TILES

This is the debut CD from the progressive symphonic rock band TILES. They have released two CDs after this one, and both of them are very impressive and so is this debut. The band sounds so professional and they are playing with a skill and confidence not often heard on debut CDs. Even the production is very professional for being an independent release. The album has a very clear sound. Their music is reminiscent to DREAM THEATER, GALAHAD, QUEENSRYCHE, RUSH, SAGA, TRIUMPH and YES. It's very melodic yet technically brilliant. The guitarist Chris Herin sounds like Alex Lifeson of RUSH and the vocalist is great. My favorite tracks are "Analysis Paralysis", the marvelous "Token Pledge", "Bridges of Grace", "Dancing Dogs", "Scattergram" and "Dress Rehearsal" that are very complex. This is a wonderful album that is a pride in every record collection. Definitely worth checking out!

Does Rush knows about this band?

They should at least listening to it. Tiles is a band that I cherish a lot. A lot. Finding them was for me the biggest musical treat of the past year. No kidding, they are witty, skilled but at the same time there's such a simplicity and a heart warming formula that immediately striked me. Okay, their main influence is Rush, but they do as well in many ways.

With Rush, Tiles shares good guitar solos, drums fills and high perched vocals. But Tiles is more constant in their albums. The last 5 of Rush studio albums are packed with by- product filler, leaving a terrible aftertaste of half-assed product. Yes, the best years of Rush are far, far behind...

But the best years of Tiles are right now. Their albums shares all a same taste for the late 70's sound, with minimal approach and raw textures. This is what I like the most: the power chords, the big toms crescendos and the simple, unelaborated vocals. The fact that they're backed by Terry Brown and Hugh Syme is the icing on the cake, but it really gels in the long run.

This album is the roots of Tiles. Kinda of a ragged road, with bumps and mistakes, but in the end many (but kinda alike) good songs are breaking the ice.

When influences are well channelled, like here, sounding like your heroes is not a sin. You simply take back the torch and continue the legacy.

Give other Tiles album a chance. This is a band to discover.

Rush is a tricky band to emulate. Tiles does it properly and with originality by carrying on in Rush's harder-edged footsteps without trying to replicate them. This American foursome (the bassist guests) is a good group on their own merit with Chris Herin in charge, dropping some top-notch guitar riffs and cool licks in the chorus footpedal-drenched school of Alex Lifeson, and a bit of heavy metal for flavor. The rhythm section aint bad either and are very tight if a bit lackluster; Mark Evans on drums and Kevin Chown's bass. Paul Rarick's voice doesn't make a big impression, but then neither do many singers in rock.

The first cut, 'Analysis Paralysis', has a neat middle section but, sporting Rarick's high nasal whine, could have been put at the end or tossed all together and doesn't contribute much to the record. It's the follower 'Token Pledge' that brings the fire to the party, a classic hard-progger with killer playing and a toned-down vocal performance. 'Retrospect' is a pastoral acoustic guitar solo, 'Trading Places' and 'Bridges of Grace' are pop ditties that echo an early Boston sound, 'Dancing Dogs' and 'Scattergram' both return to a Rush palette circa mid-1980s, and 'Dress Rehersal' flat out rocks with chunkiness and slippery playing from Herin. The ballady 'Supply and Demand' finishes and the rest are bonus tracks of varying quality.

Not a a great album, not a bad one, just some honest, heavy prog rock from worthy musicians.

I would rate this album behind "Fence The Clear" and "Presents Of Mind" but ahead of "Window Dressing". This is where it all started for TILES and yes I was reminded of RUSH several times. I also felt they had a similar sound to ENCHANT, a light Metal or heavy Neo flavour.

"Analysis Paralysis" opens with riffs before strummed guitar and vocals come in. This contrast continues. Kind of catchy. "Token Pledge" is darker with a nice guitar melody throughout. It sounds great 5 minutes in as it gets rather heavy. "Retrospect" is an instrumental featuring beautifully played acoustic guitar. "Trading Places" has a cool guitar melody throughout. There is a nice soaring guitar solo 2 1/2 minutes in.

"Bridges Of Grace" is one of my two favourites along with "Dress Rehearsal". The heavier passages remind me of RUSH. "Dancing Dogs" has a very RUSH-like intro that comes and goes. "Scattergram" is almost a semi- ballad.This is a mid-paced tune with relaxing guitar. "Dress Rehearsal" is more aggressive and again very RUSH-like. "Supply And Demand" is a good mid-paced tune with a lot of tempo shifts. I don't like the ending where they are singing into an answering machine.

An enjoyable listen but there's not enough here to give it 4 stars in my opinion.

"Tiles" is the self-titled debut full-length studio album by US, Detroit, Michigan, based progressive rock act Tiles. The album was released through Standing Pavement Recordings/Dream Circle in May 1994.

The music on the album is very influenced by mid nineties Rush. It´s not only due to the way the instrumental part of the music sounds but also because lead vocalist Paul Rarick has a voice that is very similar in style to the voice of Geddy Lee (Rush). The music also features a lot of hard rock elements, which can be heard in a track like "Token Pledge". The musicianship on the album is generally on a very high level and that is one of the biggest assets of the album. The quality of the material is a bit up and down and there´s little here that really makes my blood boil. It´s still an enjoyable and consistent album though.

"Tiles" is a decent debut by the band, but it´s fairly standard when talking of the quality of the sound production and the material and I´d say a 3 star (60%) rating isn´t all wrong.