Week of Feb. 20, 2022

Another really good week of finds. Probably spent a good 15 hours listening to this particular block of music. A tip of the cap to Prog Magazine (progmagazine.com) which is responsible for providing leads to most of this music. I feel very fortunate that I can do this and sink into enjoyable music and not being chased and hunted in my home country by a ruthless and evil maniacal leader (that goes for Putin too).

 News

Russia invasion of Ukraine likely occurs

Biden implements first round of Russian sanctions

Stock market moves to lowest point since June 2021, 22% off all-time highs

Phil Mickelson steps on his dick promoting a Saudi-backed golf league

Winter Olympics in Beijing end on a whimper 

Music of Note

Another Swedish prog/goth rock band with decent chops. Flavors along the lines of Breaking Benjamin and Chevelle. Worthy of a listen. A lot of tracks (27!) to navigate.

Tuneful engaging rock not too dissimilar to the Norwegian band’s countrymen A-Ha, but without the pop cuteness. The atmospheric arrangements and droning vocals follow a formula long used by Radiohead.

Similar to prog rock fave Spock’s Beard, the harmonized vocals of female vocalist Lee Douglas with brothers Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh is a nice feature. Solid writing and arranged with impact.. Tasty.

Interesting Music

Accessible rock with pleasant arrangements, vocals. Understated musicianship, sort of like Grateful Dead without the long jams.

Soft Machine redux? Has that same syrupy dreamlike character and Hammond era keyboards. The song “Chemical Boogie” shows off some of their best attributes.

Was expecting a letdown after “Art Angels” because it represented a step up in using real instruments over electronic equivalents, but these are simpler and cleaner.

If Ozric Tentacles had a younger brother, this might be it. Spacy keyboards with a heavy dose of rhythmic percussion and bass lines. Music to clear the mind (or have a beer) with.

Where Grimes high pitched soprano vocals conveys a pop quality, St. Vincent, an equally capable writer and performer, gives a little more Madonna like earthiness. That said, it’s not that satisfying in the end.

Polished songwriting and production separates these masters of metal rock from the pack.

An American band trying to sound like Panic at the Disco, they make a valiant attempt.

Opeth has been compared to Porcupine Tree but I just don’t see it. More in the vein of Mastodon and similar doom metal bands, the compositions aren’t as expansive and makes use of snarling vocals I’m not a big fan of hearing. Some tracks ARE good, so I’ll continue to check some of their newer releases as this was a 2008 release.

Not So Great

No real stinkers this week. Everything had some worthy moments.