Reviews, Pt. 4

Part 1 -- Part 2 -- Part 3 -- Part 5 -- Part 6 -- Part 7 -- Part 8 -- Part 9
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Next on the playlist!

Here are the album reviews I've written since the beginning of August.  Clicking on the album covers will take you to the band's music where you can listen to and/or download the album in full.  The hyperlinks will take you to my reviews.

Let me know what you think!

~*~

Ghost Town Riot - Ghost Town Riot (Seattle)

Ghost Town Riot is a catchy, intense, and well-written album.  The band have a good sound, strong dynamic concepts, and deeply thoughtful music that doesn’t fit any conventional pop/rock mold.

A Formal Horse - A Formal Horse EP (UK)

A Formal Horse come with gusto as well as instrumental proficiency, offering a final product that does not disappoint.  This EP is their debut showing: a small collection of their ambitious work to date.

In the Presence of Wolves - Thalassas (New Jersey)

Thalassas is a fantastic debut album, combining vivaciousness with thoughtfulness, and melody with technical proficiency.  It’s young and fresh, and hints at the quality of releases yet to come.

Flying Colors - Second Nature (US)

Second Nature, Flying Colors’ sophomore release, is representative of everything the band does well.  Its balladic, singable songs are also technical and complex, characterized both by their boldness and their uplifting refrains.  This is one of 2014’s definitive releases.

The Pineapple Thief - Magnolia (UK)

Magnolia, The Pineapple Thief’s 10th studio release, is an album complex enough to be progressive, but simple enough to be accessible, and warrants a number of listens to truly appreciate its well-constructed layers.

Reviews, Pt. 2

Part 1 -- Part 3 -- Part 4 -- Part 5 -- Part 6 -- Part 7 -- Part 8 -- Part 9
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There's probably a better way to share these than in bunches, but I'd rather not make individual posts for each review.  I want maintain this blog as a venue for personal expression as opposed to transforming it into a forum for music reviews.

Regardless, in case anyone is interested, here's my latest round of reviews (since April 3rd).  For classic prog fans, I recommend Rocket Scientists and Láquesis.  For fans of blues rock, psychedelia, and quirky hooks, Marblewood or These Curious Thoughts.  Backhand is a bit of an enigma -- Latin metal with progressive elements, but a distinct bend toward songwriting.

I've also got albums from five more bands/artists currently on the table: Soup (Norway), Psycrence (Greece), Paving the Labyrinth (South Africa), Yossi Sassi (Israel), and Ghost Town Riot (Seattle).

If you take a listen to any of these, let me know what you think!

~*~

Láquesis - Láquesis (Argentina)

Láquesis is a strong debut release, full of powerful ballads, soft instrumentals, and enough musical technicality to satisfy fans of both classic and contemporary eras of progressive rock.

Rocket Scientists - Supernatural Highways (California)

Supernatural Highways is an invigorating, compelling, and thoroughly enjoyable EP, well-written and well-orchestrated, commemorating Rocket Scientists' 20th anniversary.

 Marblewood - Marblewood (Switzerland)

With song structures that are loose, fluid, and supremely high-energy, Swiss jamband Marblewood compose long, blues-influenced instrumentals well-suited to the live performance.

These Curious Thoughts - What is it, and how did it get in there? (UK/Detroit)

These Curious Thoughts write powerful compositions - indie/post-rock at its finest. What is it, and how did it get in there? is unique, strange enough to beg additional listens, and profound enough to demand a few more.

Backhand - Through the Turbulence (Venezuela/Canada)

Through the Turbulence accomplishes exactly what its title suggests: the album is full of frenetic solos and rapid sections, and deals with heavy thematic elements, but also showcases the musicians' appreciation for intense dynamic changes and quality songwriting.