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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Reinventing Jude Shoulder Season Review by Gary Hill Perhaps this isn’t the most obvious choice to land in progressive rock. It’s really not that far removed from things like Porcupine Tree at times. Additionally, the blend of jazz and rock in new and unusual ways makes this clearly art-rock – and that’s just a stone’s throw from progressive rock. Whatever you call this, though, it’s great stuff. I love the vocals on it. They seem to fall somewhere between Edie Brickell and Shirley Manson and there’s nothing wrong with that. Whatever you label this, it’s a great disc that’s an entertaining experience. This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2014 Volume 2 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review

Soul Hitchhiker This starts off with delicate music and as the arrangement gets more layers it moves towards fusion. The vocals come in over the top bringing more of a soulful art rock vibe. Later we’re taken out into a jam that’s got a lot of world music and more in the mix. The piece keeps shifting and changing and has some great soundscapes built into it.

You Don't. Don't You. Jazzy music, this is like a cross between folk music, rock and roll and jazz.

Secret In some ways this makes me think of Garbage – the band, not the waste product. That’s basically in the vocals. The music is more like rock and roll blended with jazzy elements. There are some symphonic layers that come across later. This is one of the best pieces here. This really gets quite powerful and psychedelic later.

Awake The first verse is delivered without any instrumentation accompanying. Then some mellow music joins as the tune moves forward. It gets pretty powerful as it builds out later.

Love Is War Folk music, alternative rock and much more merge here. As this continues evolving it works out into some serious jazz later. The vocals soar over the top as it does.

Patience I love the retro rock meets psychedelia vibe to this piece. There are some cool symphonic and jazz elements that emerge later in the song. This is quite a powerful number.

Git There’s a great retro sound to this. It’s jazzy and has a lot of old time rock and roll built into it, too.

Mosey Here’s another where Shirley Manson comes to mind. This jazzy rocker is very cool.

Transition Song This mellower piece is really a song where the vocals seriously shine. There are some cool symphonic elements at play here and this is a charming and magical piece of music. It gets a much more rocking movement later, too.

Seats to the Sky Folk rock, symphonic sounds and more merge on this number.

Real Deal They saved the best for last. This grows gradually, but it’s really magic. This is the one song that to my ears pretty definitely lands in progressive rock. Mind you, that’s in the neighborhood of modern prog, not old school stuff.

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