THE CARBON COPY SILVER LINING

I suppose it was a mistake to listen to this album after hearing "Dance of the Manatee" for the first time. Going back and listening to their earliest release is, in comparison, just embarrassing. The songwriting is relatively mediocre and the pieces in general are tough, if not impossible, to listen to. Not even a focused listen to this album reveals anything rewarding. It's unfortunate that Fair to Midland managed to take a fairly interesting idea (folk/death/prog) and then fail to do anything interesting with it. It's interesting in that it is the beginnings of an otherwise excellent band, but on the whole, anyone looking for anything similar to Fables from a Mayfly and other parts of their later work should run away, very quickly. Carbon Copy isn't an enjoyable listen as much as it is a physical chore.

Probably one of the most important albums in my book. This is one of the very few records that doesn't sound like anything else in existence. I have my own copy of this with all member's signatures and it's my most prized possession. It takes an album that no one can possibly fathom due to it's alienation to be truly unique in every form. Like Lizard by King Crimson. Progressive rock is mainstream in comparison to an album like this. Even a fan of underground music wouldn't make it past the first few seconds. Truly extraordinary and a must listen for anyone who hasn't given a one star rating in a while.

Highlights: Informative Timeline, Pen-_-