THROUGH AND THROUGH

I was incredibly tempted to add the fifth star, but I've concluded that this, while very much an excellent release is not quite essential. The Underground Railroad is a band in the same vein as the middle-atlantic school of modern ameri-prog (echolyn, finneus gauge, land of chocolate) with fusion influences mixed into a melodic framework, and great vocals. Bill Pohl's guitars can be Holdsworth-esque at times, and the rythm section is incredibly precise. Kurt Rongey's keyboards are great and his voice, though not spectacular, is immensely likable. Their compositions run the gamut from the echolyn-like punchy jazz-prog of May Fly and Mars, to more narrative pieces that are like UK covering Genesis, such as Comprachios and The Doorman. On the extreme are Into the Factory, an instrumental switching between ultra-complex and gently melodic themes, and the title track, which is a mellow yet avant-garde 20 minute track. Conclusion: If you love modern prog that sounds like it could have been released in 1974 and could have held the test of time, snag this disc.