above the previous work. Now don’t get me wrong I liked the earlier work and I liked their RosFest performance some years back, but it was always decent never spectacular.

This album though, by Steve Unruh’s on admission is the one album he wanted to listen to after it was complete. And after hearing a lot of it live at the RosFest after party and spinning it at my house I really have to say that this is one of the best releases of the year.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(3.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.5 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 5)
ARTWORK & PACKAGING:	(3.0 / 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 Review: Exovex – Radio Silence

by Mark Monforti | Jul 30, 2017 | News, Reviews

Debut album from Dale Simmons.

For the second album in a row we have great guest artists. Josh Freese (NIN, A Perfect Circle, Devo) and Keith Carlock (Sting, John Meyer, Steely Dan) on drums. The album also showcases two members of Porcupine Tree, Gavin Harrison on drums and Richard Barbieri on keyboards and synthesizers. All songs on the album were written, performed and produced by songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Dale Simmons.

I have to say I like every song on this album with my favorite being the last orbit. If you have some how missed this album you should really pick it up. At the time of this review the album is a $7 download on amazon which is quite a bargain.

ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS: The Last orbit.

PREVIOUS BAND RATING:	(0.0 / 5)
ACCESSIBILITY:	(3.5 / 5)
HEAVINESS:	(2.0 / 5)
MELODIC:	(3.0 / 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: Hadal Sherpa’s – Hadal Sherpa

Mark’s Quick Review: Toy Matinee’s – Toy Matinee

Mark’s Quick Review: Steven Wilson’s – To The Bone

Mark’s Quick Review: Shadow Gallery’s – Tyranny

Mark’s Quick Review: Resistor – Underground

Mark’s Quick Review: Exovex – Radio Silence

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