CATATONIA

If you enjoy listening to Classic Rock radio from time to time, this is a solid album. But if you are a die-hard progger who can't stand commercial AOR, pass this one up unless you are willing to risk being left in - you guessed it - a Catatonic state. ;-)

1997's Catatonia marks a major step forward for Salem Hill. The engineering and production quality make their first two albums sound like "demo tapes". Vocals are consistently strong throughout the entire album. Highlights include the emotionally neo-prog opener "The Walking Dead" and the 11+ minute mini-epic "The Judgment".

The songs work together to weave a creative tale of a man afraid to dream, the sleep-walk of a life that inevitably follows, and his ensuing struggle to decide whether or not to risk change. Although the style tilts a little more heavily toward neo-prog with this album, remnants of their pop/AOR roots are liberally sprinkled throughout. It works well on the catchy album rock of "Façade and Charade", the King's X-ishness of "Real" and even on the unabashedly pop bounce of "Peculiar People". The result is a little more plodding on "Children without Innocence".