Rick Wakeman - Return To The Centre of The Earth Review by Gary Hill By going back to his past, Rick Wakeman has created an album that is nearly a masterpiece. A sequel to his Journey to the Centre of the Earth disc, Return to the Centre of the Earth is a very potent progressive rock concept album. More
Rick Wakeman - Out There Review by Bruce Stringer The first thing I noticed about this CD is the bizarre spaceship on the front red-coloured cover booklet, which looks like a weird marriage between V8 engine and mechanical fish with a protruding golf putter to add to its other-worldly imagery.
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Rick Wakeman - Live at Hammersmith Review by Gary Hill This live album from 1985 captures Rick Wakeman and his band performing tracks from his Six Wives of Henry the VIII, Journey to the Centre of the Earth and The Myths and Legends of King Arthur albums.
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I'm a big fan of progressive rock, and especially Yes (and by extension Rick Wakeman). I'm also a fan of horror movies, including the old classic ones.
This is a new release of Rick Wakeman's 1984 soundtrack album. There are two songs here with vocals (one is a bonus track) serving as book-ends to the release.
The argument could be made that the Rick Wakeman solo releases of the 1970s were the golden era of his career outside of Yes. Surely they set the bar next to which his later releases would be judged.
This is an uneven, but interesting solo album from Rick Wakeman. I think there are at least a couple throwaway songs here, but there are some that work so well.
These guys don't qualify as progressive rock in a traditional sense. However, their brand of indie-rock is proggy enough to fit the bill as far as I'm concerned.
Steve Walsh - Shadowman Review by Greg Olma I have always been a Kansas fan so it must come as no surprise that I find Steve Walsh's voice one of the best in prog rock. I have followed his career through his band Streets (and his solo material) and have never been disappointed.
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Steve Walsh - Glossolalia Review by Gary Hill One of the more recognizable voices in '70's rock, Steve Walsh is both the most well-known voice of Kansas and their keyboardist. He is joined on this solo release by Trent Gardner (Explorer's Club), Virgil Donati (Planet X), Page Waldron, Jim Roberts, Mike Slamer and Billy Greer. More
Robert Walter - Super Heavy Organ Review by Gary Hill Robert Walter has given us an album that, much like Niacin, combines a retro jazzy sound and prog sort of arrangements. This one grooves and still has enough musical integrity to please fans of instrumental progressive rock.
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Wappa Gappa - Yamatai Review by Gary Hill Featuring strong prog arrangements and vocals in Japanese, this is a competent release that should entertain most prog fans. More
Wappa Gappa - A Myth Review by Gary Hill In much the same vein as their first album, this disc is solid prog. The Japanese lyrics leave a bit to be desired by Western standards, but the music certainly makes up for this. More
The Watch - Vacuum Review by Josh Turner Like Selling England by the Pound, Vacuum is the kind of album that you need to revisit many times over in order to gain a full appreciation of it.
Roger Waters’ second solo album (not counting a couple of soundtrack collaborations) is still satisfying to sit and listen to over 25 years since its original release in 1987, but it does sound more dated than his other solo work.
I have to admit that I haven't really followed Roger Waters much lately. When he left Pink Floyd and they moved on, I feel that it showcased the two sides within the band.
The very act of combining rock music with classical qualifies music to land in progressive rock in my opinion. Of course, Darryl Way gets classified there at Music Street Journal anyway.
I like pretty much everything Darryl Way does. He is probably best known for his work in Curved Air, but that's only one piece of the musical picture he presents.
In the world of rock opera's Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds stands far above the majority of the competition. A release that has shown lasting appeal, maintaining a following for all these years, has just been re-issued in this hybrid Super Audio CD.
I tend to be a bit liberal with what I put under the progressive rock heading. I'll admit that part of that comes from the fact that half of each issue has to be prog.
There are definitely some issues with the packaging on this. The title is "1983," but the picture inside the gatefold includes Jaco Pastorius who was out of the group in 1982.
This song is the first single from a new album from an act called "Westward." These guys play a form of modern prog rock that's dark and guitar heavy. It is the kind of thing that's closely linked to alternative rock.
This new disc is based around a dark and guitar heavy brand of progressive rock. These guys are aligned in the direction of the modern alternative rock centered school of prog.
This anthology of songs from John Wetton is quite strong. It’s not all progressive rock, and for the most par even when it lands there, it’s more in the AOR end of the spectrum.
John Wetton's known in some circles mostly for his prog rock work in bands like UK and King Crimson. His solo career, though, has a lot of AOR mainstream rock in it.
White Willow - Storm Season Review by Josh Turner While this band keeps itself contained within the walls of progressive metal, it wavers every so often. The random stimulus is what keeps the music interesting.
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This issuch an intriguing and effective album. You know, it would have come close to landing under the progressive rock heading just based on the music.
It's a safe bet that you've not heard anything quite like this. The closest comparisons are to things like Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, but there is a bit of a They Might Be Giants vibe here, too.
If you like freeform experimental music, you will probably love this. It has a real Rock in Opposition flair to it, but is based strictly on piano and guitar with just some “soundscapes” added to the mix.
I had no idea what to expect here. Well, I had ideas that it would be a space rock set, and some of it is, but I really didn't grasp just how much territory this album would cover.
Wishbone Ash - The Best Of Wishbone Ash Review by Gary Hill This compilation chronicles the career of Wishbone Ash. The band has really touched on many styles. Always guitar dominated, the Ash have presented their own version of progressive rock, perhaps a bit sparse at times, but certainly prog.
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This is a new two-CD reissue of an older album from Wishbone Ash. The first disc includes the original album with some bonus tracks, while disc two is comprised of some live performances.
This new double CD re-issue features the Twin Barrels Burning disc from Wishbone Ash. The first CD is the original edition with three bonus tracks added to it.
I won't argue with those who will say that this doesn't fit under progressive rock. There is definitely a lot of alternative rock here along with metal and more.
Witsend - Cosmos and Chaos Review by Josh Turner When I first heard this album, I was driving away from the Alpine Valley festival grounds after a tiresome and draining day at Ozzfest.
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Wolverine - The Window Purpose Review by Gary Hill Not many progressive rock bands can say that they started out as a death metal band. In fact, unless I'm missing someone Wolverine is the only one.
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I suppose you could say that this is a single since there is just one piece of music on the disc. At over 45-minutes of music, that song is the very definition of epic.
World Trade - Euphoria Review by Gary Hill There are many who claim that Billy Sherwood is nearly solely responsible for the song writing and arrangements on Yes' Open Your Eyes album. Listening to this album from him with his band World Trade, there are reasons to buy into this argument.
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Ron Wright - Acoustic Dreams Review by Gary Hill This is an entertaining instrumental (with one exception) album featuring strong guitar-based compositions and competent musicianship. At times, Wright`s work calls to mind such people as Steve Howe.
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Rick Wright - Broken China Review by Gary Hill For Pink Floyd afficianados, this disc is a must have. Wright`s writing style, in the moody sort of Floyd mode, makes it quite obvious what band he is from.
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Frank Wyatt - and Friends - Zeitgeist Review by Gary Hill Frank Wyatt is best known as the keyboardist and saxophonist for the band Happy The Man. This album started as a reunion set for that band, but then expanded as other musicians were added to the mix.
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