EGBERT'S BARBER SHOP

Let's herd them on out of here!

What's In a Name?

William Shakespeare had Romeo ask, in a personal reverie about his true love, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet..."

But would it?

Suppose it was called 'Goat-thistle Bramble-bushweed'. Personally, I think names DO influence one's experience of things, and do matter. They signify.

So, 'Johnny Bob'...

Or is it 'JohnnyBob'? I've seen it both ways (hmmm...could be an elephant calf, also tagging along. Go on- git!).

This is a fine album, filled with substantial, thoughtful, intelligent music.

Here's my point: I don't think the band is well served with this name. Of course you too are entitled to your own half-baked, wrong-headed opinions.

And you may just LOVE the name 'Johnny Bob' (JohnnyBob??)

Elephant Two

Well, the music actually has lyrics! Words set in patterns- clusters- sentences, phrases, lines, poetic, suggestive of things- signifying something.

Or so I suppose, since lyrics are not easily accessible. Nowhere to be found.

Again, maybe I'm extra weird (and yes, there are those who might have strong opinions here), but I assume if bands take the trouble of composing and singing lyrics in their music, maybe it's because they matter!

Of course, if the lyrics are meaningless, I suppose one could safely ignore them, but frankly, I enjoy seeing how lyrics enhance or detract in the total musical experience of an album.

Yes, Weird, I Know

So suggestion: Please make lyrics easily available. Why should we have to guess what is being sung?

OK, Elephants Be Gone

So now that we have them out of the way, what have we got.

Well, a simply lovely collection of tunes, with the unlikely (and to me unlovely, unhelpful) title of 'Egbert's Barber Shop'.

Music that is stately, cinematic, keyboard-filled/kissed/blessed/lushly-laden. Solemn. Playful. Changing and varied. Poetic.

Music that calls to mind Gabriel-era GENESIS, especially to these ears "Foxtrot".

Did I mention those keyboards- the mellotron choral and orchestral sounds, organ, piano, synthesizers...?

I mean, guitar bands are great. I LIKE guitars, even used to play them a whole bunch. But for me, it's the keyboards that make a progressive rock band extra amazing.

Those Arrangements

Of course, the band isn't JUST keyboards- no, perfectly accomplished drumming, adequate, husky, expressive vocals, resonant bass and bass synthesizer bottom end, and crisp, tasteful drumming.

All ably, nimbly, temptingly arranged- the chorus subsides into bass and drums, then tempos change, and the full band comes charging in...and what's that? Flute? Clarinet (or is that sax?). Great stuff.

Concept?

Not sure. Lyrics not easily available and hard to fully capture just by listening.

But I THINK so. I had the impression of a very adult fairytale, and told I would guess, with sophistication and flare, worthy of examination and contemplation- the very sort of story told by Peter Gabriel among others.

But those whales? The ocean? The barber-shop? Inquiring minds want to know!

My Conclusion:

Once you get those elephants cleared out, this is a fine, substantial, well-conceived album. Please don't let those lumbering critters dissuade you from giving this one a listen.

My rating: 3.75 stars out of 5.0. (Maybe not ESSENTIAL, but I'll bet you'd enjoy this one).