ABACUS

This is a pleasant album that start's off strong, loses its edge partway through but seems to find itself again at the end. There are some good songs, some mediocre song and one truly great song.

Pipedream Revisited Part 1 & 2 is a fine opener, it is pleasant to listen to and doesn't offend but does little to engage as well (3.5*)

Cappucino is a nice song with some wonderful hammond (4*)

Don't Beat So On The Horses is an ode to their future pop careers, It is okay, but nothing special (3*)

song for Brunhilde is okay, it fails to engage me however and ends up falling flat in my mind (3*)

Song For John and Yoko I find is better than the last two and is at least entertaining (even if it also serves as a future tribute to their pop career's) (3.5 *)

Radbod Blues is the highlight in my eyes, if you need a reason to get the album it is this song. It seems somewhat out of place on this cd, it contains distorted vocals, an enjoyable drum solo and far more energy than the rest of the cd combined. (4.5*)

Chestholder is a fine ending to this cd, it holds its own and feels like a step above much on this cd but is still nothing spectacular. (3.5*)

All in all an okay cd, but there is little to distinguish it beyond the mountains of crossover prog from the era (many of which do it much better), there are some high points but all in all this is not all that essential a cd, despite being enjoyable.