New Album Roundup - Spring 2026

New Album Roundup - Spring 2026 

Hey, here we are in Summer already, but there's been a lot of great music already released so far this year. Here is my rundown of the best new albums I heard this Spring. I listened to about 50 new albums in this time and these were the most notable. All of these were released over the past three months (April-June 2026).  

Albion - In the Month of May I

This 2nd album from Albion provides more dynamic symphonic progressive folk, mixing in traditional Irish and Celtic themes with elements of Symphonic Prog and metal. Beautiful melodies and vocals, great arrangements and instrumental prowess. This album leans even more into the folkier aspects than the first album, with more acoustic work and the use of heavier guitar riffs limited to just a couple tracks. Their prominent use of flute and prog folk arrangements invites inevitable comparison with Jethro Tull, and although there are similarities Albion has their own unique sound and styler. Although this album doesn't quite reach the heights of their fantastic debut, Lakesongs of Elbid (2024), it is a great follow-up and most worthy successor, with great songs and dynamic instrumentation. A special treat for those that crave a mix of folk and Prog. Best Tracks: Eldest, Down with The Hero, Calan Mai, She is the River, Cherry Hill. Rating: 4 stars

Magenta - Tarot

This veteran symphonic Prog band led by multi-instrumentalist-songwriter Rob Reed and featuring the wonderful vocals of Cristina Booth returns with their first album of all-new material since 2020's Master of Illusion. With this release, the band looks back toward their earlier days (and 1st album, Revolutions, 2001), with what is almost an homage to the symphonic prog style of the classic prog band Renaissance. The songs were written specifically to feature Christina's vocals and the neo-classical prog style of Renaissance, with orchestration and keyboard and bass-dominant arrangements, but with an uptempo rock sensibility. The album is structured with 6 main tracks (4-10 min each) based on Tarot cards separated by very short acoustic or orchestral Etudes (20-30 sec each). It makes for a very entertaining album (although the Etudes seem too short to have much impact). Magenta remains among the elite of the modern prog bands. Best Tracks: The World, Strength, The Lovers, The Empress, Tarot. Rating: 4 stars

Brass Camel - Brass Camel

This unique Canadian Alt-rock band combines many different elements (including classic rock, prog, funk, blues, power pop, and even some glam) into a wonderful mix of styles to create something new. There are glimpses of everything from The Beatles, Little Feat, Queen, Badfinger, 10 cc, Rush, The Black Crowes, and maybe even some Alice Cooper, all mixed together for some rousingly good songs and arrangements, that provides many quirks and surprises. Fun album that sounds both somewhat familiar, yet very different and unique. Best Tracks: Why Bother, Ice Cold, Catch Us If You Can, Last Call, Everybody Loves a Scandal. Rating: 3.5 stars 
 
 

Yes - Aurora

The current version of Yes (Steve Howe, Geoff Downes, Billy Sherwood, and Jay Schellen) returns with their 2nd album with this lineup (follow-up to 2023's Mirror to the Sky) and 24th album overall, and delivers a solid album that both honors the past but also tries to move in some new directions. In some ways this is sort of like Yes-lite, or DAD-Yes, as the songs have a more gentle sound and style, less rock, more acoustic and more orchestration, but the songs are generally good, just with a somewhat different mood and feel. Steve Howe's guitar, and especially acoustic guitar work shines throughout, as well as various vocals and harmonies, and rich arrangements. Along with the tracks that try to recapture that Yes sound, there are some departures, such as the more classical and orchestrated Ariadne, the funkier rocker All Hands on Deck, and the fun, poppy Jambustin'. No, this is not Yes from their classic period, but how could it be? That was 50 years ago. This is a fine album that shows where the band is today, and it is quite good. Best Tracks: Countermovement, All Hands on Deck, Ariadne, Jambustin', Watching the River Roll. Ratng: 3.5 stars

Death Cab For Cutie - I Built You a Tower

This 11th album from longtime US Indie rock band DCFC, led by introspective singer-songwriter Ben Gibbard, shows the band in top form, with some of their most beautiful and poignant songs, and a wonderful album. The songs chronicle the emotional turmoil following the end of Gibbard's marriage, but are beautifully rendered. From the stark, simple beauty of Stone Over Water and Full of Stars to the punkish energy of Envy of birds, to the two different songs both titled I Built You a Tower, it all works beautifully. Simple song structures, but great melodies and vocals, clever, insightful, emotional lyrics, and wonderfully effective arrangements. This one hits hard and stays with you with beautifully heartbreaking songs. Best Tracks: Stone Over Water, Riptides, Envy the Birds, I Built You a Tower, Trap Door, Full of Stars. Rating: 4 stars

Elder - Through Zero

8th album from this US Heavy Prog band that has really developed from their early days of psych-rock and stoner metal into a premier heavy Prog band. Their previous album, Innate Passage (2022) was one of the best of the year, and they just keep going from there. A great Prog sound that is atmospheric and complex, but also quite heavy at times (without indulging metal cliches) while also maintaining a spirited rockin' groove, kind of like a heavier, harder-rocking Pink Floyd. Their constantly moving rhythm section with interweaving keyboard lines keeps the tempo brisk and energetic, providing the perfect foundation for the guitar riffs laid on top, which is also surprisingly bright and uplifting. Great collaborative instrumental work that meshes together well throughout, effective vocals, and quite melodic and atmospheric despite the heaviness. It all works extremely well on multiple levels. All the tracks are great (6 songs, each 6-11 min), but the album really takes off from the title track on offering an exhilarating album experience. Best Tracks: Through Zero, Strata, Sight Unseen, Blighted Age. Rating: 4.5 stars

The Lemon Twigs - Look For Your Mind

Brothers Brian and Michael D'Addario are back with more shimmering 60's style pop-rock, following up on their previous album, A Dream is All We Know (2024), this time narrowing in on the early to mid-60's sounds and styles of bands such as The Byrds, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, and Simon and Garfunkel. With their beautiful harmony vocals and meticulously crafted arrangements, these talented musicians recreate classic 60's pop sounds. But although it all sounds great, is extremely well-done, and I wanted to really like this, I just don't. Something just seems a bit off here. Rather than just be influenced or inspired by those classic bands, these songs come off more as imitations, or worse yet, replication of these sounds and styles, rather than original songs. And the songs themselves are just not as good as the originals, just dressed up in this 60's sheen. I know this band receives much high praise for these tributes, but other than the 'Oh, this sounds just like that' factor, I just don't really enjoy these songs that much and they don't withstand repeated listens, at least for me. Best Tracks: Nothin' But You, Bring You Down. Rating: 3 stars

Dodgy - Hello Beautiful
Dodgy is a band from the UK that started as a successful Britpop band throughout the 1990's, have broken up and reformed a few times since then, and are now back with their first new album in 10 years, and it is fabulous, and one of the best finds of the quarter. Now, I am not familiar with their earlier releases (and never heard of them until now), but love this album. For me, their sound here is not at all Britpoppy, but rather has a real 70's hi-quality pop-rock sound, reminiscent of bands like The Doobie Brothers, The Kinks, America, and Todd Rundgren. Lead singer's vocals are somewhat similar to Ray Davies (which gives that somewhat Kinks sound), and they craft just a wonderful kind of folk-rock, vocal pop, and quality pop-rock, with great melodies and hooks, wonderful vocals and harmonies, and well-crafted arrangements. They evoke a 70's style without imitating or copying any one band or sound (and for me much better and more enjoyable than The Lemon Twigs album). Just Love this one, every track is low-key great. Best Tracks: It's Not the End, Call It What You Want, Looking Back, Beside Me, Summer Forever. Rating: 4 stars

Advent Horizon - Falling Together

This exciting Heavy Prog band from Salt lake City, Utah, made a big splash with their previous album, A Cell to Call Home (2023), which was absolutely fantastic. What was so great about this band and that album in particular was the great (and delicate) balance and mix between the heavy (metal) elements, classic melodic rock, and lighter more acoustic melodies and vocals. Just a fantastic blend that was unlike any other band. With this ambitious new album, they have again created something special, but they have also disrupted that wonderful blend by moving in a much heavier direction. The album is still very good, but the heavy elements dominate now, even including the addition of some extreme growling vocals. To be sure, there are still some beautiful melodic moments and great vocals, but these are fleeting, much less prominent, and are overpowered by the onslaught of heavy guitar throughout most tracks. That great balance has been lost and their sound now fits more closely with what other prog metal bands are doing, albeit some very good prog metal. Thus, although still quite good, this album was a disappointment for me, as I was really looking forward to some similar magic to what they created on the last album. To me, none of the songs here are as good as anything from the last album, although there are many fine moments. Best Tracks: Past Life Parable, Patience, Gravity I. Rating: 3.5 stars

Bruce Soord - Ghosts in the Park

4th solo album from founding member, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and primary songwriter for the Pineapple Thief, Bruce Soord. It is dark, moody, and atmospheric. Yes, somewhat melancholic, but with shimmering arrangements and instrumentation, and Soord's wonderful vocals. It is like all the quieter, gentler, brooding parts of Pineapple Thief maintained throughout the whole album, but without the heavier outbursts and more rockin' elements, which in some cases really seems missing here, and is what keeps this album from reaching the heights of the Pineapple Thief albums. Still, very good, with some great guitar, instrumental sections, and melodic moments throughout. The slow, sustained atmosphere is cool, but sounds a bit too much the same from song to song. But, if you are in the right mood for this, it is very effective and beautiful. Best Tracks: Day of Wrath, Ghosts in the Park, Our Predicament, Kept Me Thinking. Rating: 3.5 stars

Exploring Birdsong - Every House We Built

This just-released (6/26/26) first full-length album, following two fantastic EPs, The Thing With Feathers (2019) and Dancing in the Face of Danger (2023), shows the full potential of this wonderful UK Prog trio fronted by the dynamic keyboards and great vocals of Lynsey Ward, and ably supported by Jonny Knight (bass) and Matt Harrison (drums). Bringing a modern pop sound into their Prog landscapes, they blend multiple genres from dreamy pop to heavy prog to create their unique sound and style. Often moving from plaintive piano phrases to an immersive wall of soaring vocals, keyboards, bass and thundering drums, while maintaining a strong melodic sense amidst rhythmic intensity, they deliver bold and dynamic tracks, quite proggy, yet still fit rsomewhat within the pop world. Best Tracks: Footprints, Arrythmia, Meadowlands, Spy in the House of Love, The Warning, I_You.  Rating: 4 stars

Noah Kahan - The Great Divide

OK, so I had never heard of this American folk-pop singer-songwriter before this album dropped, but evidently he hit it big a few years ago with his last album, Stick Season (2022). Anyway, listened to this and really liked it. Very enjoyable, he's got a nice folky style with some slick pop production. His somewhat folk, somewhat pop songs, are simple but with catchy hummable melodies and hooks, with direct, often blunt, relatable lyrics, and basic but effective arrangements, and are just very pleasant and enjoyable. He covers a lot of ground in the Americana, Folk-rock, country-rock vein, but with a mainstream pop sheen. Sometimes sounds like a slicker Head and The Heart and on some ballads like a folky Ed Sheeran. Whatever, it goes down quite nicely for a pleasant good time. However, after awhile, and with the massive length of the album (17 songs, 77 min, let alone the extended edition with 21 songs and 96 min)), it does wear a bit thin with its sameness and repetitive style, but in smaller doses its quite nice. Best Tracks: Downfall, Great Divide, Headed North, Haircut, Porch Light, We Go Way Back. Rating: 3.5 stars

Artificial Silence - Hollow Drift

2nd album from this exciting young Prog band from Tacoma, Washington featuring, an enticing mix of symphonic prog, melodic rock, metal elements, and sophisticated vocal arrangements, as well as dashes of classical, jazz, pop, and soft rock. Beautiful melodies and vocals punctuated with driving rock and metal make a heady blend. However, in some places, the metal elements seem to be working against or even undermining the vocal melodies, and a lighter touch would be preferred, such as on Paradise and Tidal Lock. But the full potential of the band is realized on the fantastic epic-length title track (24 min.), where the band eases back on the metal aspects and lets their great vocals, melodies, songwriting, and instrumental prowess shine, showcasing numerous different styles to great success. Shows great promise, and with this album, the band is just on the brink of greatness. Best Tracks: Hollow Drift, The Shadow, Voice of a Stranger. Rating: 3.5 stars

 

Different Light - Binary Stars (Part II - Alternate Reality)

 Here's a Prog Band from Prague (Czech Republic), with the follow-up to their previous Binary Stars (Part I - Operant Condition) from 2020. Their music combines all the Proggy elements you expect with solid doses of classic rock and power pop, for a complex but very accessible sound. Think along the lines of Neal Morse, but maybe even more reminiscent of Styx, Kansas, or even a proggier Toto. A very effective and enjoyable album of melodic prog. It is structured into multiple suites of short songs comprising a 60+ min concept album. Very Nice. Best Tracks: A Fool's Errand. MindSpeaker Suite, Constant Silver Lining suite, The Syncretist. Rating 3.5 stars

Paul McCartney - The Boys of Dungeon Lane

The legendary Sir Paul McCartney, perhaps the greatest popular songwriter of all time, at 84 years old, delivers a surprisingly good album, a quite wonderful album of personal songs. Yes, his singing voice is shot at this point, but he makes it work here, with a collection of mostly very good tracks covering a variety of styles. Although I have not been a fan of many of his recent albums, and Paul is long past his prime years of the 1970's, he can still be counted on to put out at least one really good album every decade. In the 80's it was Tug of War, in the 90's Flaming Pie, the 2000's Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, the 2010's New, and now this one, a quite entertaining blend of well-written and performed songs looking back on his life and times. Best Tracks: Ripples in the Pond, Down South, Come Inside, As You Lie There, The Days We Left Behind, Home To Us. Rating: 3.5 stars

Muse - The Wow! Signal

Interesting album from Muse, and a bold step forward relative to their other recent releases. Strange mix of styles and tracks, but with some real standouts. Although the album has somewhat of a space-age theme with the title reference and some more spacey synths and such, there are also plenty of gothic stylings with cathedral organ, choirs, and dark theatrical flair, their compelling drama pop, as well as some pure pop and dance tracks. But the two standout tracks are straight-up rockers, Cryogen and The Sickness in You, with heavy guitar and killer riffs and groove. It's a bit all over the pace stylistically, with some real ups and downs, but overall, surprisingly good and a promising return from the band. Best Tracks: Cryogen, The Sickness in You, Hush, Unravelling. Rating: 3.5 stars

Bruce Hornsby - Indigo Park

Interesting but very uneven album from piano master Hornsby. He tries out many different sounds and styles here, with some working and some not at all, his ? album. There are some very good songs in his recognizable sumptuous piano-based pop-rock style, but others where he goes more synthy or poppy are less successful. And then there are those where he tries to be more edgy or discordant, with talk-singing and atonal melodies that just don't work. He's just not Tom Waits or Randy Newman, and these departures weigh the album down, although do provide something different from Bruce. Thus Overall, worth hearing, but a mix of good and bad. Best Tracks: Indigo Park, North Dakota Slate Roof,  Sliver of Time, Take a Light Strain. Rating: 3 stars

Joe Jackson - Hope and Fury

After various forays into other musical styles, UK singer-songwriter Jackson returns with his first rock-oriented album in many years and a style Jackson refers to as "bicoastal Latin-jazz-funk-rock" and is most reminiscent of his albums Night and Day (1983) and Laughter and Lust (1991). He still slings his biting, sardonic lyrics, this time focusing on his observations of modern day England (and let's just say he is not happy with what he sees), but is bolstered by his characteristic piano-based, jazz-tinged, latin percussion backed, swinging rock. Although there is nothing new here (quite similar to previous work), it's nice to hear him get back to this style, and it is an enjoyable listen, but just doesn't stack up among his best work. Rating: 3 stars

Devin Townshend - The Moth

Big, ambitious, theatrical concept album, with full orchestra and dramatic presentation of this rock opera Townshend has been working on for many years. An impressive production, but musically, it is a very hit and miss affair. Obviously a passion project for him and a major work, but the music itself is less impressive and tends a bit too much toward the opera side, with its classical trappings and vocal style, and not enough on the rock side, to make it consistently entertaining. But have to give credit to the massive undertaking here. Rating: 3 stars

Foo Fighters - Your Favorite Toy

Well-done, competent rock from these veterans, if somewhat generic and similar to past releases. A step down from their last album, the more memorable and varied But Here We Are (2023). They go for a leaner and meaner sound on this one, but the heavier sound isn't necessarily better. It sounds fine, and fans will approve, but after listening, I didn't remember a single song or riff from this one. Rating: 3 stars

Ringo Starr - Long Long Road

Ringo and producer T-Bone Burnett return with another country album, following the successful Look Up (2025), again featuring Ringo's laconic vocals over Burnett's impeccable Americana production and numerous guest stars to bolster Ringo's limitations. But this 2nd effort delivers somewhat diminishing returns, with more of the same, but with noticeably weaker songs, being just OK and failing to rise above mediocrity. Rating: 2.5 stars

Slift - Fantasia
Post-punk (or is it post-rock? I never know) darlings. This is absolutely terrible, with obnoxious screaming vocals through the whole thing. There may actually be some interesting things happening musically here, but the vocalist screaming at me throughout ruins everything else. Unlistenable. Rating: 1.5 (the extra .5 only due to some nice instrumental work)

BB’s Rating scale:

1 star – Terrible, torturous to have to listen to

1.5 stars - Poor, not worth your time

2 stars – Fair, maybe a couple half-way decent songs, but sub-par overall

2.5 stars – Average, OK, meh, not bad but not that good either

3 stars – Good, solid album, several good songs, but not spectacular. Certainly worthy, but may not be something you come back to very often

3.5 stars – Very good album. Some stellar tracks, very enjoyable overall

4 stars – Great album, filled with great songs, one that you will want to come back to over and over again

4.5 stars – Excellent album, beyond great, superb in every way, just short of a masterpiece 

5 stars – A Masterpiece, among the greatest albums of its type, and has stood the test of time

OK, that wraps up the new and notable albums I've been listening to lately, lots of good stuff there. Some of these I've only had the chance to listen to a few times, so it's possible some ratings could change a bit with repeated listening, but this is how I'm feeling now. What did you think of the latest crop of albums? Let me know what your favorite albums have been so far this year?  
   

 
 
 

New Album Reviews - Spring 2023

New Album Reviews - Spring 2023

We're already almost halfway through the year, and there have been numerous notable new music releases. Here are some of the albums I have been listening to from this Spring (March-June), with some brief capsule reviews. 

Nickel Creek - Celebrants.  

Nickel Creek is an American contemporary bluegrass trio consisting of Chris Thile (mandolin, vocals), and siblings Sara Watkins (fiddle, vocals) and Sean Watkins (guitar, vocals), formed in 1989 in Southern California. They are known for their blending of traditional bluegrass with more modern aspects of indie and folk rock. They released a couple albums in the 90's, but really started to attract attention and acclaim after working with Alison Krauss, who produced their breakthrough self-titled album in 2000 and the follow-up, This Side in 2002. This was the period that I was familiar with for the band. They released a couple more albums over the next several years (that I have not heard), but had not released any new music since 2014, until this new album, Celebrants. And I have to say that it is just FANTASTIC! I love the more progressive approach they took and the more complex song structures and edgier arrangements, as well as the jazzy influences. The album has a cohesiveness to it and some thematic elements running through it, such as the strategic use of dissonance in some songs and arrangements. They have shown in the past that they can do sweet and catchy pop bluegrass, but this goes well beyond that, into some more interesting territory. Yet, there is still enough of the traditional bluegrass spirit and style that it is remains familiar, just goes in some different directions. A full album with 18 relatively short songs and just under an hour length, an hour of of wonderful music. Its' hard to pick out the highlights because every song is so good. Certainly one of the best albums of the year so far, and one that should appeal to music lovers well beyond the traditional bluegrass and folk audience. Best Tracks: Holding Pattern, Where the Long Line Leads, Stone's Throw, To the Airport, Failure isn't Forever, Strangers. Weak tracks: none. Rating: 4.5ó

Exploring Birdsong - Dancing on the Face of Danger -EP (2023), as well as The Thing with Feathers -EP (2019).

Exploring Birdsong is an exciting, relatively new progressive rock trio out of Liverpool, UK, consisting of Lynsey Ward (vocals, piano), Johnny Knight (bass, synths), and Matt Henrison (drums), that features a soaring keyboard-driven prog style with great female vocals and bold, dynamic songs, and featuring a unique blend of classic and modern Prog with jazz and pop touches. So far, they have only released 2 EPs, their first in 2019, The Thing with Feathers, and just released earlier this year, Dancing in the Face of Danger. Both are excellent. The first EP features more piano and is a bit more acoustic, with strong jazz influences but set in a Neo-Prog soundscape, whereas the new EP features more synths and a slicker production style, but both deliver great songs and dynamic prog arrangements with intricate keyboard lines, driving rhythms, and odd time signatures. They have aspects that are somewhat like a mixture of Magenta, Renaissance, Big Big Train, and Porcupine Tree, with some Chuck Leavell and Dave Brubeck and even maybe some Fleetwood Mac thrown in. Each EP has 5 main songs (about 25 min. total), with great riffs and rhythms, and an aggressive approach, yet still always quite melodic and engaging. I actually prefer the earlier EP a bit more, with its more dynamic piano-centric sound, but both EPs are great. Although they do not yet have a full album release, these 2 EPs go together very well to make a nice full-length album. Highly recommended to check out (Their music is available through Bandcamp). Best Tracks: (From Feathers) the River, The Sinking Question, The Baptism, (From Dancing) The Way Down, Bear The Weight, Ever The Optimist. Rating: 4.5ó

Jethro Tull - RokFlute

OK, so this is the second album from Jethro Tull within the last 15 months, when it had been nearly 20 since their previous album before The Zealot Gene (2022). Overall, this new one is a fair bit better than Zealot Gene, with great flute work and some really nice instrumental sections. But I think it still falls into a similar category, in that it is a good album, but not great. It is fine, and quite pleasant to listen to, but not much more than that. Many quite nice melodies and arrangements, but never quite takes off. Reportedly, this album was originally intended to be an all instrumental album, featuring the flute, but then Ian became fascinated with Norse mythology and wanted to incorporate that into his songs, which resulted in some new songs and vocals added to previously existing ones. However, the vocals are the weakest part of the album, and I think at least some of the songs should have been kept as instrumentals, particularly Cornucopia and Gaurdian's Watch, as the vocal sections are not really needed and actually detract from the inherent beauty of the songs. And although the backing tracks and arrangements are better here than the last album, I still don't hear a real band, it still seems like another Ian Anderson solo album (which is fine, but it's not fully Tull). Another oddity here is that Anderson's wonderful acoustic guitar work is completely missing from this album, nowhere to be found. Not sure if this is one I will come back to very often, but it is an enjoyable listen and worth checking out. However, it is quite telling that although this album only came out a couple months ago, it already seems to be virtually forgotten, which doesen't bode well for it achieving classic status. Best Tracks: Wolf Unchained, The Perfect One, The Trickster (And the Mistletoe), The Navigators, Cornucopia. Rating: 3ó.  

Yes - Mirror to the Sky

With this, the 23rd studio album from prog legends Yes, and following on the heels of their somewhat underwhelming 2021 album, The Quest (which didn't sound much like Yes at all), there was some cause for concern. However, this album follows more closely to the traditional Yes style and sound, has some great songs, and delivers their best album in many years. Of course, the band composition is quite a bit different from their earlier days, with both Chris Squire and Alan White having passed away, and Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman not a part of the band anymore, leaving guitarist Steve Howe in charge, leading singer Jon Davison, Billy Sherwood (bass), Geoff Downes (keybpards), and Jay Schellen (drums) as the current Yes incarnation. Howe, once again, dominates the album (with his guitar, as well as primary songwriter and producer), but with better results than the previous album. The highlight of the album is the wonderful and beautiful title track, also being the longest song, at nearly 14 minutes, and featuring multiple sections, beautiful melodies, an orchestra, and classic Yes songwriting and performance. There are a couple lesser, more pop-oriented songs, such as the straight-forward pop-rock of Living Out Their Dream and the closing Davison ballad Circles of Time, but the bulk of the album follows in the classic Yes style. There is also a bonus disc containing 3 additional songs that is included with some forms of the album, which also veers more towards a lighter, poppier sound, but is nonetheless pleasant, although perhaps a bit too cutesie. Overall, a fine album, and although still cannot measure up to the greatness of their classic days, is nonetheless their best album in probably 20 year. Best Tracks: Mirror to the Sky, Luminosity, Cut From the Stars. Rating: 3.5ó


Mystery - Redemption.

Mystery is a veteran French-Canadian Progressive rock band, formed by multi-instrumentalist (guitars, keyboards, bass) Michel St-Pere back in 1989, and with a changing backing lineup over the years. Their sound features a melodic symphonic prog approach with liberal doses of 80's AOR (Styx, Asia, Rush, Saga) and 90's Neo-Prog styles mixed in, creating a melodic and accessible type of symphonic prog with slick production, catchy melodies, soaring ballads, and proggy instrumental flourishes. Their first album, Theatre of the Mind, came out in 1996, and this new album, their 8th follows their previously most recent, Lies and Butterflies (2018). The current lineup, which has been steady since 2014 consists of St-Pere, Frances Fournier (bass) Sylvain Moineau (guitar), Jean-Seastian Goyette (drums), Jean Pageau (lead vocals), flute, and Antoine Michaud (keyboards). Now, I have to admit that although this band has been around a long time, and plays in a style that is right up my alley (melodic symphonic prog), I was not familiar with this band before this album. But, after hearing several rave reviews of this new album in Prog circles (Prog Corner, Nathan on Shuffle, Prog Archives, etc.), I just had to check them out. And well, yes, this is a very good, solid album. It has all the things you expect from this style, and musically very well done. It checks all the boxes, as it has majestic anthems and themes, soaring ballads, virtuoso soloing and proggy instrumental intricacies, great vocals and harmonies, and emotional peaks and valleys. However, even with all that, it just didn't fully connect with me. It just wasn't quite compelling and engaging, just not something I can get very excited about, and I couldn't help but feel disappointed with it. For me, overall, it was a bit too much of the same old stuff, and just seemed somewhat generic Neo-Prog, too similar to other stuff I'd heard before. Still enjoyable, but there were no real surprises or 'Oh Wow!' moments. The melodies and themes were fine, but not stellar, and I just didn't feel the excitement or emotion of it, more like just going through the motions of creating a symphonic prog classic, perhaps succeeding, but not quite excelling. They seemed to be playing it safe, not trying anything very new or different, just sticking with what has worked for them before. It seemed to be like throwing in dozens of 80's and 90's AOR and Neo-prog albums and homogenizing them into a new album. After that first listen, I thought maybe I was being too harsh and it will grow on me after repeated listens, so I listened to it a couple more times over the next week, but still felt the same. I will say that the epic closing track, 'Is That How the Story Ends?', is great (showed more variation in sound and style, cool feel), had everything I wanted in an epic (19 min.) song and lifted the rest of the album up quite a bit. If the whole album would have been as good as that closing epic, I would have been very happy with the album. It is quite a long album, coming in at ~75 minutes long, and by the time I got to that epic closing track, I was already a bit worn-out, but that final track was great. Some of the other tracks, particularly the two ballads, Every Note and My Inspiration, just go on a bit too long, and could be cut sown. Overall, for me, I can only rank the album as very good, but still somehow disappointing. Best track: Is That How the Story Ends?. Rating: 3.5ó

K'Mono - Mind out of Mind

Another relatively new band, this Minneapolis-based Progressive rock trio takes their inspiration from the classic 70's prog masters, such as Yes and Pink Floyd, but add a whole lot more into their sound. Featuring elements of space-rock, psychedelia, and funk sprinkled throughout, as well as some more modern touches in addition to their classic prog approach, which gives the band a fresh and lively style and sound. This is their 2nd album, following Return to the 'E' (2021). There is much diversity throughout the album, as they can create something right out of the Yes style songbook, such as Tell Me the Lore, but other tracks take very different approaches. On songs like In the Lost and Found and Answers in the Glass, they start by laying down a funky groove, then build on it and see just where they can take it, and they take them to some amazing places. Good-Looking seems to be their play for a more mainstream pop-oriented single, but still with their own unique spin. Overall, just a unique and wonderful album that is both somewhat familiar but also unlike anything you've heard before. A truly great find and certainly a band to watch going forward. Best Tracks: In The Lost and Found, Tell Me The Lore, Answers in the Glass, Mind Out of Mind. Rating: 4.5ó

Kite Parade - Retro

Kite Parade is also a fairly new progressive pop-rock band (First album, The Way Home was released in 2022), and is primarily the work of multi-instrumentalist Andy Foster, as the music and vocals are basically all done by him, just with some additional guest artists on drums ( notably Big Big Train's Nick D'Virgilio) and some selected instrumental solos. Last year's The Way Home was very well-received, and Andy seems to have gone even bigger and better with this new release. The album kicks off with a couple of slickly produced energetic pop-rock ditties that are good, but go on a bit too long for what they are (6-7 min each), but the album really steps it up with the third track, Wonderful, which is just that, a charming and beautiful ballad that steadily gains momentum to reach a soaring and majestic finish, and that sets the tone for the rest of the album. Wonderful vocals, majestic themes and delightful riffs continue throughout, leading up to the crowning achievement of the album, the closing 14-1/2 minute epic, Merry-Go-Round. Starting off with an atmospheric Pink Floyd-esque instrumental opening leading into the first vocal section and main themes, building into a musical tour-de-force, ultimately culminating in a soaring and satisfying finish that wraps up the album on a high. Overall, a very satisfying album (and succeeds in ways that the Mystery album just does not manage). Best Tracks: Merry-Go-Round, Wonderful, Shadow Falls, Under the Same Sun. Rating: 4ó

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

Well, that's it for now. There are a bunch of other new albums released in the last few weeks that I wasn't ready to include here, but will try to get to next month maybe. There also were many other new albums I listened to, but just don't have time to get to or don't have much to say about. perhaps I will try to put some of them into an addendum of quick take reviews or something. Lots of great stuff to listen to. What are some of your favorite albums from this Spring? Let me know in the comments.