WAR AND PEACE & OTHER SHORT STORIES

This is the first time I have ever put pen to paper to review an album, but felt the need as I couldn't believe some of the low ratings this 5 star album has received. As one of only a handful of albums I have bought this year that I could honestly say is Progressive, this CD mixes elements of old and new and brings in fantastic world music sounds and themes in a way that really develops the story in each track to the listener in a contemporary way. Others do this, but end up sounding like other bands in their effort to please. Filkins has deviated from the norm by doing something a little bit different and managed to make everything almost seamlessly fuse together into what is for me the best Prog album to be produced in years. Great production, great songs, lifting choruses, soaring guitar solos, beautiful melodies, poignant lyrics. This album has it all. What else can I say, except that for a first effort at solo writing and performing, this is excellent and a true example of the prog rock genre. Filkins has assembled a group of first class musicians who do a terrific job interpreting his writing with lyrics and music blended together by changing tempos and a huge range of instruments. Highlights are many but the guitar solo at the end of Prisioner part one stands out. As a final comment I need to say there was something extremely moving about the words written in these songs that seemed to give a route to the writers very heart and soul. I don't know his story but I feel there is a depth to be explored.