ALWAYS ALMOST

This is not an Echolyn release. After the band closed the shop doors, Bassist/singer Ray Weston, Guitarist/singer Brett Kull and Drummer Paul Ramsey formed Still and changed direction from Prog to a more rock format. Some keyboards do make appearances. John Avarese plays some piano, mellotron and accordion on a few tracks. In addition to accordian; lap steel, banjo, harmonica, and dirty buckets are featured instruments. Not your normal Echolyn staples, except the lap steel, which they used sparingly on other releases.

The opener, "Strongman" reminds me of Alice in Chains. Kinda grungy with annoying fuzz vocals. I've always hated that effect. Know it No comes off with a 70's rock vibe, but does feature a slightly prog styled bridge that hearkens to Echolyn earlier efforts. Poor Bug has more of that horrid vocal treatment, but has a Led Zep feel. The Years They Come could have been on "...and Every Blossom" Echolyn's EP follow up to "Suffocating the Bloom." It's one of my favorite tracks off the album with acoustic guitar and accordian accompaniment. Clearer the End is the dirty bucket percussion tune, some lap steel and really wonderful vocal melodies and a slight country tinge. Loveless has a "When the Leevee Breaks" chord structure. More Led Zep on Purge with a riff that recalls "Nobody's Fault but Mine." Calculated Truth has a sweet bass line and a Middle Eastern vocal motif. The Echolyn sound surfaces on Almost Always with banjo and tamborine and a simple kick drum. The final tune, I Used to Be" is a dirge, very melancholy. Unfortunately someone found it a good idea to slap a little banjo ditty with that 20's megaphone vocals that I find more annoying then interesting.

Overall, it's not that good. A few high points, tunes that could have been included on an Echolyn release. Collectors should have this, it sheds a different light on these performers, but offers little to prog music.