WHEN PUS COMES TO SHOVE

Loud, choppy, punchy and very tasty all the way 'round. For those who love The LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT and SPOCK'S BEARD will drool over PLATYPUS. PLATYPUS is Rod Morgenstein on Drums (DIXIE DREGS), Ty Tabor on Guitars & Vocals (KING X), Derek SHERINIAN on Keyboards (DREAM THEATER) and John Myung on Bass (DREAM THEATER). PLATYPUS is driving somewhere between the Progressive and Classic Rock genre without ever sounding "Prog-metallish" or overcooked. The Music is very well composed and offers both soft and loud moments with many wild, wicked and complex guitar breakouts, drumming frenzies and keyboard runs. In many ways this has a strong affinity to the music of the DIXIE DREGS with perhaps a harder edge. PLATYPUS is enormous, bold and true sounding offering some incredible and tenacious musical interludes.

When this album came out in 1999, I was so curious to see how the combination of work among these musicians would sound like: an acrobatic drummer Rod Morgenstein (Dixie Dregs), a talented bass guitar player John Myung (Dream Theater) and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater). By the time I did not know about Ty Tabor. For Myung and Sherinian of course we all know well in DT. The first spin, especially first track, made me confused about the music as probably I was expecting something truly prog that I could not get it immediately. Then I tried couple spins and removing my expectation of being prog or not, just enjoyed the music. And this is my view about this album .

"Standing In Line" is a straight forward hard rock song composed in relatively fast speed with a high driving rhythm section dominated by Sherinian's keyboard's work . Great guitar work: as rhythm section or solo that accompanies vocal line. It's an uplifting mood track especially when guitar takes its short solo in the middle of the song; with some flavor of southern rock. You would presumably need this track to elevate your emotion when gearing up to work or feeling down . or that sort of thing, basically. It's rocking the world man!

"Nothing To Say" offers a kind of break after hearing a rocking track. It's a mellow track with a blues based rhythm section characterized by bass guitar and guitar work. Keyboard fills in beautifully in this track. The song reminds me to the classic rock tunes of the 70s, composed with a modern sound. Ty Tabor sings nicely in classic rock style.

"Rock Balls / Destination Unknown" is opened with a dazzling drum work by Rod Morgenstein. Oh . what a wonderful opening piece man! It's an acrobatic drumming, I guess. It continues with a duo sounds play the same notes from guitar and guitar.There are a lot of short drum solo in transition segments between guitar and keyboard solo. Myung's bass guitar work plays dominant role as rhythm section. The song has some tempo changes as well as transition to quieter passages. The long sustain guitar solo is stunning. This track is excellent!

"Platt Opus" opens smoothly with a piano touch followed with full music led by keyboard / piano with some classical music influence. The intertwining sounds between guitar, bass guitar and keyboard is wonderful. The drum beats indicate the jazz influence for this track. Again, Ty Tabor demonstrates his great long sustain guitar solo augmented with piano and acrobatic drumming. Rod, you did a great job in this record! I really enjoy the drumming solo performed long enough in the transition pieces!

"I'm With You"'s rhythm section is characterized by organ/keyboard and guitar as main rhythm section. When voice line enters, the organ and guitar forms a soft riffs that later is augmented with dynamic drum work. Guitar solo is stunning. This song is blues based and it revolves around the seventies rock music - classic rock. The organ solo that appears at the end of the song is excellent!

"Blue Plate Special" is rather a jazz-fusion kind of song with great combination of keyboard and guitar works performed in a medium tempo. The music flows in relatively flat manner where there are minimum high and low points. But still . it's an enjoyable track.

"Chimes" starts with a nice piano solo followed with bass and keyboard work in mellow style. It's a jazz influenced track. Drums only involved at the end of the track. Nothing special about this track - for my personal taste; it's too flat, I think.

The music returns back to an upbeat tempo mood with "Willie Brown" which actually is a blues rock music with guitar as main rhythm augmented with piano work. The singing style is excellent. Starting in the middle of the track onwards, the music gives a stunning keyboard solo with a sudden tempo change into a faster style featuring guitar solo. It's a rocking style! It reminds me to the 70's blues rock band like Led Zeppelin. One of my favorite tracks.

"Bye Bye" is a mellow track in a blues rock style; the guitar work reminds me to bands like Bad Company. The long sustain guitar solo by Ty in the middle of the track has enriched the texture of this track.

"What About The Merch?" is an uplifting song that reminds me to the music of Beck, Appice and Bogart in the seventies. Yeah, I think the intro part reminds me to the song "Superstition" performed live by the trio sometimes dated back in the 70s. But this track is purely instrumental one with a great harmony of multiple solos: guitar, organ / clavinet augmented with dynamic drumming and great bass line. It's a very enjoyable track, especially if you appreciate the classic rock music.

Overall, I would rate this album with a 3.5 stars. Some tracks are truly excellent ones. But on musicianship, they are all great musicians! I do enjoy this album very much. - Keep on rocking! Keep on progging!

Yours progressively

GW - Indonesia

Note:

I was triggered to write this review in relation to John Myung's appearance in Jakarta for YAMAHA Bass Clinic in 25 Feb 2005 and ASIAN BEAT 2004 Grand Final Asia in 26 Feb 2005 where Mr. Myung will be one of the judges. Well, I cannot wait to see one of my favorite bass player! This is the second time Myung visit Indonesia. Yeah, I will be there, Mr. Myung! The proceeds of the ticket sales will be donated for Tsunami victims in Aceh, Indonesia. Hey c'mon prog heads; I haven't heard any of you are planning to do a concert for tsunami in my country. How come? A lot of international jazz/ pop artists (James Brown, Incognito, Jeff Lorber, George Duke, etc. etc.) will do a charity concert in Jakarta for three days in a row, March 2005. What about prog man??? How prog are you?

When you put together one of the best drummers of the last 30 years, one of the most impressive bass players of the last 20 years, one heavy and aggressive keyboard player and one very good but average guitar player, what's the result? Platypus, an unexpected side project and pretty hard to describe but the music at the end worth the listening, for sure.

I've seen other reviews and my theory gets confirmed. This is maybe the most overlooked side project from DT members. I think the problem is that the music style at the end doesn't sound like The Dixie Dregs or Dream Theater or even Planet X, it sounds more close to King X alternative prog style. Well, that's more evident in their second album. In this particular one, there are a lot more jazzy progressive elements but the focus are the catchy songs and the light side of things.

You can trust on the quality and technique of the musicians for sure, the performance is impressive and in a total control of basically, everything. Now, while in this album the instrumental and prominently progressive songs are quite good, I think the most pleasing "progress" in this side project is the alternative side of songs. Hearing Rod Morgenstein playing alternative rock is quite a delight, while the vocals of Ty made the album very catchy and fresh. Nothing to say about Myung who, in contrary to what many people said all the time, I always feel that Myung gives the right doses of power and strength and I insist, the bass doesn't have to be in front of the mix all the time. He did a great job and we all know that he is capable to play fast as any and be very moody and dark when he wants to. Sherinian, while I admire his solo career and side projects, I think in some of the songs he got too much, too heavy and too loud for the style of the songs. When he lies back a little he makes a better job, like in songs like NOTHING TO SAY and I'M WITH YOU.

I found the album quite interesting, sometimes getting very jazzy, maybe too much and sometimes keeping things very brief and easy in a very alternative way. I think it's kind of difficult if this kind of diversity is good or if would be better to have less different songs. I'm not sure. I'm sure that I'm enjoying this album because it's a rare approach from what you can expect of these impressive musicians.

Prog rock is about experimenting with different tastes and sounds. Well, here is your chance to hear something very nice and different. I think any Porcupine Tree/Dredg/King X fan could like this a lot. 3.5 stars. It's a good album, maybe not essential, but it's pretty good and you can be sure to enjoy the music, which is what music is about.