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Non-Prog CD Reviews

NYDTyson

If You're So Smart, Why Are You So Sad?

Review by Gary Hill

This band has a very diverse sound. They go from grunge and punk to alternative rock with jazzy elements to progressive rock and more. I can even see comparisons to artists ranging from the Beatles to Frank Zappa and Pink Floyd at points here. All in all, this is an entertaining and intriguing set. It's always interesting and always quality.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2018  Volume 1 at  garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2018.

Track by Track Review
Egg
Alternative rock with a bit of a jazzy element is the idea at the beginning of this. They bring it out for a burst of harder rock later. This is incredibly quirky. In some ways the little flourishes of sound here make me think of Frank Zappa a bit. The weird jam later in the track definitely feels like a modernization of the kind of thing Zappa might do.
What Did You Say?
More of a straight-ahead rocker, I love the bottom end of this sound. The cut is a real stomper with an alternative rock sound. I bet this would be great to experience live. It's fun and meaty at the same time.
Neanderthal

As you might imagine of a song with that title, this is rather raw. It's hard-edged and heavy. It's like grunge merged with punk rock. It's also cool.

Who Cares?

There is a dreamy, almost prog rock styled sound to this thing. It's melodic and mellower. It's quite a cool cut and a great bit of variety. I love the funky bass breakout section.

I Think We Both Know

This has some of the same soundscape as the previous track. That said, there is a pop meets psychedelic element here. I can make out hints of both The Beatles and Pink Floyd here. If the whole set were like this and the previous cut, I would have landed it under progressive rock. I tend to think that as good as the rest were, this is the strongest track of the whole disc. There is a hidden track on this, though. After an extended period of silence there is a little rhythm section jam broken up by bits of laughter.

 
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