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Progressive Rock CD Reviews

Terry Draper

The Other Side

Review by Gary Hill

Terry Draper is probably best known as one of the members of Klaaut, and one of their songwriters. He's got quite a catalog of solo releases, though. I think this might be one of his strongest solo albums. I'm not sure I'd land this under progressive rock if it were a different artist, but since I consider Klaatu to be prog, that adds some points to the argument. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely proggy elements throughout, and some songs land clearly in that zone. Overall, this is more of a pop rock set, though. It isn't far removed from what you'd expect from Klaatu.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2022  Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2022.

Track by Track Review
Soldiers Of Misfortune
I dig the hard-edged guitar that starts this, and the album. It shifts from there to a trippy, bouncy kind of number. This is a pop rock tune with some proggy and psychedelic elements built into it. There are some soaring moments, and the tune has some great twists and turns.
The Sun & I
This comes in with a real Klaatu-like feeling to it. I guess Beatles comparisons are valid, if too obvious. There are some decidedly proggy sections. I dig the sort of trippy over-layers on the cut a lot. Overall, it's a bouncy kind of  pop tune with a lot of other sounds brought in as icing. The meaty guitar solo has such a great sound.
Sheet Music
I like the energy and hooks on this. For some reason parts of this make me think of Yes just a little. This has more of that Beatles-like pop edge, though. I am really taken with some of the guitar links, and the almost symphonic angle to some of the breaks is really cool.
Heaven
A driving, classy pop rocker, this is so strong. It's a fun piece of music. The horns are an interesting touch.
Earthbound
With some playful psychedelic pop music in the mix, this is a catchy and entertaining tune. There seems to be a bit of a musical allusion to "It's Raining, It's Pouring." This has some killer prog twists and turns later, too, and the guitar solo is all class.
Let Summer In
A playful cut, this isn't one of my favorites, but it is good. It's a cheery and bouncy piece. 
Island Time
There are island sounds in the mix on this cut. The track comes in tentatively, but eventually works out to more of that poppy sort of sound. There are some island elements in the mix, as it continues, too. I have to admit that is another that doesn't work as well for me as some of the others do. Then again, I'm not a fan of warm, sunny weather or beach type music. Clearly your mileage may vary because I am not the target demographic for this tune. 
Marie & Me
With some world music elements in the mix, this is another fun cut. It has more meat on the bones than some of the more purely pop pieces here, too.
Leave
More dramatic and powerful, this has a lot of progressive rock in the mix. This is evocative and so cool. It has some intriguing shifts and twists.
Follow Your Dreams
There are some rather theatrical vibes to this at times. Overall, it showcases the classy pop rock vibe that permeates most of the set. The combo of male and female vocals here works well.
The Other Side
I like the rather dreamy textures over the top of this. There are some particularly tasty guitar lines on this, and some great vocal hooks. This is proggy and yet quite accessible, too.
The Colonel
There is so much drama and magic built into this. The cut is definitely one of the more decidedly prog pieces of the set. It's also particularly strong.
Are We Alone
This is arguably the proggiest tune here. It has quite a bit of range and a lot of trippy psychedelia. It is a corollary, if not a sequel, to "Calling Occupants..." based on its lyrics. It's possibly the best song here, making it a great choice to close the disc. 
 
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