WILD DOGS

I've already rated the bootleg version of this album. But really, the definitive version is a great improvement for the sound. It's not only a remastered and a remixed.... all the guitars, the bass and the vocals have been rerecorded. Some songs as Dead End have been completely remade with a new structure. There are, as we know, several trends in prog rock. But, in symphonic, old fashion like approach, it's really a must. Near two and a half hours of songs that explore a really wide palette of colors in arrangements. Most of all, the melodies still deep and emotional in a suggestive environment. I still rate it at 5. I do so when I can't stop to listen something over the weeks and periodically come back to it.

I discovered CIRKUS through Wild Dogs (official bootleg) last year and I kept on listening since. I was thrilled to see that they took the time to release a new edition of this beautiful material for the anniversary of the first release!

Some slight change in the pacing, but most of all, the rerecording of some of the instruments and the new mastering makes it event more enjoyable! Most of the songs also benefited form the maturity that naturally comes with playing songs for many months as a group as they prepared for their first festival in Quebec City. I highly recommend it!!!

Wild Dogs is the first album by Cirkus and it's a very strong debut. I've never heard a album this long ever. You won't ever get board with this album. From the fist track "Falling The Tree" to " Dalhousie's Walk" it never sounds the same and never gets boring. Dalhousie's Walk and the rest of the epics on the album are great. My top 3 favorite songs on the album would be 1. Dalhousie's Walk, 2. Johnny Got His Gun And 3. Limbo. Great keyboards and guitars here. Vocals are not perfect though. I would definitely recommend this album to anyone who likes classic 70's symphonic prog!

CIRKUS are a band out of Quebec who actually released "Wild Dogs" in 2017 as a bootleg then decided to re-record it with some new songs releasing this one in 2018. I honestly thought I had the 2017 release(haha) but no. So on this release they are a four piece with a vocalist, 2 guitarists and a multi-instrumentalist playing keyboards, drums and bass if you can believe it. No I can't see how this would work live unless you bring in a couple of more musicians. The sound quality is okay but not the best. This is a double disc worth well over 2 hours. And the reason I'm hard on doubles is because I am into consistent albums and it seems to be a rare thing for a band not to throw in some crap or filler I guess is the better word. This is also all over the place with Classical, Jazz, Comedy and World textures as Discogs puts it in the bio. I'm not big on variety. GENESIS is clearly the inspiration here with the pulsating organ style, vocals and more. I started to write some notes while spinning this one more time but I can't do it. A low 3 stars.