New Album Roundup - Spring 2025 (Part 1)
More great new albums! There's been so many new album releases over the past month or so, I couldn't wait to do another rundown of the notable album releases I've been listening to lately. These are all albums that have been released over the past 6 weeks or so (I've listened to more than 30, and these are the best ones) and, once again, there are some real gems here. I'll follow up with another late Spring installment around the end of June (for Part2).
Rocking Horse Music Club - The Last Pink Glow
This latest album (their 3rd) follows after their stunning and monumentally great prog rock opera Circus of Wire Dolls (2022), and this is a worthy successor and a great album on its own. Although this new project, which is based on the writings of Jack Kerouac and his Novella 'A Haunted Life' in particular, lacks the full depth and breadth of that previous masterpiece (with its sprawling scope, style, and numerous guest artists), it nonetheless maintains the beautiful songwriting, exquisite production, and impeccable arrangements and instrumentation throughout. Rocking Horse Music Club is a music collective/collaboration based out of Rocking Horse Recording Studios in New Hampshire, USA, led by primary composer/keyboardist (and studio owner) Brian Coombes. Consisting of 11 tracks and 61 min runtime, the Club has delivered another sumptuous feast of an album. This album takes a bit darker, more brooding tone than the previous album, but also features a variety of musical styles, incorporating prog elements with pop, folk, jazz, and blues to showcase various aspects of Kerouac's writing, and featuring the sweet vocals of Justin Cohn throughout. There's only one guest artist featured on this release, but it is a rare treat, Tony Banks (Genesis) contributes his keyboard sounds and artistry, and shares songwriting credit, on the lovely track A Haunted Life, which has a definite Banksian quality. In fact, multiple songs on the album have a mid-career Genesis feel to them (period from Trick of the Tail to Duke), which reflect the strong influence they have on Coombes' music. But a variety of styles highlight the album, from the slow jazz-funk of It's the Small Things (ala Steely Dan), the rootsy folk-rock of Ballad of Joe Martin, the engaging progressive pop of Changing Channels, to the blues-rock (via Pink Floyd vibe) of Big City Small-town Blues. A darker symphonic prog is evident on If We're Silent And We Listen, an upbeat instrumental prog interlude in Restless Wanderer, and more Genesisian style in the anthemic Splitting Atoms, which builds to an Afterglow-like grandeur. The album concludes with the extended title track for a most satisfying finale. Best Tracks: Changing Channels, Splitting Atoms, Ballad of Joe Martin, It's the Small Things, The Haunted Life, If We're Silent and We Listen. Rating: 4ó
Counting Crows - Butter Miracle: The Complete Sweets
Its been a long time coming, but we finally have a new album from
Counting Crows, their first since the fantastic
Somewhere Under Wonderland in 2014. And well, it's not entirely new, since the second half of the album was previously released as an EP in 2021 (
Butter Miracle Suite One), but still, here's the full album, and it is quite wonderful, and so good to hear new songs from Counting Crows again. The 5 brand new tracks are great and highlight Adam's strong storytelling style and the unique rock vibe of the band, starting with the opener With Love, From A-Z', a delightful blues-rock track, followed by Spaceman in Tulsa, a rousing, rockin', catchy single that would have fit right in on Somewhere Under Wonderland. Boxcars is another roots-rock gem and Virginia Through the Rain is a classic Adam story-song ballad, gentle, endearing, and beautiful. The new tracks wrap up with Under the Aurora, the second single, and another great catchy rootsy rocker with great lyrics. The 4 songs that constituted Suite One round out the album, with Tall Grass being the slower, more contemplative track, Elevator Boots the more traditional rootsy single. Angel of 14th St. brings in a more lush sound with trumpet highlighting the break, which transitions into the rousing closing rocker, Bobby and the Rat-Kings. I do really like the Suite One songs, but I think all of the new tracks are even better and lift the album to a higher level. Overall, this a great album, showing all of the qualities that I love about the band, with a fresh sound, but also right in line with previous classics. This may not be among the band's top 2 or 3 three albums, but that is a mighty high bar, and doesn't take away from the greatness of this new release. A wonderful addition to the band's stellar legacy. Let's just hope it doesn't take another 11 years before the next album.
Best Tracks: Under the Aurora, Spaceman in Tulsa, With Love From A-Z, Boxcars, Elevator Boots, Bobby and the Rat-Kings.
Rating: 4ó Solstice - ClannThis UK Neo-Prog band was initially formed back in 1980, but has undergone numerous starts and stops and lineup changes over the years (guitarist Andy Glass being the only member to remain through all incarnations). This is the 3rd album from this latest version of the band, following
Sia (2020) and
Light Up (2022), and features a tasty mix of folk, jazz, and melodic prog in an upbeat, joyful style that is very accessible and engaging. Featuring the alluring effortless vocals of Jess Holland and great vocal harmonies, as well as highlighted use of violin, guitar and keyboards throughout, the album opens with a couple gently swingin' jazz-rock tracks with a great vibe and feel. But the mix of folk, jazz, and prog is best on display in the wonderful 4th track Frippa. The longest track is Twin Peaks, stretching out at nearly 14 minutes and featuring an ebb and flow and great instrumental prowess of the band members. The album concludes with a bonus track that revives a song from early in their career in a new reimagined form. Overall, it is a wonderful album of uplifting, positive melodic tunes that is sure to make you feel good.
Best Tracks: Frippa, Twin Peaks, Life.
Rating: 4ó Lars Frederik Froislie - Gamle MesterThe 2nd solo album, following the splendid
Fire Foretellinger (2023) from Lars, the keyboard player from Norwegian Prog band
Wobbler (and previously
Tusmorke) is further proof that new classic-style Symphonic Prog is alive and well in 2025. Froislie plays all the instruments (and vocals as well), with just some help on bass (from Nikolai Haengsle of
Elephant9), and of course a big emphasis on keys/synths, with the great diversity of keyboard sounds and styles always hitting just the right feel for the song. Containing 6 tracks varying in length from 3 to over 12 minutes each, these are richly textured, complex, and dynamic songs, as Froislie weaves his melodies and compositions with some recognizable touches from previous masters (
Genesis, Yes, Jethro Tull, ELP, Gentle Giant, etc.), along with modern Scandinavian influences, but is never derivative, creating remarkably fresh, warm and adventurous songs. Mostly instrumental, but with vocals (in Norwegian) sparingly added where they can be used to best augment the songs. The theme of the album comes from "Den Gamle Mester" (The Old Master), an ancient oak tree and poem, with inspiration drawn from art, literature, and mythology, but of course it is the masterful musical musings that make the album such a joy to behold. A powerhouse of modern symphonic prog and among the best albums of the year.
Best Tracks: De Tre Gratier, Gamle Mester, Demring, Medusas Flate.
Rating 4.5ó Bjorn Riis - FimbulvinterThe 5th solo album for the guitarist from Norwegian Prog band
Airbag, Riis delivers more moody, atmospheric soundscapes in line with what his band does, but with a more poignant, introspective, and personal feel throughout. Knowing just when to keep things light or go heavy with acoustic and electric themes, the songs create wonderful brooding and powerful moods, punctuated by great guitar lines and fills. Named after the long winter that heralds Ragnarok, the album opens with Illhug, a beautiful, haunting acoustic guitar piece, which leads into Gone, the most rockin' track with a driving catchy chorus, while still maintaining its haunted mood. Panic Attack is the longest track (at nearly 11 min.) and takes its time to provide a Floydian masterpiece of melancholic beauty. She is a love song of pure and simple beauty, elegantly handled. The title track is the proggiest, an instrumental that mixes heavy guitar riffs with melodic guitar lines and heavy atmospheric soundscapes for a soaring finish. Overall, a wonderful, powerful album.
Best Tracks: Gone, Fimbulvinter, She, Panic Attack.
Rating: 4ó Great Wide Nothing - A Shout Into The Void
The 4th album from this keyboard-centric Prog Trio from the U.S. I was a big fan of their last album (
Hymns for Hungry Spirits, Vol.II, 2023), and this new album is even better. Delightful prog elements masterfully presented in an energetic hard-driving modern rock context, yet still maintains a strong melodic sensibility, with catchy melodies and hooks throughout. A concept album of sorts with a theme dealing with social commentary on our place in the world of today. Sensational keys/synth-work (Dylan Porter), from the backing aura to dazzling solos, always with just the right sounds and voices. Powerful bass and vocals from primary songwriter Daniel Graham, and dynamic drumming backing from Jeff Matthews. Impressive out of the gate with the hard-rocking openers Utopia and Rules of Engagement. The instrumental One Thousand Eyes displays the full-on Prog credentials of the band with a fantastic dizzying piece. The album keeps building up to the beautiful, powerful, and majestic title track, bringing together the theme of the album. A unique, powerful and excitingly enjoyable album, brilliant from start to finish. Every track is superb and they all work together to create something really special .Update: After listening to this repeatedly over the past few months now (and it just gets better and better), this is without question, the best album of the year - the best Prog album as well as the best rock album. Just incredible.
Best Tracks: One Thousand Eyes, Chain of Command, Brain on Fire, Rules of Engagement, A Shout Into the Void.
Rating: 5ó (and only album to get a
5ó rating this year)
OK Go - And The Adjacent PossibleIts been 11 years since the last full album release (
Hungry Ghosts, 2014) by this wildly creative and inventive eclectic indie pop band, and the world has been a noticeably less fun place in their absence. Known for their extraordinary, ingenious, and meticulously crafted music videos, the boys do not disappoint in either the music or video department with this latest release, as they go above and beyond again and deliver a fantastic new album and some of the best videos of the year (or even last several years). This is what pop music is supposed to be (and that some of these songs are not topping the pop charts demonstrates the sorry state of charting pop music today). Here they are: 12 well-crafted, imminently tuneful, clever, and catchy songs in a variety of pop styles, incorporating power pop, sunshine pop, synthpop, alt-pop, pop ballads, and dreamy vocal harmonies, with just enough quirks and weirdness to always be interesting and fun. And fun is the key here, just all-out, fun, good-timey pop songs, as even when the songs deal with loss or heartbreak, they still are just catchy and fun. Should be the album of the summer, light, fun, hummable and catchy. Be sure to check out the extraordinary and painstakingly crafted music videos (videos of the year) for Love and A Stone Only Rolls Downhill.
Best Tracks: A Stone Only Rolls Downhill, Love, Better Than This, Don't Give Up Now, A Good Good Day At Last, Impulse Purchase.
Rating: 4.5ó The Flower Kings - LoveThis latest from legendary Swedish symphonic Prog band The Flower Kings (their 17th album overall and 5th since re-forming in 2019) is a strong entry, and possibly the best of their recent string of albums, but takes a gentler, mellower tone overall than much of their previous work, emphasizing melodies and intricate instrumental tapestries. Consisting of 12 tracks and a 71 minute run-time, the band stretches out on several tracks, creating some moving, emotional themes. Led by longtime members Roine Stolt (guitars and vocals) and Hans Froiberg (vocals) and the welcome recent addition of Lalle Larsson on keyboards, the band weaves their way through a variety of pleasing songs, with the highlights definitely being the fabulous instrumental virtuosity and melodic intricacies, showcased best in the extended instrumental breaks in several songs, as well as in the two all-too-short instrumental tracks, World Spinning and Kaiser Razor. The vocal sections feature some fine melodies and harmonies, but the vocals themselves are just OK, and a bit too extensive, in that in some places the vocals seem to weigh down the songs a bit, and the songs come alive more in the instrumental sections. I would prefer the band to showcase more of the instrumental aspects and use the vocals more sparingly where they can better provide a boost to the songs (a lesson they could learn from
Lars Froislie). Still, a solid, very good album, but just doesn't quite compare with the best of their earlier albums.
Best Tracks: Considerations, World Spinning, Kaiser Razor, The Rubble, Love Is, Walls of Shame.
Rating: 3.5ó Cosmic Cathedral - Deep WaterAnother new album and new band from the legendary and ever-prolific prog icon
Neal Morse, and yes, its another winner, a high quality album for Neal and his latest new band incarnation. This time Neal teamed up with guitarist Phil Keaggy, drummer Chester Thompson, and bassist Byron House, just to hang out and jam. But as it was with his last impromptu band, The Resonance (
Neal Morse and The Resonance - No Hill For a Climber, 2024), before long the jamming gelled into an album (must be nice). With this band, the music takes a bit jazzier, funkier, and looser vibe than other Morse albums, but still maintains most of the hallmarks of Morse's compositions and style. There is plenty here for fans of Neal to love, and the cool jazz elements provided by the new backing band add some different textures, such as on the Keaggy vocal-led track Walking Into Darkness. The epic Deep Water suite (6 parts, 29 min.) has all the grandeur and sweep of Neal's trademark epics. However, for those that feel Neal has been repeating many of the same musical styles and motifs over the past several albums, they probably won't be convinced otherwise with this new release, but another very good album.
Best Tracks: Walking Into Darkness, Deep Water Suite.
Rating: 3.5ó Karfagen - Omni
21st album from this keyboard-centric symphonic prog band led by the extremely prolific Ukranian musician
Antony Kalugin. Although Karfagen releases at least one album, sometimes more, just about every year, this one is a bit different. First, although it is broken up into individual tracks, it plays out as one long suite of interconnected songs, and it is more focused on vocals, harmonies, and pop-rock melodies (and contains numerous guest vocalists) than the usual more instrumental-heavy releases. There is still plenty of great instrumental prog on display here (also highlighted by numerous guest musicians, with classic symphonic prog touches throughout, but the vocal melodies and arrangements take center stage here. The result is their most accessible and cohesive release to date. The individual tracks encompass a variety of styles, but it all fits together seamlessly for a wonderful theatrical and cinematic experience.
Rating: 4ó Quick Hits Glass Hammer - Rogue
A welcome return to more melodic symphonic Prog after dabbling with heavier prog metal influences on their Skallagrim trilogy of albums (2020-2022) for this versatile veteran U.S. Prog band (22 albums!). Mostly mellower melodic prog with an emphasis on vocals (featuring both male and female vocalists) and pop-rock melodies. But the highlight of the album is the longest and most adventurous track, the wonderful, spacey, atmospheric instrumental gem, Terminal Lucidity.
Rating: 3.5ó Rick Miller - PerspectiveAnother strong album of mellow atmospheric prog from this Canadian multi-instrumentalist, whose musical style is something of a blend of
Pink Floyd, Alan Parsons Project, and the
Moody Blues. Although this album doesn't quite reach the heights of his previous album,
One of The Many (2024), it is still a very good, soothing and somewhat dark, but very enjoyable album that continues Rick's exploration of spirituality, fate, and destiny.
Rating:3.5ó Magic Pie - Maestro
The 6th album from Norwegian Prog band Magic Pie, known for their intricate compositions, symphonic arrangements and blend of classic and modern influences. This new album has a definite emphasis (perhaps too much emphasis) on incorporating 70's-80's melodic and hard rock along with their prog elements. The album contains some brilliant sections, particularly on the more proggy album centerpiece, the 18 plus minute Opus Imperfectus Part 1, of which the concluding Part 2 closes the album, but the album also contains some rather cringey sections with their embrace of generic 70's hard rock on some tracks (particularly Name It to Tame It and Everyday Hero). So, the album has some pretty big ups and downs, but overall, still a good album worth checking out.
Rating: 3ó CEN-Projekt - Carnival of Lost Souls
CEN-Projekt is the creation one person, the talented German composer-multi-instrumentalist
Chris Engel. This is another in his series of classic-style symphonic prog, with obvious influences from
Genesis, Yes, Steve Hackett, Anthony Phillips, etc. (sometimes a bit too obvious), and he does a wonderful job with it, creating wonderful melodies and compelling instrumental work. Although this album doesn't quite match the wonder and majesty of his wonderful 2024 release
The Story of Enja, this is quite good on its own. A bit darker in tone due to the subject matter, but a wonderful journey.
Rating 3.5ó Envy of None - Stygian WavesSubsantial improvement over their self-titled debut album (2022) on this 2nd album from this pop band featuring former Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson and and vocalist Maiah Wynne. Although still showcasing an atmospheric and immersive sound, the darker tone and greater variety in the style and arrangement of tracks lifts this album up from the occasionally dull or monotonous sections of the 1st album, with better grooves and melodies and encompassing soundscapes.
Rating: 3.5ó Missu Kissu - Having Fun in HellDebut EP from this colorful
indie alt-rock trio from Rochester, NY, featuring 9 short tracks showing
a variety of styles incorporating folk, punk, pop, and rock. It's a bit
all over the place, from catchy folk-rock to punkish rants and biting
lyrics from guitarist Animal Planet to mellow sweet-sounding pop-folk
ballads from bassist Robiwan, as well as some video game foolishness and
quirky bits. Has its ups and downs, a bit rough around the edges, but overall a strong debut from an
interesting indie band.
Rating 3ó McStine and Minneman - III
Impressive third collaboration between prog vocalist-multi-instrumentalist Randy McStine and drummer Marco Minneman, easily their best and most diverse, blending elements of pop, prog, art rock, and alternative, as well as mixing traditional melodic songs with bold experimentation.
Rating: 3.5ó
BB’s Rating scale:
1ó – Terrible, torturous to have to listen to
1.5ó - Poor, not worth your time
2 ó – Fair, maybe a couple half-way decent songs, but
sub-par overall
2.5ó – Average, OK, meh, not bad but not that good either
3ó – Good, solid album, several good songs, but not
spectacular. Certainly worthy, but may not be something you come back to very
often
3.5ó – Very good album. Some stellar tracks, very
enjoyable overall
4ó – Great album, filled with great songs, one that you
will want to come back to over and over again
4.5ó – Excellent album, beyond great, superb in every
way, just short of a masterpiece
5ó – A Masterpiece, among the greatest albums of its
type, and has stood the test of time
Lots of great stuff here, and that's just a taste (several others I couldn't even get to. Check out some of these for some great listening. More great music coming out every week. Will have an another update in 6 weeks or so.
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