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KLAATU "Hope" (Prog Related, 1977) by Marty McFly
Madman is eccentric song that reminds me some of these half nice, half weird bands of early 70's. Ends quickly however and I don't complain, because the main attraction is still ahead of us. Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome Around the Universe In Eighty Days, slowly built symphonic with touch of electronic synthesizers later on. Sets the definitive mood of this album. Long Live Politzania with intro in classical style (synth) with overacted spoken vocals, well then providing electronic singing instead, they're not so nice (can stand very well this part), but this song is long enough to cure its mistakes. What it is, romanticism ? Renaissance maybe. And wait for interesting choir in the end
Symphonic orchestra as main element here is something I always like (well, mostly).
The Loneliest of Creatures is nice again, let's just wait for their vocal work.
Prelude isn't normal prelude you would except. It's a song that can live on its own
and still be of interest to let's say The Enid lovers, but in this concept work, it's important
song. So Said The Lighthouse Keeper is realization of some kind. Yes, I can hear
words, I can understand what he's singing, but not what he's singing about, the meaning is
still slipping out of my mind, sadly. But I hope I'll like it even more and will take this
challenge to understand story behind this album by myself. It will be great reward after all.
This slowly roaming motif that wanders through most of tracks here is finally fully realized,
in the ending part of this song. Glimpses of this act has been seen before, but it's complete
now. What can then Hope offer ? Something little bit different, even more
bombastic (theatrical to be honest) ending with dreamy backing vocals and optimistic
atmosphere, which fully corresponds with its name, HOPE. 5(+), this is Prog Related ? Oh, I wish all of them were like this one, nice, symphonic.
by Marty McFly
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La Diputación de Albacete concede una subvención de 50.000 euros en concepto de ayuda a deporte y cultura a la empresa que construye los helicópteros de guerra Tigre
NEGURA BUNGET - Maiestrit (Tech/Extreme Prog Metal, 2010)
Track listing:
1. Vremea Locului Sortit (7:38)
2. În-Zvîcnirea Apusului (12:03)
3. A-Vînt în Abis (6:14)
4. Al Locului (10:26)
5. Bruiestru (9:45)
6. Plecaciunea Mortii (11:12)
7. A-Vînt în Abis (Acoustic Version) (8:22)
8. Plecaciunea Mortii (Acoustic Version) (9:45)
Total Time 75:25
Releases informations
Full-length released by Lupus Lounge/Prophecy on the 15th of March 2010
Re-intepretation of the "Maiastru Sfetnic" album. This record contains the last
studio recordings of the classic line-up (Hupogrammos, Sol Faur, Negru). The
album is complemented by previously unreleased acoustic versions of 'A-vint In
Abis' and 'Plecaciunea Mortii'.
Regular edition released as digipack cd.
Also released as deluxe artbook edition, strictly limited to 1000 copies.
Credits
- Hupogrammos Discipl's / Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards, Tulnic, Nai
- Sol'Faur Spurcatu / Guitars
- Negru / Drums, Percussions, Xylophone
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NEGURA BUNGET - Virstele Pamintului (Tech/Extreme Prog Metal, 2010)
Track listing:
1. Pamint (6:58)
2. Dacia Hiperboreana (8:52)
3. Umbra (3:31)
4. Ochiul Inimii (8:04)
5. Chei De Roua (5:51)
6. Tara De Dincolo De Negura (5:54)
7. Jar (4:29)
8. Arborele Lumii (7:37)
9. Intoarcerea Amurgului (8:21)
Total Time 59:37
Releases informations
Full-length released by Aural Music/Code 666 on the 5th of March 2010
Released by code666 Records in a special limited edition - handmade woodbox, roped and filled with the very earth of the place it comes from.
Credits
- Corb / Vocals, Guitars, Tulnic
- Spin / Guitars
- Gadinet / Bass, Pipes
- Inia Dinia / Keyboards
- aGer (Ageru Pamântului) / Percussion, Xylophone, Pipes, Vocals
- Negru (Gabriel Mafa) / Drums, Percussion, Folk Instruments
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MAGNUS, NICK - Children Of Another God (Symphonic Prog, 2010)
Track listing:
Children Of Another God
Doctor Prometheus
Twenty Summers
Identity Theft
The Colony Is King
Crimewave Monkeys
The Others
Babel Tower
Howl The Stars Down
Releases informations
Credits
- Nick Magnus /
Guests:
- Steve Hackett /
- John Hackett /
- Pete Hicks (former Steve Hackett Band vocalist) /
- Tony Patterson (ReGenesis vocalist) /
- Linda John-Pierre /
- Andy Neve /
- Glenn Tollett (formerly of The Enid) /
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CRYSTAL PALACE - Reset (Neo-Prog, 2010)
Track listing:
1. The Darkest Hour (12:46)
2. Sons of God (8:50)
3. The Human Stain (6:38)
4. Drowning on Dry Land (4:10)
5. Distant Shores (4:42)
6. Damaged Goods (8:04)
7. Break My Wings (9:52)
8. Cinescope Dreams (5:56)
Total time 61:02
Releases informations
Credits
- Jürgen Hegner / guitars
- Frank Köhler / keyboards
- Feliks Weber / drums
- Jens Uwe Strutz / vocals, bass
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SICMONIC - Somnambulist (Tech/Extreme Prog Metal, 2010)
Track listing:
1. To The Fiendz (5:19)
2. Till The Morning Light (7:11)
3. Somnambulist (3:14)
4. Illumination (7:32)
5. Of Blood And Grace (6:30)
6. Requiem (4:14)
7. Oxygen (4:21)
8. No Conscience (4:59)
9. Just How Far Down Do You Want To Go? (5:25)
10. Paradiseum (4:39)
11. Acid Epiphanies (4:35)
12. Fist To Throat (3:38)
13. Seven Inches Deep (4:31)
14. Hypnotic (5:05)
15. Devil Went Down To Georgia (3:33)
Total Time 74:46
Releases informations
Released: 28th of February 2010
Label: Aural Music
Credits
- Taylor Hession / vocals
- Robert Warren / guitar
- Ray Goodwin / guitar, violin
- Jason Williams / bass
- Douglas Berry / drums
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COBHAM, BILLY - Palindrome (Jazz Rock/Fusion, 2010)
Track listing:
1. Moon Germs 6:02
2. Two For Juan 9:37
3. Obliquely Speaking 6:16
4. Isle Of Skye 7:18
5. A Days Grace 8:11
6. Mirage 7:36
7. Cancun Market 8:22
8. Torpedo Flo 8:28
9. Alfa Waves 6:49
10. Saippuakivikauppias 7:21
Releases informations
CD: BHM 1044-2 (ZYX) ,Switzerland
Credits
Bill Cobham - drums
Ernie Watts - woodwinds
Michael Rodriguez -trumpet
Marshall Gilkes - trombone
Jean-Mary Ecay and Dean Brown - guitars
Philippe Chayeb - bass
Wilber Jr. Gill - steel pan and PanKat
Christophe Cravero - keyboards and violin
Marco Lobo - percussion
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PORCUPINE TREE - Anesthetize (Heavy Prog, 2010)
Track listing:
Disc 1:
1. Fear of a Blank Planet
2. My Ashes
3. Anesthetize
4. Sentimental
5. Way Out of Here
6. Sleep Together
7. Normal
8. Stars Die
9. Open Car
10. What Happens Now?
11. Wedding Nails
12. Dark Matter
13. Half-Light
14. Sever
15. Blackest Eyes
16. Sleep of No Dreaming
17. Halo
Disc 2:
1. Normal
2. Drown With Me
3. Stars Die
4. Cheating the Polygraph
5. Anesthetize
6. Prodigal
7. Wedding Nails
8. Strip the Soul
9. .3
10. Half-Light
11. Sever
12. Way Out of Here
13. Sleep Together
14. Fear of a Blank Planet
15. Trains
16. Sleep of No Dreaming
17. Halo
Releases informations
Porcupine Tree's new live film is approaching completion and a special edition will be available in April, with a regular version to follow in May. Anesthetize was filmed live over 2 nights in Tilburg, The Netherlands in October 2008, at the end of the Fear of a Blank Planet tour. The 130 minute live film includes a complete performance of the Blank Planet album and 11 other tracks, and was directed and edited by Lasse Hoile on high definition cameras, with the soundtrack mixed into stereo and 5.1 sound.
Credits
- Steven Wilson / vocals, guitar, piano
- Richard Barbieri / keyboards, synthesizer
- Colin Edwin / bass guitar
- Gavin Harrison / drums
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EFTERKLANG - Magic Chairs (Post Rock/Math rock, 2010)
Track listing:
1. Modern Drift (4:53)
2. Alike (4:11)
3. I Was Playing Drums (5:13)
4. Raincoats (4:20)
5. Harmonics (4:05)
6. Full Moon (3:48)
7. The Soft Beating (4:13)
8. Scandinavian Love (3:53)
9. Mirror Mirror (5:44)
10. Natural Tune (3:26)
Total Time 43:00
Vinyl Bonus track:
11. The Dream In Which I Flee (4:01)
Releases informations
Release Date: February 22 & 23
Label: 4AD
CD & LP format
Produced by Gareth Jones og Mads Brauer
Artwork created by Hvass&Hannibal
Credits
- Casper Clausen / vocals, keyboard, guitar
- Mads Brauer / electronics, flute
- Thomas Husmer / drums, percussion, trumpet
- Rasmus Stolberg / bass, guitar
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ALCEST - Écailles de lune (Experimental/Post Metal, 2010)
Track listing:
1. Écailles De Lune (part I) (9:52)
2. Écailles De Lune (part II) (9:48)
3. Percées de Lumière (6:38)
4. Abysses (1:47)
5. Solar Song (5:24)
6. Sur L'Océan Couleur de Fer (8:18)
Total Time 41:47
Releases informations
Released on the 29th of March 2010 through Prophecy Productions.
The album will be released as standard jewelcase CD, limited Digibook CD,
limited box set (incl. Digibook CD, wallflag, and set of postcards; lim 1.000),
and limited gatefold LP (incl. poster and available in two editions: "classic
edition" (black vinyl, lim. 500) and "deep sea edition" (blue vinyl, lim. 500)).
Credits
- Neige / All instruments and vocals, composition, lyrics, recording
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WE ALL INHERIT THE MOON - 13-song cd (Post Rock/Math rock, 2010)
Track listing:
1. Part I
2. Part II
3. Part III
4. Part IV
5. Part V
6. Our Hearts, Forever Like The Sun. Part I
7. Our Hearts, Forever Like The Sun. Part II
8. .And Ever. Part I
9. .And Ever. Part II
10. .And Ever. Part III
11. When We Finally Fall Asleep. Part I
12. When We Finally Fall Asleep. Part II
13. When We Finally Fall Asleep. Part III
Releases informations
8086 code / futurerecordings 2010
Credits
- Adam / guitars,piano,drums
- Leah / piano,synthesizers,bells
- Kyle / guitars,piano,electronics
- Quinn / guitars
- Gordon / cello,string arrangments
- Jordan / analog sound capturing
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OFFENBACH "Saint-Chrone de Néant" (Prog Related, 1973) by Sean Trane
Named after a dubious play on words about Synchronization, Saint-Chrone De Neant is a rock mass, a bit like the Electric Prunes recorded back in 68 and Os Mundi will do the following year (73) in Berlin. The album was recorded live, Nov 30 in front of 3000 spectators inside the Basilique and another 2000 that couldn't get inside and were probably freezing their nuts off. (This writer would land a three months later in Montreal for his North Americans adventures). Those reading me for a while know that although fiercely atheist with a slight pagan side for provocation purposes, you should think that I would hate such a concept, bit from the EP, OM or Offenbach. Well guess again, the churches allowed many liberties during and outside the mass throughout that magic 70's decade. Don't get me wrong here: I'm not a huge fan either of such projects (that included a large choir in this case and the church organ), but it makes for pleasant listen if taken lightly and the group is talented enough to carry it out with credibility. Despite this project being Harel's baby, Gerry boulet and guitarist Gravel contribute quite a bit to the compositions
One of the reasons behind this successful but risky concept is that the Baslique's excellent aural capacities were used to full effect (the drums sound is absolutely perfect), and after a 5-mins Chaconne (from Couperin) played on the church organ by group buddy Asselin, the group launches slowly in an 11-mins Pax Vobiscum with a lengthy Hammond intro, slowly segueing to choirs under the demented drum rolls of Belval and ending in a cheesy church theme, aimed at softening the heart and the wallet's leather of the Christians fidels. The payers and religious monologue are not the most entertaining, but they're short enough, in three languages (Latin, French and English) and are always good for a laugh, or at least a chuckle. The mass goes on with many instrumental passages that allow for solos and individual bravura moments and many joys, much more than the few cringing more religious moments, making me wonder if and how much the clergy agreed. Fils De Lumière has an Ange dramatic and sonic quality with a tad of Sabbath in the guitar/bass/drum ending. After the "normal" mass, the group was called back for an encore and played Peanut (from the Bulldozer project) and the crowd requesting more, Rirolarma (pun intended >> laughing to tears) and J'me Pousse were performed, the latter despite a failing PA system, as you'll hear,
This "amazing" album gave Offenbach a push for an international career that very few
Quebecois rock group would have (not speaking of singer/songwriter or divas, here) and
they would head for Europe for the next two years, not even waiting for Bulldozer to finally
gets its release. The group will play on until the mid-80's; which unique in Quebecois prog
groups, although by then, there wasn't much prog left in the sound. This reissue will
probably solve many Christian progheads about their Sunday morning choice of music.
They might want to alternate it with Os Mundi and Electric prunes. Certainly worth throwing
an, ear on it, but I'm sure this will be close to an essential piece on your shelves? it
certainly is in regards to Quebec's prog boom.
by Sean Trane
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Las FARC bombardean Ecuador
OPETH "My Arms, Your Hearse" (Tech/Extreme Prog Metal, 1998) by Conor Fynes
Following their flawed masterpiece 'Morningrise,' Opeth decides to turn up the brutality and heaviness a notch with this album, as well as introduce the idea of 'concept albums' into the bands catalogue. As a running song cycle without breaks, this became the first album they ever released that let the whole compliment the parts, so to speak.
The first thing one might notice by listening is the great improvement in production quality. While certainly not up to par with the Wilson production era starting with 'Blackwater Park,' theres a very audible development. The traditional formula (heavy/soft passages) Opeth has become known for is still here, albeit in less balance than usual but if you have heard an Opeth album before, there isn't going to be anything here that sounds out of the ordinary.
'My Arms, Your Hearse' was the last Opeth album I bought before I completed my discography, and even though it's nowhere near their greatest, it somehow feels like their most consistent effort to date. 'Demon Of The Fall' seems a fair contender as the highlight track, but aside from that, everything balances out a rather uncompromised level of quality; a feat for any album on it's own.
The predecessor to Opeth's first perfect album 'Still Life,' 'My Arms Your Hearse' shows Opeth experimenting with a binding narrative that would later be improved on with the next. In terms of lyrics, Mikael Akerfeldt weaves together a story that fits the music very well, although it isn't quite as engrossing or effective as the story in 'Still Life,' it helps to tie the album together. More or less, the story revolves around the spirit of a man who died looking down on the woman he loves and being dismayed that she does not grieve for him. However, it is later revealed that her love has blinded her to the reality that he has in fact died, and is therefore in a state of denial. It's a very simple concept, but Akerfeldt works both his music and lyrics to maximize the dramatic effect.
'My Arms, Your Hearse' is probably the Opeth album I've listened to the least overall, and while it has it's share of faults and problems, this is an excellent album and things would only get better as time went on for this brilliant band. A great example of what a four star album should look like.
by Conor Fynes
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Telebista eta Internet
IRON MAIDEN "Edward the Great" (Prog Related, 2002) by R-A-N-M-A
Edward the Great has a lot of well known songs by Iron Maiden. Some of them really do a good job of
showing how cool a band Maiden could be, like Run to the Hills and the Number of the Beast. The
album as a whole though I found pretty boring. So much of what I heard simply sounded the same. I
think that is the great weakness of compilations, you really aren't hearing the work as the artists
themselves intended. Rather, just what some record exec felt were some well received tracks. PA has
a lot of well reviewed albums by Iron Maiden, and I think I will check them out some day. Edward the
Great has however turned me off of Maiden and it'll take some time to recover from that. There is so
much else out there that is worth my time and yours. I don't think anyone should waste their time
with Edward the Great. I wouldn't even suggest it to a completionist, because they'd have no use for
a best of comprised entirely of singles.
by R-A-N-M-A
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OMAR RODRIGUEZ-LOPEZ "Despair" (Heavy Prog, 2009) by Marty McFly
This is dark, but dark as void. Cold, but as empty tomb, where you're not enjoying the fun, because it fails to terrify you. This ain't progression, nor experimentation, because this is just circling around one tone. Let me state that all tracks sounds basically the same. And I don't mean that they are let's say all symphonic, or all upbeat (like "the same" when talking about other albums), but they're alike. There's no difference between them and it's quite sad. This album doesn't provide anything interesting, not even for fans. Who would enjoy this after all, except those who likes to suffer from terrible sound. Again, I don't mean terrible as in Extreme/Death Metal, because EDM can be quite interesting and some may see perfection in it, something that even I can understand (and sometimes see myself). But this is blasphemy. Trap for bold listeners, who venture to explore new realms of prog, only to find this ugly, abandoned, one eyed, filled with body tumors and crippled child that haunts waters of "Prog" label it carry because of other albums.
1(-), because this is absolute opposite of what I can like. Or enjoy. Or consider interesting.
Or Proggy. Or even listenable.
by Marty McFly
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ALASEHIR "Sharing The Sacred" (Psychedelic/Space Rock, 2006) by DamoXt7942
Wait a moment, guess everyone may emphasize their heavy, dark, depressive noise shower but again ask myself what their musical key element is? Hmm, not heaviness, not darkness, nor depression (!) ... sure that silkily ethnic (especially Indo or Oriental) touch, they can shoot glimpse of which, should be the core of ALASEHIR. Suppose you may think it's quite the opposite ... indeed, their heaviness, darkness, distortion, depression previously mentioned are very powerful and aggressive for almost all of listeners. However believe me they are not simply a heavy metal outfit but of extreme psychedelia magnified with their Oriental soundscape. Of course, NOT only electric sitar solo in the third track Seven Tongues can let me mention so. Through the whole Sharing The Sacred, we can hear their delicate (but enjoyable for them) sound proceeding, over their complex (namely not simply heavy) and underground sounds flung against us.
Maybe cannot realize the silky touch without analytic listening but we can enjoy their
heavy-dark-depressive sounds, not as a stoner progressive rock outfit but simple stoner rock one.
Not on the mainstream so I cannot recommend ALASEHIR to all psychedelic progressive rock fans (and
can give only two stars) but highly to all stoner rock fans, including me!
by DamoXt7942
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MR. BUNGLE "Disco Volante" (RIO/Avant-Prog, 1995) by JLocke
Okay, so I realize there is a lack of RIO/Avant-Prog reviews from me on this site, so I've been recently trying to remedy that. And in my opinion, one cannot claim to be a fan of this type of music and not mention Mr. Bungle at some point. This band did so much to push this style of music forward in the 90s, and many people still claim that this is their favorite band. The music from Mr. Bungle, especially on this album, is not for the feint of heart. Nothing on this release is even remotely easy to digest, but once you allow yourself to escape into the brilliant, otherworldly goofiness that is Disco Volante, there is plenty to enjoy.
Mike Patton the person is a hard one to figure out. He acts at times like he is a genuinely nice guy, while at other times seems to be a huge jerk. Perhaps this dichotomy of a personality is part of what makes Mike Patton the musician so damned brilliant! He's been involved in so many musical projects over the years, and yet this particular musical act, that has of now only released three full-length albums, still stays with people much more than some of Patton's more publicly-accepted works. I think that says quite a lot about the power behind the content, here. It won't be for everybody, but the few who do enjoy it, for whatever reason we do, it's quite worth listening to.
Some people say this stuff is excruciating to listen to. Well, in some ways, it is. But let us not forget that this type of music is not meant to sound like the way music is typically viewed. Instead, this approach to music-making evokes a much more primal, personal side to our emotions. Visual thinking is much more present than audible thinking. Instant shifts in mood, sudden jolts of noise from the side of you (most effective when experienced through headphones!), disturbing, unsettling moments paired with some of the funniest, goofiest stuff I've ever heard on record. It just has to be heard to be believed. None of this should be a problem for you if you understand what this style of music is all about. Don't go into a record like this expecting anything conventional or initially pleasing to the ear, because chances are, in this sub-genre, that won't happen very often. And on a Mr. Bungle record in particular, you can bet that a slightly unsettling listen is in store.
Now please don't read up to this point and assume that Disco Volante is nothing but noise, random silliness and jump- scares. That stuff IS present, as already mentioned, however along with it are some truly strong orchestrations. Yes, they do actually play musical instruments on this album, as well. Not all the time, but when a more 'traditional' song does show up, it's almost always an absolute joy to hear. Much of these more recognizable musical movements are heavily rooted in extreme Metal territory, and probably won't appeal to you unless you already have an affection for that style. Having said all of this, I do think the mixture of doom-ridden, massive soundscapes and the more straightforward moments of music creates a comforting balance between the darkness and light; the sane and insane; the pleasant and the unpleasant; the content and the disturbed. Again, you cannot expect to get into this without completely setting aside anything you previously conceived as acceptable music. You just have to go witht he flow and allow it to take you into the dark, often unsettling territory. The experience of emerging unscathed on the other side once the album is finished is one of the most rewarding feelings I've ever had in my music-listening life.
My favorite songs on the whole things are ''Carry Stress in the Jaw'', ''The Bends'', ''Backstrokin''', ''Platypus'' and ''Merry Go Bye Bye''. While I did mention earlier the significant Metal influences, aside from that there are also some heavy traces of Avant-Garde Jazz and old school Doo Wop. The combination is strange indeed, and when all of these seemingly unrelated genres are integrated into all the noise and random, nonsensical dialogue present on Disco Volante, it certainly makes for one of the more difficult listens you may ever experience. At least first. But as I say, as long as you push yourself to enter the grimy darkness (which is quite heavily present, here), coming out clean on the other side makes it all worth it, and you then realize what an incredible album this truly is.
Patton's vocal abilities make this album what it is,without a doubt. He spastically jumps in-and-out of character, portraying an entire cast of unrelated, incredibly diverse characters. In addition to those moments, when the music valls for it, his singing style adapts to every single genre present on the album at one point or another. One minute he's smoothly carrying on like a 50s lounge singer, and the next he's showing the listener's ears with some truly brutal and effect death growls for the Metal movements. He can do it all, it seems, and on a record like this, the singer being as diverse as this is really the only way vocals could have been pulled off, at all. Some would say this type of music would be impossible to align with vocals, but Mike Patton proves that it can indeed be done, at least as long as he is involved.
Once the whole experience is over, as shaken and unsure of what you just heard you may be, there is a very high chance you're going to want to dive back into that mystery world once again, and that is absolutely saying something. You might think yourself mad for liking this stuff at first, but you can also be proud for sticking it out and aligning yourself to this album's mindset (if an album even has one of those). If you don't dig this type of stuff, you're going to absolutely hate it, but if you are willing to look at music from a completely different perspective and expect different things from it, you're going to appreciate Disco Volante so much more. It's certainly not an album I would recommend to everyone, but at the same time . . . it's got to be listened to. Either way you feel about this, you'll be breathing a heavy sigh of relief once it's over. For some of us, however, at that point, the fun has only just begun.
Long live Mr. Bungle.
by JLocke
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