EARTH MEET WORLD / EX PROJECTED TWIN

Right off the bat, I can say this album is not as strong. That is a good thing because the second should be stronger, right? This album starts out with a few songs that sound very alternative, almost like Incubus. I know this artist has a huge crush on Brandon Boyd of Incubus, and I'm sure he takes much influence. That's not a bad thing. In retrospect, this band could almost be called a progressive form of Incubus.

After the more alternative opening songs, this album gets really good. There are plenty of spacey and eerie moments, and some great vocal sparring between male and female voices. In other words, the second part of this album is truly a prog album I recommend this highly, especially as a prelude to the stunning second album.

This album is nothing if not fantastic. Composer/vocalist Shaun Holton has quite a way with words, and his voice is heavenly! The way that he arranges the vox is stunning, to say the least. This album comes together so well, as the instruments combine to form something greater than the some of its parts. This is not a technical album. It is a melodic atmospheric journey complete with a funky storm at the very end. Sure, the album gets slightly heavy at times, but that isn't the point. Much care and effort was put into achieving a great vibe and making this a "pretty" album.

The high points of this album are "You Threw the Stone" and "The Ritual". The very first track is stunning, as it features a great song structure and some jaw-dropping moments. Those kinds of moments are scattered rather liberally throughout the album. "Pain of Promise" and "This Cannot Mend" are also winners. Overall, however, all of the tracks are special. If you like progressive rock, do yourself a favor and listen to this creative and beautiful album.