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June 2009 - Issue 76
Progressive Rock CD Reviews
The Aurora Project - Shadow Border
Review by Gary Hill
People toss around the modern progressive rock banner a lot.
Crimson Jazz Trio - King Crimson Songbook Volume 2
Review by Gary Hill
OK, so musically this is basically pure jazz, but since it’s reworkings of King Crimson music I’ve put it in the progressive rock section of Music Street Journal.
Echo Us - The Tide Decides
Review by Gary Hill
Fans of Enigma and Alan Parsons Project should really enjoy this disc.
Greylevel - Opus One
Review by Josh Turner
If Mr. Holland were to do progressive rock, this might be the source of his inspiration.
Annie Haslam - One Enchanted Evening
Review by Gary Hill
I’m sure most of the people reading Music Street Journal will have been introduced to Annie Haslam through her work in Renaissance.
Hourglass - Oblivious to the Obvious
Review by Tim Jones
Pure progressive rock and metal, Oblivious to the Obvious is a diverse, layered, meaty, album.  The style is reminiscent of Dream Theater, but Hourglass is a talented, quality band in its own right.
IQ - Frequency
Review by Julie Knispel
Serious change has been afoot in the IQ camp.
KTU - Quiver
Review by Gary Hill
KTU is Trey Gunn, Kimmo Pohjonen and Pat Mastelotto.
Nektar - Fortyfied
Review by Gary Hill
I’ve been a big fan of Nektar for many years. They have always been one of the better obscure bands out there and I’ve always wanted to see them live, but I’ve yet to have the chance.
Nemo - Les Enfants Rois
Review by Josh Turner
This progressive rock is awfully poppy.
Øresund Space Collective - Good Planets are Hard to Find
Review by Julie Knispel
I have been listening to Good Planets Are Hard To Find, the latest release by Øresund Space Collective, for a few days now, and I am at a loss.
OSI - Blood
Review by Julie Knispel
It’s been three years, and thus the two-headed beast that is OSI awakens from deep sleep to present us with another slice of electronic-inspired prog in the form of Blood, their third LP.
Ozric Tentacles - The Yumyum Tree
Review by Gary Hill
Ozric Tentacles are an odd band. Are they instrumental space rock? Are they a jam band? Something in between? Well, whatever they are, the plan works.
Picture Books - Rochelle Rochelle
Review by Gary Hill
Yeah, I know a lot of you will disagree with this fitting into the progressive rock section.
Procol Harum - In Concert with The Danish National Concert Orchestra and Choir
Review by Gary Hill
I know there are those who don’t call Procol Harum prog rock.
Samwell Rowan - The Closing Procedure
Review by Gary Hill
If you like ambient space music you’ll probably like this. There isn’t a weak track here.
Saga - The Human Condition
Review by Julie Knispel
This is Saga reborn for the later end of the 21st century’s first decade.
Sieges Even - The Art of Navigating by the Stars
Review by Gary Hill
Apparently this band started off as a progressive metal/thrash band.
Jim Steele - Neptune Rising
Review by Josh Turner
Apart from Tim Beeler’s bass and Kent Klee’s drums, Jim Steele is responsible for everything.
Devin Townsend Project - Ki
Review by Gary Hill
Devin Townsend is best known for his work in Strapping Young Lad – and that might make you think this is a metal album.
Vangelis - Odyssey: The Definitive Collection
Review by Gary Hill
The whole compilation concept is tricky.
Yahowa 13 - Sonic Portation
Review by Gary Hill
This disc is a bit strange, but also quite cool.
Yes - Yes (Expanded and Remastered)
Review by Gary Hill
One of the releases in the series of discs that showcase remastered Yes albums with additional material added, this one focuses on the first album.
Metal/Prog Metal CD Reviews
Alestorm - Leviathan EP
Review by Rick Damigella
(Editor’s note: While September 19th is Speak Like A Pirate Day, any day is a good day to do so if you are talking about Alestorm)
Avantasia - Lost in Space, Vols. 1 & 2
Review by Gary Hill
Avantasia is a side project of Edguy’s Tobais Sammel. He’s joined here by Sascha Paeth and Eric Singer.
Edguy - The Singles
Review by Gary Hill
I really had never heard these guys before – although I’ve heard of them for a while.
Lazarus A.D. - The Onslaught
Review by Mike Korn
In case you missed it, thrash metal is hot again. Somehow the glory days of late 80's thrash have really sparked something in the younger generation and there are tons of new mosh-crazed bands popping up.
Thunderdikk - Rock Out With Your Dikk Out EP
Review by Rick Damigella
It is as obvious as a Marshall stack set on stun that we are currently in a metal renaissance in 2K9.
Non-Prog CD Reviews
The Black Crowes - Warpaint Live
Review by Gary Hill
You really can’t argue with The Black Crowes retro sounding, bluesy blend of hard rock and jam band sounds.
Larry Coryell - Earthquake at the Avalon
Review by Gary Hill
There might be a lot of guys out there who still practice the fine art of bluesy jazz guitar.
Ian Gillan - One Eye to Morocco
Review by Rick Damigella
One Eye to Morocco is Ian Gillan’s first new album of original solo material in a decade and, once again, The Voice has outdone himself.
Paul Hare - U.S. Exodus
Review by Mike Korn
Singer-songwriters are not especially hard to find in America today. However, ones who put passion and honesty into their music are.
Head East - Flat As A Pancake
Review by Gary Hill
It would be easy to lump Head East into the category of “generic 1970’s hard rock.”
Heavyweight Dub Champion - Rise of the Champion Nation
Review by Gary Hill
Those who think that hip hop has no creativity need to check out this disc.
Ted Nugent - If You Can't Lick 'Em...Lick 'Em
Review by Gary Hill
Another in a series of Ted Nugent reissues, this period of the Nuge’s career seemed to find him struggling with his musical identity.
Ted Nugent - Little Miss Dangerous
Review by Gary Hill
Ted Nugent really shines when he does what he does best – straight ahead hard rock.
Styx - Paradise Theater
Review by Gary Hill
This is a concept album but the story line doesn’t really seem all that consistent.
Tower of Power - Great American Soulbook
Review by Gary Hill
The latest release from Tower of Power, Great American Soulbook finds them celebrating their 41st Anniversary with a stellar collection of covers.
DVD/Video Reviews
Kurtis Blow - The Hip Hop Anniversary Tour – Live in Cologne 2008 DVD
Review by Gary Hill
Kurtis Blow is old school hip hop and for those who miss the fun and party nature of hip hop, before it got so hardcore, this is highly recommended.
The Brothers Johnson - Best of Funk DVD
Review by Gary Hill
Like the Dazz Band DVD that’s part of the same series, this captures a concert by Brothers Johnson – another funk band from the classic era of funk.
Miles Davis - That's What Happened-Live in Germany 1987 DVD
Review by Gary Hill
There are those who say that Mile Davis’ music in his later years wasn’t good. They also say that he played very little in concert.
Dazz Band - Best of Funk DVD
Review by Gary Hill
I know, I’m a prog rock and heavy metal fan, but I’ve always had a definite love of funk – and Dazz Band have always been one of the strong performers in that field.
Depeche Mode - The Dark Progression DVD
Review by Gary Hill
These unauthorized documentaries are always iffy. Typically they can’t use the music or any interviews of the band members.
Jose Feliciano - Band – New Morning – The Paris Concert DVD
Review by Gary Hill
Those who think of only one song, “Feliz Navidad,” when they hear the name Jose Feliciano be ready to get wowed!
Flavor Flav - Live in Concert DVD
Review by Gary Hill
All the excesses in terms of his personal attire – and now the reality show season after season - make it easy to dismiss Flavor Flav as a caricature of a rapper.
The Great Kat - Beethoven’s Guitar Shred DVD
Review by Gary Hill
This DVD is not subtle – not at all. It’s a series of vignette featuring the Great Kat combining extreme metal with classical music.
Steve Hogarth - H: One Love – Naked in the Chapel DVD
Review by Gary Hill
I make no excuses, I’ve always preferred the Fish era of Marillion to the current one fronted by Steve Hogarth.
Incognito - Live In Jakarta DVD
Review by Gary Hill
I’d never heard this jazz outfit before getting this DVD.
Rick James - I’m Rick James: The Definitive DVD
Review by Gary Hill
Before MC Hammer couldn’t touch this, there was Rick James.
Diana Krall - Live in Rio DVD
Review by Gary Hill
I suppose a big part of how you feel about this DVD is about how you feel about Diana Krall.
Charles Mingus - Epitaph DVD
Review by Gary Hill
If you came aboard here to see Charles Mingus playing, you have gotten on the wrong train. This DVD is a live concert performance – and it is the heart and soul of Mingus.
The Moody Blues - Threshold Of A Dream: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival DVD
Review by Gary Hill
I have always liked the Moody Blues. So, I looked at this DVD with anticipation.
Pain of Salvation - Ending Themes- On the Two Deaths of Pain of Salvation DVD
Review by Julie Knispel
I am not what one would call a huge fan of Pain of Salvation.
Procol Harum - In Concert With The Danish National Orchestra & Choir DVD
Review by Gary Hill
I’ve reviewed the CD of this in the current issue of Music Street Journal – so for detailed information about the main performance, please see that review as the music is the same.
Return To Forever - Return to Forever Returns DVD
Review by Gary Hill
I have already reviewed the CD of this – so I won’t be looking at the music in this review – you can check out that review for a much more detailed accounting.
Stream of Passion - Featuring Ayreon – Live in the Real World
Review by Josh Turner
Like a platypus, this is double-billed for twice the satisfaction with two effective mouthpieces.
The Sun Ra Arkestra - Points on A Space Age DVD
Review by Gary Hill
For those who don’t know who Sun Ra is, you would find it hard to describe the man and his musical creations.
Various Artists - Trevor Horn and Friends – Slave to the Rhythm DVD
Review by Gary Hill
This is an interesting DVD.
Interviews
Clark Plays Guitar
Interview by Gary Hill
Interview with Clark Colborn of Clark Plays Guitar From 2009
Escherbach
Interview by Gary Hill
Interview with Escherbach from 2009
John Orr Franklin
Interview by Gary Hill
Interview with John Orr Franklin from 2009
Paul Hare
Interview by Gary Hill
Interview with Paul Hare from 2009
Voi Vod
Interview by Mike Korn
Interview with Away Of Voi Vod from 2009
Concert Reviews
Kreator - Live in Chicago, April 2009
Review by Greg Olma
Kreator is one of those bands that always seem to put out quality disc, play numerous tours, etc., yet I have not been able to catch them live. 
Queensrÿche - Live in Chicago, May 2009
Review by Greg Olma
I have seen Queensryche many times on many tours.  The one thing that you can always count on is a show that will be different from any of their other tours. 
Book Reviews
Various Artists - Stadium Rock written by Jeb Wright
Review by Greg Olma
The story behind this book is a simple one. 
 
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