Monday, March 10, 2014

BE OR NOT TO BE?


SALEM HILL-BE





I was introduced to Salem Hill by a couple of people I met on the “Progressive Nation At Sea” cruise, and found this album, “Be” the weekend I got back to Airheadzona (gotta love Zia Records!).

Formed in 1991, this is the band’s sixth album. My first taste of Salem Hill lived up to the recommendation, an engaging mixture of Beatlesque harmonies, eighties-style rock and a lot of very decent heavier prog/rock numbers. 

Influences from Pink Floyd and Gentle Giant pop up here and there along with some parallels to Kansas, though never blatantly derivative-more influence than emulation.

The musicianship is top-notch, and the songwriting excellent-there are some real jewels here. 

Clocking in at over seventy minutes, there is surprisingly little filler on the dis.


Described as break away from their recent discs (more in the style of ‘Catatonia,’ which I am still looking for) with better production and stronger, more mature lyrics, this is a must have for prog fans.







2 comments:

  1. There is so much great music from the past 20 some years that I don't know. I just don't keep up with music the way I used to.

    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lee-

      The good thing about the internet was that it gave us access to all of the music releases that used to be local and regional.

      The bad thing about the internet was that it gave us access to all of the music releases that used to be local and regional.

      I would have never heard of this band had I not spoken to a couple of gentlemen on the cruise...it is almost impossible to keep up with what's out there, and I spend a lot of time trying.

      Delete

HOBBY OR ADDICTION?

HOBBY OR ADDICTION?