GPS
Window To The Soul
Review by Josh Turner
Spock’s Beard is prog rock’s pop equivalent. Dream Theater is prog rock’s metal equivalent. And The Flower Kings are prog rock’s jazz equivalent. So what is GPS? They are prog rock plain and simple.
On this album, “Daring” Ryo Okumoto demonstrates amazing keyboards even if his contribution was last-minute and done in the course of a few days. Guthrie “Goodheart” Govan’s guitars are so good that I have trouble figuring out how he was able to hit a number of his notes. Contributing to drums and percussion, Jay “Hootie” Schellen provides the strident drumbeat. Last but not least, “Gatchaman” John Payne’s singing is the hard candy shell that keeps this truffle in one piece.
Alone, they are Thundercats or crime fighters in the universe of G-Force. Together, they are Lion Force Voltron or the Megazord.
Window to the Soul is radio-friendly to a degree, plus Okumoto’s instrumental adventures could be used as source material for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Each song is brilliant in its own way. If I had to choose a few trinkets from this treasure trove, “Heaven Can Wait” is an early submission. Likewise, “All My Life” is impressive late in the game; though the winning contestants will remain unnamed for now. On the flip side, if I were pushed to send participants packing early in the first round, I’d be forced to choose “I Believe In Yesterday” and “Since You’ve Been Gone.” The audience at home would have difficulties as well. In grand total, each entrant demonstrates real entertainment. When you add it all up, there are a lot of gifted tracks in this tournament of talent.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2008 Volume 3 at lulu.com/strangesound.
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