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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Terry Draper

In My Garden

Review by Gary Hill

The latest album from Terry Draper of Klaatu fame, much of this feels as if it could have been released under that band name. There is a wide range of stuff here. There are also some tunes that stand particularly tall. While nothing is what I would call "weak," there are songs that don't work quite as well for me. Still, this is an effective set from start to finish. It's also one that never feels redundant.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) in Music Street Journal: 2019  Volume 3. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2019.

Track by Track Review
I Have a Dream
Piano leads the set out of the gate. Vocals come over the top as other instruments lend some intensity. There are Beatles-like elements at play here.
Fish
A bouncy sort of playful concept is at the heart of this. It's a bit quirky and a lot of fun. It's a little silly. It's much like some of the stuff both The Beatles and Klaatu sometimes did.
Light Years Later
More of a rocker, there is a lush texture built into the arrangement here. The electric guitar brings some real magic. This has some seriously hard rocking stuff in the mix. This does feel a lot like something that would have been at home on one of the Klaatu albums.
In the Sun
A tropical Island groove is on hand here. This is fun, but not really my kind of thing. It does have a suitably sunny disposition, though.
Everything Will Be Alright
Another Beatles-like mainstream rocker, this is a cut that could have been all over the radio in the 1970s. There is a classic and timeless quality to it. It has some great hooks and an intriguing arrangement. This is one of the highlights of the set.
I Wish I Could Fly
A piano and vocal based ballad, this is pretty. It's another that has a classic sound and feeling to it. It's another standout of the set. It gets strings and a more rocking arrangement further down the road, intensifying the piece nicely.
Carry On
A bouncy rocker, this is a fun tune. It's another that would have fit in very well with the Klaatu catalogue. This is another highlight, too.
When I Grow Up
Intricate acoustic guitar is at the heart of this. There is a folk rock turned proggy vibe here. This is another that would fit well under the Klaatu banner.
Turkish Delight
As you might guess from the title, there is a lot of world music here. This has some psychedelia in the mix, too. This is another that could have come from the Klaatu catalog. There is a little drop back for a "scene" of someone being greeted in Turkey. There are some female world music vocals suitable for the theme, too.
She's All Mine
A harder rocking jam, this comes in with guitar. It still has a bouncy kind of groove, and is very much a Klaatu kind of thing. The 70s are all over this one, too. It still has some cool hooks, but there are some really crunchy edges to some of this cut. I like this, but definitely wouldn't consider it a highlight.
Once Upon a Memory
More of a psychedelic, dreamy edge permeates this cut. There are some great evocative peaks here, and the song has some strong hooks. I dig the guitar sound a lot, too. That's particularly true of some of the crunchier stuff when the tune gets a little heavier later. The soaring female vocals during that section bring something special, as well.
Jules & Me
A song that's obviously inspired by Jules Verne, there is an adventurous, playful vibe to this number. It has an exuberance and sense of fun about it. It is another that calls to mind Draper's old band.
Latitude Adjustment
While this is a fun tune, it's not really a highlight for me. It does have some tasty guitar soloing.
Pied Piper
Starting with precisely the kind of thing the title suggests, this works out to a cool guitar driven rocker from there. There is a real 60s pop rock vibe to this cut.
 
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