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August 2017 - Issue 125
Progressive Rock CD Reviews
BangTower - With N With Out
Review by Gary Hill
The newest album from Bangtower,  this continues the fusion rock explorations of the act. 
Chris Bartels - Myths and Mold
Review by Gary Hill
There is a dense, lush texture to a lot of this music. It's quite trippy.
Tim Blake - Caldea Music II
Review by Gary Hill
This is a new reissue of an album from Tim Blake. Blake is best known for his work in Gong and Hawkwind, but he also built a name for himself with a series of keyboard albums.
Blues Image - Timeless
Review by Gary Hill
You probably remember Blues Image from their hit "Ride Captain Ride." There is a brand new version of that tune here.
Charles Brown - Explorer of Life
Review by Gary Hill
Charles Brown never fails to deliver some classy music. This fully instrumental album has a real focus on guitar oriented AOR prog rock.
Bubblemath - Edit Peptide
Review by Gary Hill
This is quite an intriguing set. It has a lot of modern, crunchy, crazed prog rock in the mix.
Captain Beyond - Lost & Found 1972-1973
Review by Gary Hill
Fans of Captain Beyond (like myself) have had to live with the fact there were only three albums released.
Cheer-Accident - Putting off Death
Review by Gary Hill
This new album from Cheer-Accident is hard to pin down in terms of style. I guess "experimental music" works well.
Cinema - The Discovering of Time
Review by Gary Hill
The latest album from Cinema, this is a strong release. It's instrumental set.
Stanley Clarke - The Definitive Collection
Review by Gary Hill
I haven't followed the career of Stanley Clarke like I should have. I had his self-titled album on vinyl when I was in my teens.
Clear Blue Sky - Clear Blue Sky
Review by Gary Hill
I doubt you've ever heard a progressive rock album quite like this one. And, yes, I will clearly say that it's prog rock.
Deep Purple - Infinite
Review by Larry Toering
Deep Purple and producer Bob Ezrin return with what could be (and most believe will be) their swan song offering.
Dreadnaught - Hard Chargin'
Review by Gary Hill
Here's what I can tell you about this band. You can't go wrong with their music.
Echolust - Veldisa
Review by Gary Hill
Perhaps this doesn't really fit under progressive rock. It has a lot in common with bands ranging from The Cure to Depeche Mode.
The Electric Family - Terra Circus
Review by Gary Hill
The mix of sounds here might not land under progressive rock to your senses. However, it's got a healthy helping of space rock in the mix along with psychedelia.
Fish on Friday - Quiet Life
Review by Gary Hill
This is an intriguing album. It's very effective and accessible.
Ghost Against Ghost - Still Love
Review by Gary Hill
This is quite an intriguing set. It is more electronic than anything else, but it manages to seriously rock at times.
Ghostly Beard - Infinite
Review by Gary Hill
This new EP feels like something that would have been right at home in the 1970s. It's closely tied to the rock of that era, and particularly the AOR prog stuff. 
Hedersleben - Orbit
Review by Gary Hill
This act occupies an intriguing territory between space rock, folk prog and symphonic prog.
iNFiNiEN - Light at the Endless Tunnel
Review by Gary Hill
This is the new album from these guys. They are an incredibly creative act.
It's Just Craig - Dark Corners
Review by Gary Hill
This isn't the tightest fit under progressive rock, but it works in that category.
Philipp Kessler - Orbit to Nowhere
Review by Gary Hill
I like and respect this kind of electronic music a lot. We generally land it under the "progressive rock" heading.
Philipp Kessler - Pulsar (digital single)
Review by Gary Hill
This cut is nearly ten minutes in length.
King Crimson - Heroes EP
Review by Gary Hill
This new EP from King Crimson is intriguing. It's bookended by their take on a David Bowie classic (the full version and a single edit). 
Mobius Strip - Mobius Strip
Review by Gary Hill
This is an intriguing set of instrumental music. Perhaps it fits better under the non-prog heading as pure jazz.
Mombasa - Shango Over Devil's Moor: Live At Stagge's Hotel 1976
Review by Gary Hill
This is a cool live album. It's not progressive rock, but it is definitely fusion, and we generally land that under prog.
Rahul Mukerji - Ma De Re Sha
Review by Gary Hill
This is a particularly strong album. It can be tough to pull off an instrumental disc that never really falters or feels redundant, but that's just what we have here.
Sacha Mullin - Duplex
Review by Gary Hill
Sacha Mullin is a Chicago based musician. In addition to other work, he's been part of the band Cheer-Accident.
Nektar - Live in Bremen
Review by Gary Hill
Nektar front-man Roye Albrighton passed away while this album was being prepared for release. I've read that this was actually his last live performance with the band.
Nirvana (UK) - Local Anaesthetic: Remastered & Expanded Edition
Review by Gary Hill
Long before Kurt Cobain and company formed a band called "Nirvana," there was a British act releasing music under that name.
Nirvana (UK) - Songs of Love and Paradise Remastered & Expanded Edition
Review by Gary Hill
Here's a history lesson for you. Would you be shocked to learn that Kurt Cobain and his crew were not the first band to release albums under the name "Nirvana?"
Omiqron6 - A New Kind of Lightning
Review by Gary Hill
I generally land this kind of electronic music under progressive rock. It's not rock music.
Patto - Monkey's Bum
Review by Gary Hill
This was to be Patto's fourth album. The thing is, it was never actually released.
Patto - Roll Em Smoke Em Put Another Line Out
Review by Gary Hill
I hadn't heard of this act until recently, but in the course of the last couple months I've reviewed a number of their discs, this one included. This act is often considered a jazz prog band.
Anthony Phillips - Slow Dance: Remastered & Expanded Deluxe Edition
Review by Gary Hill
This new set is a three-disc release (two CDs and one DVD). The first CD is a remastered version of the Anthony Phillips Slow Dance album.
Salim Ghazi Saeedi - Million Hands Oriental Dancer
Review by Gary Hill
Salim Ghazi Saeedi is a musician who originally hailed from Iran, but is now relocated to Australia.
Second Hand - Death May Be Your Santa Claus
Review by Gary Hill
The music on this disc is freaky stuff. It really does a great job of occupying the space between psychedelia and proto-prog.
The Sonic Shaman - Tribute to Lemmy (double vinyl)
Review by Gary Hill
This vinyl double album is dedicated to the late great Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister. Don't expect music that sounds like Lemmy here, though.
Styx - Lady: Encore Collection
Review by Gary Hill
Since I reviewed the brand new masterpiece from Styx in this issue, it seemed appropriate to go back to the beginning for a companion review. 
Styx - The Mission
Review by Gary Hill
I know that Styx fans have fallen into two camps, the DeYoung people who claim that this version of Styx isn't really Styx and those  who support this lineup.
Sumo Sun - Stamina
Review by Gary Hill
These guys are getting called a prog rock band. I'm not convinced of that designation.
Brian Tarquin - and Company - Orlando in Heaven
Review by Gary Hill
A tribute to the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, this is a classy set of music.
Troposphere - Troposphere
Review by Gary Hill
This project is the new thing from Greg Lounsberry. He's a busy guy who has been the main man behind projects from Laserdogs to October Tree and more.
Various Artists - Devil's Domain: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Review by Gary Hill
While not everything here lands under progressive rock, there is a lot of prog in this set. There is also a lot of artsy soundtrack music that fits under the prog banner.
Violents - and Monica Martin - Awake and Pretty Much Sober
Review by Gary Hill
This is an intriguing project. Violents is Jeremy Larson.
Roger Waters - Is This the Life We Really Want?
Review by Gary Hill
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.
Metal/Prog Metal CD Reviews
Aerial School - Love is Calling
Review by Gary Hill
These guys really manage to pull a classic hard rock sound into a metal styled territory.
Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'N' Roll
Review by Gary Hill
There are a lot of Black Sabbath compilation discs out there these days. This was the original.
Graham Bonnet - Anthology
Review by Gary Hill
Let's get one thing out of the way right off the bat here: not all of this is heavy metal. I'd say that the bulk of the second disc fits that category.
Burnt Out Wreck - Swallow
Review by Gary Hill
This is the new band fronted by Heavy Pettin's drummer Gary Moat. These guys are very much old school hard rock, but I'd say there is enough metal in the mix to keep it real.
Non-Prog CD Reviews
Eric Anders - Eleven Nine
Review by Gary Hill
Let me discuss the scope of this review right off the bat. I'm a music journalist. That means that I am going to talk about the music here.
Mary Bragg - Lucky Strike
Review by Gary Hill
I suppose "modern roots music" would be a good description of this album. It's based on blues, country, folk and rock styles.
Channel K - Super Queen
Review by Gary Hill
This outfit is essentially a female fronted new wave band, harkening to an earlier time. Yet, there are modern elements here.
Cheap Trick - We're All Alright
Review by Gary Hill
Cheap Trick hail from my hometown of Rockford, Illinois, so they have a special place in my heart, both because we share a lot of local cultural mindset and because I have at least some passing personal experience with some of the guys.
Circus of the West - We'll See Ourselves Out
Review by Gary Hill
This is a band that shows a lot of promise. The first couple songs seem to be the most adventurous moving into territory like jazz, country and progressive rock.
Commander Cody - Live at Ebbett's Field, Boulder Colorado, Aug 11 1973
Review by Gary Hill
This live show from Commander Cody is a fun one for sure. His blend of old time country music, rockabilly and jazz is entertaining.
The Dahmers - In the Dead of Night
Review by Gary Hill
There is a type of punk rock that's based around horror music, with groups like The Cramps as practitioners.
Feed the Kitty - Westbound & Down
Review by Gary Hill
This set is a bit hard to pin down.
John Haesemeyer - Maybe If I Try
Review by Gary Hill
I suppose the best description of this five song EP would be "pop music." Every song here is accessible and mainstream.
Jackson Howard - Just for the Mystery
Review by Gary Hill
Jackson Howard seems to be billed as an alternative rocker. That fits to some degree.
Glenn Hughes - Play Me Out - 2CD Edition
Review by Gary Hill
This new reissue finds Glenn Hughes well into his funk period on the first disc, and in disco-land on the second. Personally, I think the main album is more effective.
Humble Pie - Official Bootleg Box Set Volume 1
Review by Gary Hill
The first thing that must be addressed is the "bootleg" in the title of this set. These recordings obviously started literally as bootlegs.
Junkyard - High Water
Review by Gary Hill
When these guys are best, it's when they embrace their punk, rough around the edges sound.
Kalo - Wild Change
Review by Gary Hill
This album is classy and classic. The sound is built on blues and rock and Americana.
Bobby Kimball - We're Not in Kansas Anymore
Review by Gary Hill
The title to this album is a clever nod to Bobby Kimball's history. Kimball first rose to wide attention as the original lead singer in Toto.
Corky Laing's Mountain - Live In Melle
Review by Gary Hill
Corky Laing was an original member of Mountain. As is so common these days, there have been several versions of the band carrying on their music and traditions.
Last Giant - Memory of the World
Review by Larry Toering
Last Giant only reached my radar recently after hearing this great full- length CD. 
Jackie Lee - White Horses
Review by Gary Hill
The opening song here is a single from Jackie Lee from the 1960s. The rest of the music includes the original album along with some other tracks that she did for different projects.
Samantha Leon - Samantha Leon
Review by Gary Hill
This is the debut EP from Samantha Leon. It's an intriguing set of music. .
Henry Mancini - Mancini in the Sixties: Two Classic Film Soundtracks
Review by Gary Hill
I've always enjoyed Henry Mancini's soundtrack work. Sure, it's often a bit on the light side of the musical spectrum.
Julia McDonald - Gravity
Review by Gary Hill
Julia McDonald is talented. There is nothing in this set that I would call "weak."
Chris Murphy - Hard Bargain
Review by Gary Hill
I like Chris Murphy. I've reviewed a number of his albums in the past. I like this set, too, but not as much.
Once Around Saturn - These Promises
Review by Gary Hill
If you are a fan of the electronic based 80s music, you will love this. This is really a retro piece of nostalgia.
Steve Peltz - Sweet Lips
Review by Gary Hill
There are definitely people who like odd music. I'm talking about stuff that is often off-key or oddly timed.
Professor Louie - & The Crowmatix - Crowin' the Blues
Review by Gary Hill
It takes a special set of skills to create music that feels modern and yet faithful to the old musical styles at the same time.
Rainbow - Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow - Live in Birmingham 2016
Review by Gary Hill
This live album from the new incarnation of Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow is a solid set. It's also the companion to the video I reviewed in the last issue of Music Street Journal.
Rainbow - Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow - Stranger In Us All
Review by Gary Hill
Once upon a time Ritchie Blackmore was known as the guitarist for Deep Purple. Eventually he left that band and formed Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. 
Jeff Ray - Our Little Town
Review by Gary Hill
I've seen Jeff Ray described as a country artist. There are a couple songs here that land under country.
Rhett Repko - About Last Night
Review by Gary Hill
There is a modern pop rock vibe to this music for sure. The thing is, it's also well rooted in the music of the 1970s.
Rhino Bucket - The Last Real Rock N' Roll
Review by Gary Hill
If you like AC/DC you will like this album. These guys play a brand of hard rock and roll that is based on the same kind of no-frills sound as that band. 
The Suburbs - Hey Muse!
Review by Gary Hill
Apparently this act has been around for a while. I don't think I've ever heard of them before.
Telamor - Playlist 2014-2016: 12 Tracks Remixed/Remastered
Review by Gary Hill
This new CD (as the title suggests) includes a number of previously released tunes with new mixes.
Thunderbolt & Lightfoot - Songs for Mixed Company
Review by Gary Hill
This is the second album from this duo (Phil Barry and Sarah Fuerst) showcases a great modern folk style. There are part of this that call to mind Simon and Garfunkel to me.
Various Artists - Great Guitars at Sun
Review by Gary Hill
I reviewed another of these compilations in the last issue of Music Street Journal. Here we've got a collection of old school music that was released on Sun Records.
Various Artists - Kids Soundtrack (vinyl reissue)
Review by Gary Hill
I've never heard of the show for which the music here serves as a soundtrack. That doesn't prevent me from appreciating the music, and I really do.
Various Artists - Max's Kansas City: 1976 & Beyond
Review by Gary Hill
This collection features a number of punk rock and other styled acts that were featured at Max's Kansas City in the mid 70s.
Various Artists - Spaced Out: Story of Mushroom Records
Review by Gary Hill
Mushroom Records formed in 1970 and released a dazzling variety of music over the course of three years. This new compilation gathers a lot of music from that period onto the first CD here.
Various Artists - Tonite Let's All Make Love in London
Review by Gary Hill
This soundtrack has been out of print since 1968. It's now been remastered and reissued on this CD release.
Leo Bud Welch - Live at the Iridium
Review by Gary Hill
In some ways blues music and punk rock have a lot in common. Both are limited musical styles by definition.
Wendy?! - Idols & Gods
Review by Gary Hill
This band was formed by Italian hardcore musician Lorenzo Canevacci. While they are punk rock in a lot of ways, they are not hardcore and are not limited by the punk label.
DVD/Video Reviews
Al Green - Gospel According To Al Green DVD
Review by Gary Hill
Al Green got his start as a soul singer. He had quite a career of it, too.
The Plasmatics - Plasmatics - Live! Rod Swenson's Lost Tapes 1978-81 DVD
Review by Gary Hill
Don't expect to find long concert clips here. Instead, we get a collection of single song pieces. This footage had been sitting unreleased for years until it was recently discovered.
Various Artists - Metal Evolution DVD
Review by Greg Olma
This DVD set was originally aired on VH-1 as a serie,s but I’m glad they put it out for purchase because I doubt this will ever be replayed.  
The Who - Live at The Isle of Wight Festival 2004 BluRay
Review by Gary Hill
This was the Who's triumphant return to the Isle of Wight Festival. Their last appearance had been in 1970.
Interviews
Dazed Marrow
Interview by Gary Hill
Interview with Dazed Marrow from 2017
Ivory Tower Project
Interview by Gary Hill
Interview with Ivory Tower Project from 2017
 
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