PAWN HEARTS

My God, how can I give this masterpiece 10 stars?!!!!!! This is just simply perfect art. So much has been written here in Progarchives and elsewhere that a description is unnecessary, as probably is this review.

Every year I go through my "Absolute Perfect Prog Albums" - although I shouldn't, I keep it to English groups - and this "Pawn Hearts" is equal to all of my heroes. I will list (pardon the abbreviations) my albums here that I listen to absolutely in no order (except Tull - always the last one) , in each years listening:

Genesis: Selling England. ELP: ELP (first). King Crimson: In The Court. VDGG: Pawn Hearts. Yes: Close To The Edge. Gentle Giant: Glass House. Strawbs: Grave New World. Jethro Tull: TAAB - again, always the last one, and always (as it was again this year) my favorite. I realize that everyone else would have their own different choices, but these are the (whether financially successful or not) foundations of Progressive Rock for me.

So back to Pawn Hearts. In my original yearly listenings, I didn't even include VDGG's Pawn Hearts as I just "didn't get it." Now, this is absolutely is equal to this list of heavenly offerings. It brings tears of violence and wonder to my eyes when listening. It does what the best music does: It makes me think, feel, and want more, yet totally drained upon the end of the listening.

Thank God for England. And starting with The Beatles, thank God for their Rock Music explosion. And thank you and Progarchives for reading my dribble here!