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April 2011 - Issue 87
Progressive Rock CD Reviews
Chase - Imbue
Review by Greg Olma
Chase is band hailing from the Chicago-land area that consists of Chase Carter (guitar, vocal), Fred Matthews (drums), and Vince Buonassi (bass – from the band Vonassi). 
Billy Connally - The Silent Canvas
Review by Larry Toering
Not only is Billy Connally a great modern virtuoso guitarist, but he also does his own backing tracks - and does them very well. 
Dream Aria - Fallen Angel
Review by Gary Hill
The latest album from Dream Aria, this seems more polished and professional than their previous entries.
Ether’s Edge - Return to Type
Review by Gary Hill
This is quite a cool disc.
Gamma - Gamma 3
Review by Larry Toering
Ronnie Montrose, along with Davey Pattison on vocals, Mitchell Froom on keys, Glenn Letsch on bass and Denny Carmassi on drums, made three records between 1979 and 1982.
Gazpacho - Missa Atropos
Review by Larry Toering
This is a band that’s hard to categorize, which shoots it far into prog territory for my ears. Gazpacho, is from Norway and have a very conceptual approach.
Ian Gillan - Band – Clear Air Turbulence
Review by Larry Toering
This record takes a few words to describe what’s really going on with it, and being a fan of Ian Gillan it’s appropriate to explain a few things in the process of reviewing this with as much of an unbiased approach as possible. 
Glass Wave - Glass Wave
Review by Gary Hill
This might not be the most obvious choice for progressive rock, but it surely fits from my point of view.
Trilok Gurtu - with Simon Phillips – 21 Spices
Review by Gary Hill
Let’s address one thing up front, the music here is probably not progressive rock.
Images of Eden - Rebuilding the Ruins
Review by Mark Johnson
Images of Eden is a hard rock, heavy metal and progressive band founded in 1999 in the Baltimore, Maryland and York, Pennsylvania area of the USA.
Jean Michel Jarre - Oxygene
Review by Larry Toering
Many critics have considered it one of the first new age albums.
Jeremy - Glow in the Dark
Review by Gary Hill
An instrumental album, Jeremy takes us through a number of moods and styles.
Jeremy - New Day Rising
Review by Gary Hill
Pulling off a fully instrumental album and having each cut feel fresh and unique is difficult.
Jeremy - Rays of Hope
Review by Gary Hill
It is difficult to create an album that’s strictly instrumental and have it play through without feeling monolithic.
Labirinto - Anatema
Review by Gary Hill
Albums of purely instrumental music are usually a hard sell.
Lebowski - Cinematic
Review by Gary Hill
This Polish outfit has created a disc that’s designed to feel like soundtrack music, hence the title.
Geddy Lee - My Favorite Headache
Review by Larry Toering
On his first and only solo album to date, Geddy Lee plays bass, keyboard, guitar, sings and did some lyric writing for the first time in many years, as well.
Kerry Livgren - Seeds of Change
Review by Scott Prinzing
The first solo outing by Kansas founder Kerry Livgren is still a rewarding listen three decades after its 1980 release. 
Phil Manzanera - Diamondhead
Review by Gary Hill
This is the reissue of the 2000 reissue of Phil Manzanera’s 1976 solo album. 
The Marks Brothers - Into the Light
Review by Gary Hill
The music here is related to the guitar hero music of the late 1970s. It’s got a lot of classic rock built into it along with some fusion and progressive rock.
Nu Shooz Orchestra - Pandora’s Box
Review by Gary Hill
This is the newest album from Nu Shooz Orchestra.
Pandora - Sempre e Ovunque Oltre il Sogno
Review by Gary Hill
A new release from an Italian progressive band, this disc really runs the gamut of sounds.
Jordan Reyne - How the Dead Live
Review by Gary Hill
Hailing from New Zealand, Jordan Reyne is very much a progressive artist – and yet regressive at the same time. 
The Road - Monomyth
Review by Mark Johnson
This New York/Boston based band has written an epic story set to music involving a protagonist, Virgil, and his journey to rediscover his purpose in life.
Simeon Soul Charger - Meet Me in the Afterlife
Review by Gary Hill
The concept of progressive rock is an intriguing one.
Sit Kitty Sit - The Push
Review by Gary Hill
This EP is fascinating. It’s also quite entertaining.
Syndone - Melapesante
Review by Gary Hill
Syndone is an Italian progressive rock band.
Travis and Fripp - Live at Coventry Cathedral
Review by Gary Hill
This is a live album featuring Theo Travis and Robert Fripp.
Triumvirat - Spartacus
Review by Larry Toering
This is a band that blew me away when I was younger and it’s nice to have a chance to review this title.
Han Uil - Dark in Light
Review by Gary Hill
Han Uil has been the lead singer of Seven Day Hunt and Antares, both progressive rock bands. 
Various Artists - Just Like a Daydream: A Dreampop, Shoegaze Compilation
Review by Gary Hill
Dreampop and shoegaze might not be what people think of traditionally as progressive rock, but really, isn’t a lot of very close to what bands like Porcupine Tree do?
Vonassi - The Battle Of Ego
Review by Greg Olma
Vonassi is a prog band from the Chicago-land area that really needs to get their “break.” 
The Watch - Timeless
Review by Mark Johnson
This is one of my most anticipated new albums of the year. 
Metal/Prog Metal CD Reviews
Lazarus A.D. - Black River Flows
Review by Mike Korn
After seeing LazarusA.D. play in front of their hometown, Kenosha, WI for the release of their sophomore album, Black River Flows, I was looking forward to reviewing it.
Macabre - Grim Scary Tales
Review by Mike Korn
Chicago's goofy goremongers Macabre have spent over twenty-five years putting the fun back into murder with their twisted tales of serial killers and human monsters.
Stone Sour - Audio Secrecy
Review by Peter Lizano
Most people who listen to metal know about Stone Sour being Corey Taylor's first band before Slipknot and coming back as more a side project, but any fan will tell you that Stone Sour is a band to stand alone on its own merit.
Theory of a Deadman - Scars and Souvenirs
Review by Peter Lizano
As Theory of a Deadman, or TOAD, as their fans call them, begin to hit the road this spring and summer, I thought I would take the opportunity to review their last album, Scars & Souvenirs.
Twisted Sister - Come Out And Play
Review by Larry Toering
In this remastered collection of re-releases, Twisted Sister are very well revitalised.
Twisted Sister - Love Is For Suckers
Review by Greg Olma
This album started out as Dee Snider solo record but back in 1987, it was thought that Twisted Sister was a better brand so the executives decided to make this a Twisted Sister record.  
Vicious Rumors - Razorback Killers
Review by Mike Korn
Thirty-three years is a long time to be in any kind of business.
Non-Prog CD Reviews
Big Head Blues Club - 100 Years of Robert Johnson
Review by Larry Toering
Featuring Big Head Todd and The Monsters and special guests B.B. King, Hubert Sumlin, Honeyboy Edwards, Charlie Musselwhite,  Ruthie Foster, Cedric Burnside and Lighnin' Malcolm, one great line up of all stars was put together to celebrate a century of Robert Johnson and it's a spectacular performance by all, naturally.
Ruth-Ann Brown - Ruth Single
Review by Gary Hill
Ruth-Ann Brown is billed as a reggae singer and this is a single from her debut album.
Fox Pass - Intemporel
Review by Gary Hill
It would be easy to believe that this is a disc of covers by a classic rock cover band. The truth is, though, this is original music.
Peter Green - Splinter Group – Time Traders
Review by Gary Hill
Time Traders was originally released in 2001.
The Hitchers - Tees Valley Deadbeats
Review by Gary Hill
The Hitchers owe a lot to rockabilly. It’s certainly one of their biggest influences.
The Kin - Rondo Sessions Volume I
Review by Mark Johnson
Wow! I was surprised to receive this album in the mail.
Gary Moore - The Gary Moore Band - Grinding Stone
Review by Scott Prinzing
With the recent passing of guitar great Gary Moore (Feb. 6, 2011), I thought it would be fitting to review something from the myriad of works released during his over-40-year recording career.
Pushking - The World as We Love It
Review by Gary Hill
While this might be the first time you’ve heard of Pushking, it probably isn’t the first time you’ve heard of many of the musicians who guest on this release.
The Real Nasty - Paper City
Review by Mark Johnson
The Real Nasty includes bassist Ryan Lukas, guitarist Jacob Groopman, and percussionist Matthew “Smitty” Smith. 
The Real Nasty - Strangers and Friends
Review by
The Real Nasty includes bassist Ryan Lukas, guitarist Jacob Groopman, and percussionist Matthew “Smitty” Smith.
Rhino Bucket - I Got Mine
Review by Gary Hill
Rhino Bucket is a decidedly AC/DC influenced act.
Gregg Rolie - Five Days
Review by Larry Toering
Re-looked, recorded, re-claimed.... Five Days is the new six track release from Gregg Rolie.
Scott’s Garage - Soul Magnet
Review by Gary Hill
Scott’s Garage is an intriguing band, at least based on this, their second album.
Dino Valenti - Get Together
Review by Larry Toering
Well known Quicksilver Messenger Service leader Dino Valenti is gone but not forgotten in this collection of lost recordings that were found and it’s really a good thing they were.
The Varmints - Boston Cream
Review by Gary Hill
The Varmints are a punk rock band with a lot of mainstream rock built into their sound. 
DVD/Video Reviews
Jeff Beck - Rock n Roll Party Honoring Les Paul DVD
Review by Gary Hill
It could be argued that Les Paul was the biggest influence on guitar rock of any human being.
Depeche Mode - Rewind: Depeche Mode: 30 Years at the Edge
Review by Gary Hill
Depeche Mode were really always a special band.
Hawklords - The Barney Bubbles Memorial Concert DVD
Review by Gary Hill
This is probably the best Hawkwind DVD that Hawkwind never released.
King's X - Live Love in London DVD
Review by Scott Prinzing
By way of full disclosure, King’s X is my favorite band. 
Marillion - Live From Cadogan Hall DVD
Review by Gary Hill
Marillion’s Less Is More album featured acoustic renditions of many of their songs.
Carl Palmer - Drum Solos DVD
Review by Gary Hill
This DVD is one that’s mostly just for drummers.
Various Artists - A History Lesson: Part 1 – Punk Rock in Los Angeles in 1984 DVD
Review by Gary Hill
Featuring The Meat Puppets, Redd Kross, The Minute Men and Twisted Roots, this really is a glimpse inside the world that was the LA punk rock scene of the 1980s.
Various Artists - America’s Music Legacy: Folk DVD
Review by Gary Hill
There really are two faces of folk music. The real folk music that’s down home performance with a raw and real feeling to them is one face.
Interviews
Jakko M. Jakszyk
Interview by Gary Hill

Interview with Jakko M. Jakszyk from 2011

Sit Kitty Sit
Interview by Gary Hill
Interview with Sit Kitty Sit from 2011
Vicious Rumors
Interview by Mike Korn

Interview with Geoff Thorpe of Vicious Rumors from 2011

Concert Reviews
Clutch - Live in Chicago February, 2011
Review by Greg Olma

I’ll be honest with you, I did not know anything about Clutch before the show.  

David Hayes - Live in Rockford, Illinois, January, 2011
Review by Gary Hill
One part progressive rock band, one part power trio, one part jam band and one part guitar hero – all fun, entertaining and powerful, David Hayes and his cohorts put on a killer show that covered all kinds of musical territory, but never failed to gel. 
Lazarus A.D. - Live in Kenosha, WI January, 2011
Review by Peter Lizano

Just before Lazarus A.D. hit the road to promote their new album Black River Flows, they played a hometown CD release show in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Motörhead - Live in Chicago February, 2011
Review by Greg Olma
Motorhead is more than just a heavy metal band.  After recording and touring for over three decades, it’s safe to say that they are an institution.
Stone Sour - Live in Milwaukee, WI, March, 2011
Review by Peter Lizano

As Stone Sour prepared to hit the stage for the first night of the Avalanche Tour, you could feel the energy in the venue.

Theory of a Deadman - Live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March, 2011
Review by Peter Lizano

On the first night of the Avalanche Tour in Milwaukee, WI after cancelling the tour show in Chicago, TOAD, short name for Theory of a Deadman, opened for headliners - Stone Sour.  

Yes - Live in Chicago, Illinois, March, 2011
Review by Greg Olma

This is my first time seeing Yes with the Benoit David and Oliver Wakeman line-up.

Book Reviews
Various Artists - Mountains Come Out of the Sky. The Illustrated History of Prog Rock – written by Will Romano
Review by Scott Montgomery
Overall, this is a very good and highly recommended overview of the genre and its history. 
 
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