AS THE WORLD

Simply one of the best albums ever released under the banner of prog. Filled with breathtaking three part harmonies, tight and groundbreaking compositions, and joyous melodies, this Pennsylvania quintet created a timeless work of art before a major label worked them to the ground and bankrupted them. So it goes. From thefirst second of the introductory string overture to the swirling chorus of "Never the Same" fades out, the band doesn't make a single misstep as they broaden their song based contrapuntal, complex flights of fancy to include smooth sophisticated jazz pop ("How Long I Have Waited"), foam at the mouth braggadacio ("The Cheese Stands Alone"), and orchestrated torch songs ("Entry 11.19.93"). The band combines a bookish love of jigsaw puzzle chords and avant garde compositional touches (Chris Buzby is one of the few songwriters in rock brave enough to go 12 tone) with the pure joy of rocking out. The combination of "The Wiblet" and "Audio Verite" illustrate how these opposing impulses lock together perfectly in a listener friendly 5 minute package with Stravinsky gone Beach Boy vocals. Their lyrics are a romantic contemplation of right versus wrong, covering the 1992 election (the title track), CS Louis' writing ("My Dear Wormwood"), verbally abusing hipsters ("Audio Verite" again), and a loss ("Never the Same"). Every song on this cd has been my favorite on the album at some point, a distinction it only shares with "Pet Sounds," "Murmur," and "The Rotter's Club."