The Golden Mean of ELO’s “Eldorado”: Prog Review #43
Upon hearing the distorted and looping vocals that give way to a grand orchestral sweep in the “Eldorado Overture,” I knew I was in good hands with Eldorado.
Choosing None of the Above with Meshuggah’s “Destroy Erase Improve”: Prog Review #42
A whole lot of yelling, thrashing, pounding.
Warming Up to Amon Düül II’s “Yeti”: Prog Review #41
It was a wonderful surprise that I was into Amon Düül II’s Yeti (1970) from moment one.
Halfway to Soft Machine’s “Third”: Prog Review #40
There’s something unfair about this entire project of listening to an album with the purpose of generating content, a review that both forms a judgment of the artist and some pithy observations about music, culture in general, or myself.
The Limits of AI for Writing
All these problems speak to the immense gulf between AI writing and the stuff put out by actual people. Many of us are focused on the I part of AI—intelligence. But it’s the artificial we need to understand better.
Casual Friday: Reviewing Nirvana’s “Nevermind”
Listening to Nirvana’s Nevermind for the first time
Banco del Mutuo Succorso's "Io Sono Nato Libero" is a Sound Investment: Prog Review #35
Banco del Mutuo Succorso translates as Bank of Mutual Relief; not as whimsical as Premiata Forneria Marconi, (Award-winning Marconi Bakery) and the same can be said for the music. PFM's bakery is full of sundry delights, while Banco's staid offerings are all money.
Feeling Euphoric with Caravan "In the Land of Grey and Pink": Prog Review #34
Freedom and silliness and musical bliss are what this album is all about.
Al In A Day's Work: Weird Al Albums Ranked
Enjoy my ramblings on one of the greatest musical artists of our lifetime.
OK with U.K.'s "U.K.": Prog Review #30
With this incredible pedigree of musicians, U.K. should be something special…
An Exhausting Stroll Through Opeth's "Blackwater Park": Prog Review #28
After a few days with Blackwater Park, I turned off the album while driving, and Metric's "Now or Never Now" was just starting. I immediately wanted to move and sing, and I felt joy from the music I was listening to. That feeling cemented my thinking that I should just give up on Opeth.
Reinvestigating Supertramp's "Crime of the Century": Prog Review #27
Progressive ideas may not be the point of Supertramp, but the band uses those available options to turn half-finished song ideas into amazing compositions…. It's damn near perfect.
A recipe for Van Der Graaf Generator's "Pawn Hearts": Prog Review #26
Van Der Graaf Generator's Pawn Hearts is a peculiar dish - at once overly familiar and an acquired taste. Full of familiar and tired prog ingredients thrown together in a stew, Pawn Hearts retains a distinct, if somewhat confused, character.
Bugging Out to The Mars Volta's "Deloused in the Comatorium": Prog Review #25
"Now I'm Lost" keens Marcel Rodríguez-López on the chorus of Inertiatic ESP. I share his sentiment
The Harmonic Tremors of Magma's "Mëkanïk Dëstruktïẁ Kömmandöh": Prog Review #24
There's a musical statement here: a garbled, manic, exuberant statement.
A Great Discovery in Rush's "2112": Prog Review #22
Though less impactful upon me than Foxtrot (1972), 2112 (1976) constitutes the prehistory of my love of prog.
Seeing Doubles in Camel's "Mirage": Prog Review #21
If I had discovered Camel in my teens or early 20s, they would probably be one of my favourite bands right now.
King Crimson's "Larks' Tongue in Aspic" is an Acquired Taste: Prog Review #20
The album intrigues me for the same reason I don't love it: with the exception of "Exiles," all the songs promise more than they deliver.
A Friendly Encounter With PFM's "Per Un Amico": Prog Review #19
Per Un Amico has moments that would sound right at home on albums by Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, ELP, Gentle Giant, and probably a bunch of others. At times, the sounds are even suspiciously similar to specific tunes from those bands.
Getting Comfortable With Frank Zappa's "One Size Fits All": Prog Review #18
Zappa's actual music was a total blank to me, however, and after listening to One Size Fits All, I'd say my nearly baseless assessment of Zappa was 75% correct.