CHOICES

This is the second album from the progressive folk rock band The PUDDLE JUMPERS, and the follow-up to the debut album "Out of the Shadows" from 1996. Both the albums are self-financed, but they're so professional that they easily could be mistaken for being major record company releases.

Their music is a mix between BOSTON, JETHRO TULL, PINK FLOYD, RUSH, STEELEYS SPAN and YES with influences from Pop and Southern Rock. The band contains first-class musicians, and with the whole band singing backing vocals except for the drummer, you got some mighty harmonies. The lead vocals are reminiscent to Ian ANDERSON of JETHRO TULL and the backing vocals are sometimes reminiscent to GENTLE GIANT. The mandolin has got a main role on this album, and it's played by the multi-instrumentalist Rick Varitan.

The highlights are "Choices" "Storybook", "Pay the Piper", "Disarm Yourself", "Dead of the Night" and "Pawn of the White Queen".

This album is even better than their debut album, and if you liked it you will surely buy this too. If you haven't heard any of them I suggest that you buy them both.