SING TO GOD

Let's just get this out in the open: This is probably one of the best albums of the 90s, one of the best progressive albums, and one of the best albums, ever, period. I saw the reviews here on PA and got the album, and almost cried just from the ambition, originality, creativity, and actual PROGRESSIVENESS that the "Cardiacs" display here. This is no Neo-Prog, which tries to return to the days of the old, but instead "Sing To God" takes the old it pushes it forward at about 400 mph. It might be a bit of a culture shock at first, but the Cardiacs actually manage to combine what many think of as musical arch enemies (though I certainly don't): Punk and Prog (Or "Pronk" as it is called sometimes), and instead of just "dumbing down" the prog with the punk as one might think, it takes punkish elements such as fast drums, power chords, and distorted singing (Provided by the great Tim Smith, who sounds a bit like Johnny Rotten, only in tune), and mixes these elements with some very frantic sounding (Even Zappa sounding) melodies. This results in music that can be very much "In you face" and at the same time be very melodic.

The album itself is not a concept album, but more a collection of songs, written by Tim Smith when the band was on a break. Though the unconeptiness of it all, the album achieves a pretty high level of fluidity. And all the songs are great. Not one would I want off this album, and every song is very close to a masterpiece or higher. The first two opening tracks, "Eden On The Air" and "Eat It Up Worms Hero" are not only amazing tracks, but they show the astounding variety of the band's sound. "Eden" is quite beautiful and very weird (In a good way, of course), and "Eat It..." Is the band at its heaviest, and yet very melodic. It is just unexplainable. Other very good tracks are "Insects Hoofs On Lassie", "Fiery Mary Mag", and "Dirty Boy", just to name a VERY select few.

This is probably one of the most rewarding albums in progressive music. I warn anyone who is a bit startled at first listen: It's scary at first. This is far more different than any progressive music I have ever heard, but it's also much more (literally) progressive than anything made after 1974 (Which was King Crimson's "Red", of course). This album will make you want to stand up and cheer, it will make you go through several epiphanies, and just completely melt off your face.

This is album deserve 6/5, but unfortunately there's no such option on PA (Lame!).