Friday13th
User

Reviews 14
Approval 92%

Soundoffs 77
News Articles 4
Band Edits + Tags 78
Album Edits 29

Album Ratings 2861
Objectivity 69%

Last Active 11-10-19 11:08 pm
Joined 08-16-12

Review Comments 7,621

 Lists
09.20.21 Prog - An End - WINNER ♦09.13.21 Prog - An End - Finals
09.05.21 Prog - An End - Semifinals08.14.21 Prog - An End - Rediscovery
08.13.21 Prog - A Beginning - WINNER08.10.21 Prog - A Beginning - Finals (hopefully?
08.06.21 Prog - A Beginning - Semi-Finals07.29.21 Prog - A Beginning - Elimination Rd
07.21.21 Prog - A Beginning - Discovery Rd 1007.15.21 Prog - A Beginning - Discovery Rd 9
07.07.21 Prog - A Beginning - Discovery Rd 806.29.21 Prog - A Beginning - Discovery Rd 7
06.22.21 Prog - A Beginning - Discovery Rd 606.15.21 Prog - A Beginning - Discovery Rd 5
06.07.21 Prog - A Beginning - Discovery Rd 406.01.21 Prog - A Beginning - Discovery Rd 3
05.24.21 Prog - A Beginning - Discovery Rd 205.17.21 Prog - A Beginning - Discovery Rd 1
More »

Prog - A Beginning - Tourney Preliminary

Welcome to the eighth and final tourney in the mostly annual series of tournaments I began in 2014. I have told you that this will be my final prog tourney. This may be true, but an end for one good thing marks the beginning of another good thing. But now is not the time for melancholy. It is the time to PROG like Sput has never prog'd before! See the first comment for rules and how to join the fun.
1Syzygy
A Glorious Disturbance

"Syzygy is an American prog band that began under the name "Witsend" back in the 1980s. By this live album, their last major work before disbanding, most of these middle-aged dudes had been playing unapologetic retro prog for decades, and it shows in the best possible way. Tight harmonies, interesting keyboard sounds, shredding bass and guitar, complex drum rhythms, you know what you are going to get, you just my be surprised how good it is. Songs from their entire back catalog are more than replicated with grooving performances and pristine sound quality, and songs like "Coronation," a new song about the prodigal son story, prove they had the songwriting to be as well known as Spock's Beard or Echolyn." - Friday13th

Youtube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nWf7yGlw6UKvfFS4jxg5HMc5rE9TYJGEY
2Colosseum II
War Dance

"In the mid 2000's when my wife and I were DINKS (dual income no kids) there was an old record store within walking distance, with 1000's of records, the guy made everything without a name on it (Beatles/Stones/etc.) was either $1.99 or $3.99. I would spend hours in there and come home with armfuls twice a week. I got good at picking unknown stuff that fit my ear. I was stocking my shelves with perfect inclusions for this album years before there was such a wonderful thing. Which is where Colosseum II comes in. It probably caught my eye because of the inclusion of Gary Moore of Thin Lizzy fame. I promise you it will not sound like Thin Lizzy Instead this sounds like a awesome progressive jazz fusion band that makes it all work somehow. Every band members influences are on display throughout. A most fun album with changing styles coming in and out of focus." - wham49

Youtube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPcvSmtCsrhc9CF7KjmCqGxilbZN56nQE
3Procol Harum
Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

"This was Procol's best selling album ever. The pluses include live performances of some of Procol's proggiest material ever, including their 19-minute opus classic 'In Held 'Twas in I', and the acknowledged best version of their song "Conquistador" (much better than the studio version on their first album). The LP is also historic as being one of the earliest collaborations between a symphony orchestra and a rock band. The only real minus in that their great guitarist Robin Trower was no longer with them, and organist Matthew Fisher had also long since left the band. But Dave Ball and Chris Copping do a fine job in their place, and Procol lyricist Keith Reid makes an appearance on 'In Held 'Twas in I' during the spoken interlude that begins, 'Held close by that which some despise'. Overall, this was one of the classic live albums of the 1970s, and a highlight the career of one of my favorite bands." - Divaman

Youtube playlist [album only first 5 tracks]: https://tinyurl.com/vdw69bex
4Moose Loose
Elgen Er Los

"Moose Loose was a 70s Norwegian instrumental progressive rock and jazz fusion band. I love how dynamic and eclectic this album is. It can both jam out and be soulful. The musicanship is on point and all instruments (guitars and keys very prominently and well-done, but the bass guitar and drums are both still excellent) harmonize very well together. It's a very engaging album all the way through. Also this has to be one of the best bandnames ever." - Pangea

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAo5fZEaXWo&list=OLAK5uy_n__60Ep2-wQJZum4DraOEL-GhEJ2vxscM

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3Zkqtd2SOcPVihEaqQPzNc?si=M20pBDqcTCOgGV7aZl48pQ
5Soft Machine
Hidden Details

"Soft Machine's latest record is way better than you'd expect, these are experienced prog musicians doing their thing, and it feels almost effortless, even at their current age. This record is packed with some richly atmospheric jazzy tracks, and while it might not be up there with their best, it's still a very strong record that is befitting of the band and canturbury scene's name." - Sharktooth

Youtube: https://youtu.be/uGIf97m243M
6Regal Worm
Pig Views

"Modern prog band featuring a multi-instrumentalist experimenting avant gardist music. Band is injecting Medieval and psychedelic touches in their weird kind of prog that contains start and stop patterns and eccentric turns. Alternance of punchy and pastoral ambiences give tonus to the mix. It's generally sophisticated and simple in the same time. It's really melodic, and vocals serve as an instrument. Good use of mellotrons, organs and many more keys and synths. Kinda Beck on acid, making prog." - Jethro42

On Bandcamp: https://regalworm.bandcamp.com/album/pig-views
[also on Spotify]
7Pendragon
Love Over Fear

"A neo-prog gem from one of the most underrated bands in the entire genre who’ve been at it for decades.
Is it a tad cheesy, a bit over produced and lacking a certain something? Yes but I’ll be buggered if it’s not one of the greatest albums of the last few years." - zakalwe

Bandcamp" https://pendragon3.bandcamp.com/album/love-over-fear
8Tantra
Mistérios e Maravilhas

"It definitely shows the best symphonic prog in Portugal. The album is full of long instrumental passages, loaded with feeling and elegance, beautiful melodies and a strong emotional charge, with ripped solos from keyboards and electric guitars, and percussion with multi-rhythmic dynamics. Almost all instrumental, only two tracks have lyrics: À Beira do Fim and Partir Sempre, curiously the first and the last one, respectively." - Zig

Youtube: https://youtu.be/fmFMLZXPPiQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0nbsfmdRTPkqR7v5Y35Mk3 (with Bonus tracks)
9Tarantula (ESP)
Tarántula

"As some of y’all may have figured out by now, I love Spanish/Portuguese-language prog, and this album is one of my new favorites from Spain. While there are some obvious similarities to some well known bands like Jethro Tull or Marillion (synth tones are a lot like Marillion, but this came out first), they also have plenty of uniqueness to their sound incorporating touches of blues. All in all, they are a mix of quite a few of my favorite things in prog and I hope there is something for everyone on this record." - bgillesp

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_myYJZVRsY4Cn1NcL7uJL0mT5KJw4g9eHc

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/248R6Xx8B3nLiiQqhBWGNN
10Jordsjo
Nattfiolen

"A sweet piece of bingeable Norweigen prog. Replete with synth and flute there’s no hiding the influence of Jethro Tull, but it’s truest ancestry lies in the melodicism of early Camel and Swedish instrumentalist Bo Hansson. For me, good prog tricks the listener into feeling like he’s hearing something playful but familiar while still pushing the experimental boundaries and Nattfiolen is one of the finest examples of that in recent memory. Headphones are the only way to listen, as some of the stereo effects really bring the fairy tale to life." - Inoculaeted

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/54Ooribd5hSPdl2keRxLBT

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qPeIJkyf84
11Strawbs
Just a Collection of Antiques and Curios

"Strangely, this is a classic prog album of the 70's but that went unnoticed even by many prog heads. This is a very important and curious album, mainly due to four things. First, technically this is a live album because it was recorded live, but in reality it's a brand new album it terms of tracks. Second, this album was the real turning point to Strawbs, the album that made of them a true prog band, in my opinion, one of the best prog folk bands ever. Third, this the first of the two albums of Strawbs with Rick Wakeman as a band's member, the album that catapulted him to the stardom, you know, Yes. Forth, this is, in my opinion too, one of the best prog albums of the beginning of the 70's." - e210013

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4HlO9kW2BJ3M9aTqOkM7DF?autoplay=true

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsDI8kGwCdg
12Quiet Sun
Mainstream

"I love the Canterbury prog style. As a real contestant for the first time, and it seems the last too, I needed to choose one of its albums and Mainstream is one of the best albums to that of the '70s. I love the album and Manzanera guitar style." - TheIntruder

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6WUzJONHD1qkuMhbqJfgsD?autoplay=true
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQsmzpFVXkM
13Yolk
Solar

"Incredible fluid layering of sounds with a tricked-out, almost krautrock approach to rhythm. Playful vocals and vibrant atmosphere, whole thing sounds like a wonky prog forest. And they keep it tight, under 40 minutes long, praise be." - porcupinetheater

Bandcamp: https://yolkmusic.bandcamp.com/album/solar
14Serú Girán
La Grasa de las Capitales

"One of the many projects by Charly Garcia, one of the biggest names in latin rock. La Grasa de las Capitales is a slow, bluesy prog album with what feels to me like a very nocturnal and urban vibe. Also a lot of jazz fusion into it, and your classic argentinian vocals!" - MrSirLordGentleman

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm6Qzilw5Cs&ab_channel=Ser%C3%BAGir%C3%A1n
15Ibio
Cuevas De Altamira

"Really cool 70s release, blending in spanish folk music and progressive rock which works astonishingly well. There are great compositions on here and I didn't know before that prog sounded so sweet with the spanish language." - farmerobama

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7JHzOcKxQZVRAeAHIHjjSn?si=A8sjXPI8S7uFUpY7bEtLkw&utm_source=copy-link
16Hercules and Lernaean Hydra
Σε Άλλους Κόσμους (In Other Worlds)

"It's an album that bursts with creativity and musicality. It's apparent it was created by people who loved music and paid attention to detail. It's never static in one place and genre, and this fluidity is further highlighted by the numerous different singers that guest here, and the more than 80 (!) different instruments used for the end result. It wouldn't be a 70's greek prog album without numerous references to Greek folk music and of course all the lyrics are in Greek as well." - Mythodea

Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mWS8vCSWMAhWCUBG8DVcCDDOji8Tln-GU
17Hermann Szobel
Szobel

"Child prodigy Hermann Szobel composed and produced one album at the age of 18 before he disappeared from the music world completely. The album has a Frank Zappa vibe, with emphasis on piano (Szobel's instrument), percussion, and vibraphone. It was obscure even when it was released in the 70s, but a 2012 reissue has given us a second chance to enjoy it." - TwigTW

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2VUcwcNH6YbFCPfntYcYdG?si=iBz1ZcHoRta7TNbKOWMizg
18Alas (AR)
Alas

"Lovely album from the Argentinian outfit Alas, released in 1976. Brings to mind ELP and Return to Forever, but with a distinct twist." - normaloctagon

Youtube: https://youtu.be/ZfbKolVHgak

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4lXzFUScvOee8H8eUj6xSy
19Collegium Musicum
Collegium Musicum

"When Czechoslovakia did not allow foreign band names except for Latin, these four Slovak composers, music theorists, jazzmen and experimentators chose a Latin name meaning "music collective" and set out to teach the world (but mostly Czechoslovakia) the extents of musical possibilities. In a society that is being drilled into its head that the only good musical genre is classical music and all that rock and jazz is just the Western usurpers trying to undermine the good communist morale, these absolute mad lads pretty much put the whole musical propagandist idea on its head, delivering rock music composed as classical concertos, elaborate jazz pieces and that sweet professional-educated-musician spiel that knocks the heathens outta park babey! Their influence is strongly felt on Czech and Slovak music scene today including various legendary bands like Blue Effect or The Plastic People of the Universe." - someone

Youtube: https://youtu.be/oKXg4PILseU
20Kollektiv
Kollektiv

"Jazzy krautrock mit flute. More effects pedals than your Dad's favourite band. Viele spass fur alles. 2 votes just doesn't cut it. This write-up is short, but this album is long." - MiloRuggles

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4YXHLIh6mo
Show/Add Comments (190)

STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy