PAN - AN URBAN PASTORAL

There's quite the buzz about this album and no doubt it will get a lot of top five votes for best record of 2010. In fact i'm the first to not give it 4 stars or more. I do like this album but as i've said many times before, concept albums aren't my bag. I mean it boils right down to how good the music is and I find most concept albums are more focused on the concept (the lyrics) which usually mean little to me. Not that I didn't try to appreciate the story here but the problem for me is that this almost 70 minute album (19 songs) has lots of passages that did little for me musically.

And this comes in right away with the first two tracks which may have lots to do with the story but talk about getting off on the wrong foot. Thankfully "Pan's Labyrinth" is a good song instrumentally especially later before 5 minutes to the end. "Those We Remember" opens with the sound of traffic before pastoral music with female vocals take over. Another good track is "Sidewalk Soliloquy" which is fairly powerful with male vocals.This continues as we go through some short tracks where we get both male and female vocals taking turns leading. Lots of mood and tempo shifts as well as we bob and weave through the story- line.

"Nectar Of The Gods" is different with the experimental intro before female vocals come in. This is followed by atmosphere. Nice. "Youth's Denial" is short but really good with male vocals. Lots of synths and a GENESIS-vibe on "The Temptation Of Icarus". The final three songs makeup almost 30 minutes of the album.This is where they stretch things out and re- visit themes. It works most of the time but by now i'm not into it so much.

I really think most of you will love this album. 3.5 stars.