PROG ROCKS! (MAGAZINE SAMPLER)

Anyone who has ever bought the Classic Rock Presents Prog magazine will know that they always include a sampler cd that features fairly new music. It's a good way to check out how some of these new bands sound and of course how the new music from an older band sounds. I'm a big fan of the magazine but as far as rating these samplers goes i've always given 2 or 3 stars. This particular sampler from issue 20 is different. The music on this cd charts "the path of Progressive music from EMI's vaults to Insideout's modern output". It's kind of cool how we are taken on a chronological journey from the legends like TULL, VDGG through to MARILLION and up to RIVERSIDE, BEARDFISH and more.15 songs and hardly an average song among them.This is excellent to say the least.You can actually purchase this compilation, the only thing is that it comes in a 2 disc format with twice as many bands included and of course twice as much music. Man i've really enjoyed this single disc though. I came up with a top five as far as songs go because a top three was too difficult.

Things get started with "Locomotive Breath" from JETHRO TULL and it's taken from the recently re-mixed version that Steven Wilson did.This is followed up by the single version of VDGG's "Refugees" which happens to be a top five for me. Just some incredible lyrics from Hammill and it's so emotional.

Next is BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST's "Galadriel" from "Once Again". What an amazing tune. I'd never heard it before but fell in love with this one quickly. I guess i'd call it an orchestral flavoured ballad. "Castle In The Air" from ELOY is next and this is a top five for me. It's from the "Inside" album one of my favourites from the band. This happens to be the longest track on this sampler too.

HATFIELD AND THE NORTH is up next with "Lounging There Trying" an oustanding instrumental. I don't own the next song from Steve Hackett called "Cell 151" but it's pretty good. "Punch And Judy" from MARILLION is classic stuff. Love Fish's vocals on this one.

THE FLOWER KINGS follow from their "Unfold The Future" record with "Monkey Business", then RIVERSIDE offers up a top five for me with "Conceiving You" and the most emotional track on this sampler for me as well. So good. AYREON is next with "Comotose" from "1011001" then TRANSATLANTIC with a top five in "Overture And Whirlwind". Again this moves me for some reason.Very uplifting.

THE TANGENT's "The Company Car" follows with a relaxing tune then ...AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD follows with "Pure Radio Cosplay".This is the first i've heard this band and I really like this.Killer stuff.

BEARDFISH's "Tightrope" is a top five and a song that melts me (haha).This is from their latest "Mammoth". KARAMKANIC ends it with "Turn It Up" which is pretty good although i'm not a big fan of this band.

A rare 4 stars for me for a sampler but this one is worth it.