Kip Шiиgεя - This Coиvεяsαtioи Sεεms Likε A Drεαm (1997)

The debut solo masterpiece from this great former hair-metal singer/songwriter's 90's alternative rock period, done in the wake of the death of his wife. Regardless of whether he's doing harmonic walls-of-sound shredders such as 'Kiss Of Life' and 'Monster' or more atmosphere oriented knives in your emotional belly like 'Here' and the acoustic 'Naked Son', K.W. treats his voice as if it were the only candle he possesses against the vast darkness of the world. However, he also takes advantage of his dynamic vocal power as a textural instrument to complement whatever grandiose designs he chooses to lay around it.

Great men make great music, ladies and gents, so pick this up and experience it for yourself.

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Τнε Kαnε Gαng - Mιяαclε (1987)

R&B-drenched power pop meets New Romantic musings and some fantastic ear grabbing ditties in the second half of the 1980's. And, if nothing else, these guys were optimistic: romance and the promise of a golden age were the order of the moment, and it shows in groove-worthy kickers such as "Motortown' and "What Time Is It?"

Listen Here - "Motortown"


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5tεvε Millεr Bαnd - Fly Likε Aи Eαglε (1976)

Time keeps on slippin...slippin...slippin...into the future....

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Яusн - Poшεя Шindoшs (1985)

Along with Permanent Waves and Grace Under Pressure, this is my favorite release from Canada's most popular prog. power trio export.

While its abundance of synths is not typical for the band compared to a lot of their other output, the heavy emphasis upon them (even moreso than their other 80's releases) makes for a terrific atmosphere that you don't really get on their other records. Geddy Lee in particular is marvelous throughout this disk: when he isn't laying down bass lines that would make a jazz-funk band blush, he's singing like a motherfuckin' angel.    From the low-key anthemic hair metal flirtations of 'Middletown Dreams' to the aptly titled 'Mystic Rhythms', weak cuts here are like polio in 2011: non-existent.

Not all prog-related stuff three decades ago sucked, and this album is living proof of it.

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Kit Walker - Dancing On The Edge Of The World (1987)

Wicked jazz-fusion debut of the late 80's, primarily led by various keyboard textures, bass and flute. It also holds the unique distinction of being one of the few smooth jazz releases on par with first few classic Rippingtons recordings or Pat Metheny's late 80's/early 90's material, so get diggin' fellas!

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5нαкαtαк - Nigнτвirdѕ (1982/2009)

Classic British jazz-pop-funk record from the decade where an overabundance of glitz and schmaltz alike contributed to some damn fine highway burners for a late night and a long smoke. Hell, God knows how many keyboards were sold back in the day on the sheer memorability of this album's title track, but Quiet Storm floor-stompers such as 'Easier Said Than Done' and 'Light On My Life' are equally sharp and introspective in execution.

To sum it all up in a sentence or so: melancholic, rhythmic glimmerings of sonic brilliance in just under a single, moonlit hour. Don't go home without it!

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Jοии Sεяяie - Αиd Tнε 5tars Gο With Yoυ (1987)

Funny how the little things make such a big difference when it comes to New Age albums: for every thirty snore-inducing piano led compilations of utter tripe, there's usually an album by some talented bloke who knows a goddamn thing or two about atmosphere and texture. Jοии Sεяяie, ladies and gents, is one such distinguished individual amidst a sea of snoozers. This late 80's ditty was played the fuck out of at various planetariums across the planet when it first hit shelves, and for good reason: when it comes to experiencing celestial phenomena, this is fine accompaniment indeed to a few bong hits and some spiced coffee. It takes the classic soundscape approach to ambience: fragments such as 'Fantasy Passages' breathe deep as they swirl about in their blissful little vacuums.

This record is, simply put, the darkling stuff that dreams are made of.

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Sτarcaѕtlε - S/T (1976/2011)

Got the recent remaster of this American prog. rock classic in the mail today, and damn is it a wonderful listen! Think Yes meets pre-80's America sprinkled with a bit of classic Styx and you'll have a good idea at how sumptuous these buggers sound. Although they were often labeled as a clone of Jon Anderson & co. by Rolling Stone and the like, the insult in retrospect seems rather silly - by the time this American band released their debut, Yes were well on their way to being on hiatus. On top of that, they'd release a certain shitty album known as Tormato before the 80's hit...an album that was easily eclipsed in quality by this "clone" band's entire body of work between '76 and '79. Oh the irony!

In my opinion, fans of catchy prog. rock and the whole "classic' rock thing shouldn't pass on this hot tamale, because its one of the best albums of the late 70's and, like vintage wine, has aged considerably better than some of their contemporaries. Opening 10-minute cruncher 'Lady Of The Lake' in particular is quite the ear catch - the vocal harmonies are some of the best in the history of rock canon.

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Asturias - Brilliant Streams (1990)

In terms of Japanese instrumental glitz-wankery, tonight's offering is an exercise in pure class. Lush keyboards, sparkling piano and warm choral vocalizations abound in wondrous movement, seemingly forever at best and gone within a moment at worst. At times it feels like a classic Studio Ghibli soundtrack or a vintage Nintendo game, yet a heartbeat later and I'm back in the 80's with a slick new ride and an air guitarist who thinks its cool to shred his synth-axe in the back seat without a seatbelt. Dayum!

Still, as far as neo-progressive stuff goes, this is awfully wonderful sounding when your in a nostalgic mood. Find out if your in that mood tonight!

Listen Here - "Highland"

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Todd Rundgren - Nearly Human (1989)

The underrated god of pop music struck gold again as a certain cheesy decade came to a close, and boy is it a doozy. Although it's got that 80's reverb-drenched production, a distinct soul-driven power pop feel reminiscent of Rundgren's early 70's work is key to the sonic fragments throughout Nearly Human, and the songs are as strong as anything he's ever written at his peak. In particular, 'Fidelity' is a minor Quiet Storm classic that oozes sheer class, while the 7-minute 'Hawking' is an epic in every sense of the word. Grand choruses, lush instrumentation and lyrical ironies abound, and its these things where Todd succeeds best.

Basically, this is one of those underrated classics that simply has to be heard to be appreciated, so take the opportunity to remedy that through my post here!

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Jacula - In Cauda Semper Stat Venenum (1969)

A rather controversial and occult bunch within the canon of old school prog. rock, Jacula (who would later be peddling great dark prog. under the moniker Antonius Rex) supposedly distributed this little beaut debut in limited supply to various esoteric organizations of dubious intention and identity throughout Italy. Thus, the validity of this record actually being made in 1969 is a question that may never be fully answered because nobody seems to know anyone with an original vinyl copy. Darn cults and their secretiveness....

Still, questions of release authenticity aside, this is a damn fine record. Cheesy church organ, creepy mantras and some way-ahead-of-its-time sounding doom-laden guitar work all meld together into some kind of delicious tandem. Thus, depending on your mood, its either the silliest stuff in existence or the most essential album within a record collection when your in a ghoulish state of mind.

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Univers Zero - Heresie (1979/2010)

2010 remix/remaster of the one and only chamber-avant-rock album you DO NOT want to listen to when its late at night and there's not a soul around for miles. You might start seeing things that you didn't want to see before. The tension, especially in the nail-biting 'La Faulx' is fucking unbelievable. The fact that a bassoon gets plenty of screentime throughout these four compositions doesn't hurt for cool points either.

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