THERE'S ALWAYS A FUCKING PROBLEM

After so long waiting for it, There's Always A F*cking Problem is out. This Pseudo/Sentai was released by Greg Murphy and Scott Baker, with a very unique vibe, hard to describe. Actually, they are a progressive & alternative "video game soundtrack" rock band, and being highly influenced by very detailed musicians, like Banco Del Mutuo Soccorso, it couldn't be bad at all. The album features vintage game effects, acoustic and symphonic rock passages, and modern rock vocals. This album has 22 tracks (total of 45 minutes), including some conceptual suites. The video game suite is the best part of the album. 8 tracks of pure nostalgic, detailed and creative music. I think this album is very elaborated, and a great effort into general modern music. I haven't heard anything good as TAAFP from recent prog or related bands. It's innovative and have no "bad times".

After Briefing at Moniker Manor, a classical intro piece, we have the so called There's Always a F-cking Problem track. And this track is really amazing. The keys/MIDI/wathever fx fused with the guitar riffs and vocals, fits perfect. Shrubbreeze (Delightful Flight) is another highlight. The rhythmic keys and synth effects plus vocals are very catchy. The song changes at the last minute. Naught Shore is very progressive. The track starts slow, but at the middle of the song, it suddenly changes to an aggressive and phantasmagoric part. The end of the track has some kind of heroic Pseudo/Sentai traditional feeling because of the guitar riffage. After the acoustic interlude Lashing Splashes, we have the two tracks song House of Harbors. Pretty elaborated again. I think I had to listen to it a few times to really get everything that was goin on. No Midas Touching is a short atmospheric prelude to the video game suite. Well, I love this kind of vintage technologic sounding, and make a prog suite with video game music and plot was brilliant! AP0: Cartridge Entry (The Light that Comes at Night) is the first track of the suite. Maybe my least favorite. Well, this suite is made by short tracks altogether forming a plotline. AP1: American Psydescroller (Title Screen) was the first track that I heard from this album, and it kick asses! It's a great title screen theme! AP2: Birds Dropping En Masse (Poultry in Motion) has fine effects but it's too short. The next track, Meanwhile... (The Vanishing Act) is one of my favorite parts of the album. It reminds me of some italian prog folk passage. The following track, AP3: Return of the Curse of the Creature's Ghost (Or is it the Curse of the Creature? Or the Curse of the Ghost? Or Did the Creature Put a Curse on the Ghost?), it's strange and haunting. It has some crazy effects, laughter, vocal shifts and funny drum fills. So, the apex of the game, the Boss Battle!!! AP4: Ghostman (Boss Battle) is the darker track. If you close your eyes listening to this you can pretty imagine and live this boss battle. The end of the track changes to a heavy mood, reaching the happy and cool victory theme, AP5: Victory Over Ghostman (Mass Exodusorcism). AP6: Game Over (Cartridge Exit) is the final track of the suite, and it is very similar to the title screen theme.

Heaven is Medicine is an almost electro industrial track based on a linear heart beating. It's fine. Pyro Cyclone Dances the Weathervane Waltz is a great track, a mix of alternative metal with symphonic prog and super nintendo. The dark piano track Crossing The Rube Icon could be used as an horror movie soundtrack. It's dark and deep. The twentieth track, Sensory Overlord, is still a little bit dark, and very futuristic. Just fifty seconds though. The Loracle's Mend is a piano instrumental. Nice track, but not so memorable (I don't remember the piano melody right now writing the review, but it's cool). There Will Always be a F-cking Problem is the last track. It is dark, symphonic doom rock. Maybe better than the TAAFP title track, but I can't compare it because is actually two totally different tracks. I'm looking for flaws everytime I listen to TAAFP, because TAAFP.