BLOMLJUD

All things and bands and albums considered,, this is undoubtedly the most impressive progressive rock record of the decade for a variety of reasons, and I'm not going to waste time on a track by track review in order to explain them. Rather, I will simply point out a few basic strengths-

1. The vocals are perfect. No cheese, no "I'm Neal Morse and I'm 35 years old and I still sound like a nasal cunt" tripe that a lot of kids seem to eat up here; all we have here is pure harmonic bliss delivered yours truly a-cappela.

2. Some of the best recognizable and hummable musical motifs this side of the century. Seriously now, how is it that groups like Transatlantic or Porcupine Tree can slap together 10+ random tracks together and call it musically coherent/interesting, yet a perfect 31-minute epic such as 'Other Side of the Sky', with clear themes and reaccuring motifs that ALSO nod to other themes across the album, get ignored?

3. Instrumental versatility in spades, but without the usual boring keyboard runs and synthwork that characterize so many supposedly "great" bands today. Plus these guys, unlike many of bands you morons idealize, play memorably, which goes back to point #2 above.

The fact that this album wasn't #1 of 2008 is a sad testament to the inability of many so-called reviewers here to understand or appreciate something revolutionary when it actually hits the market, especially in such an oversaturated market as the progressive rock/metal genre.

Vocals, instrumentals, theme, musical cohesion, along with a thankful absence of that annoying Eddie Van Halen guitar-styling that every lead guitarist seems to have in prog. today...what more can you ask for in the crowning achievement of symphonic progressive rock from the last 10 years?

Listen and awaken to the wonder that lies within here.