Since I’ve been posting in these forums for a short time I thought I should introduce myself. I’m a veteran progger who attended his first Yes concert in 1973 just before the band released TFTO. Other concerts I went to in the early 70’s included Jethro Tull, Santana, Deep Purple, Steeleye Span and Frank Zappa.

 I’m predominately into 60’s and 70’s Art Rock and Pop, hence my interests span the early days of Beach Boys, TheKinks, Moody Blues, The Doors and The  Beatles to Lindisfarne, The Strawbs, Yes, ELP, PFM, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Renaissance, Supertramp, David Bowie, Elton John, 10cc, Renaissance and Roxy Music. I became disillusioned in the late 70’s when music turned against the Prog Rock tide and shifted towards Punk, although I don’t so much blame Punk and Grunge music for the shift, but rather what I saw as burnout in a lot of the bands I liked.

 Unlike others here I liked what Genesis were doing in the 80’s with albums such as Abacab and Genesis (though not Invisible Touch with its synthetic drum machines). I admire bands like Camel who kept their heads throughout the 80’s and also liked some of the newer artists appearing on the scene in the 80’s in Kate Bush, U2 and Crowded House.

 The 90’s drew me back under the Prog Rock fold with the discovery of the new look Marillion led by Steve Hogarth. Seasons End responded to my taste much more than Clutching at Straws did and I’ve been following Marillion ever since (was never a great admirer of Neo Prog) by buying their every studio and live release.

 I have over 2000 CD’s in my collection, for which about 600 you could say are Prog Rock. The rest of my collection is made up of Classical, Folk, Jazz, Pop and Broadway.

I love the PROGARCHIVES site and decided I would have some fun contributing to record reviews here. After I got stuck halfway through writing a review on SEBTP I thought I would take a breather in the forums here while I reconstruct my thoughts. I think it is difficult to write a constructive review of a classic album like SEBTP that has already been reviewed by so many other people, because it pretty much has already been said; unless you have dissenting view that may offer a different slant on the album that might interest people, it may be better to steer away from these familiar albums.

 Of the reviewers who regularly write reviews for this site, I guess my favourite reviewer here is lazland, who writes sharp crisp reviews, which get right to the point. I don’t think I have read any reviews that I didn’t think were not worth reading and I don’t mind reading negative reviews of albums I like, because it shows that something as subjective as music, has different ways of appealing to people.   

iluvmarillion wrote: Of the reviewers who regularly write reviews for this site, I guess my favourite reviewer here is lazland, who writes sharp crisp reviews, which get right to the point. I don’t think I have read any reviews that I didn’t think were not worth reading and I don’t mind reading negative reviews of albums I like, because it shows that something as subjective as music, has different ways of appealing to people.

Hey Barry, that's really kind of you to say that. I'm touched and flattered.

It's nice to see your "formal" introduction to the site, because I and others have really enjoyed your contributions here.