ROCK AND ROLL SYMPHONY

CARNEGIE was a 6-piece American symphonic progressive rock band formed by the classically trained twins Mark and Clark Seymour. Mark and Clark had a quite successful career before CARNEGIE as The MARK & CLARK Band, but that's another story. CARNEGIE's line-up is quite unusual, as Mark and Clark are both Grand Piano players who played back to back at the concerts, their brother Scot is a Moog and Mellotron player in addition to the traditional Guitar, Bass Guitar and Drums. Because of the line-up the music is very grandiose and pompous with both classical influences as well as reminiscences to EMERSON LAKE & PALMER, GENESIS, STYX, SUPERTRAMP and QUEEN. What could've been their big chance turned out in disappointment. Their signing to CBS was no good for the band. In the studio they never got the chance to play their unique kind of symphonic progressive rock. Instead they were "forced" to play a more hit-oriented music. Thanks to the interesting Shroom Productions label we now have the opportunity to hear CARNEGIE as they were in their heydays back in 1977. Unfortunately the sound quality is really bad at times and it takes away a lot of the dynamic you would've got if it was a proper studio recording released on a major record company. Shroom Productions is however honourable for releasing this CD called "Rock and Roll Symphony". And that is what it is, a Rock and Roll Symphony! If you're into the good old progressive American bands from the 70's you will surely enjoy this album although the somewhat poor sound quality. Recommended!

Carnegie is an american band who was lost in a dust of time, not because they were bad, contrary they were pretty good but in the late '70's their music was no more something to talk about. Even this album Rock and roll symphony from 1977 sold more than 400.000 copies, they never manage to make it big. The album sounds adventurous and is very pompous with great key passages, but as a whole something is missing. Form by the three brothers Seymour, all three trained on piano. Now the music is very close to what bands like Queen, Styx or ELP done in past years , with grandous choruses a la Queen, subtile and smooth piano arrnagements, solid moog and mellotron a la ELP. I must say no matter how good this three brothers were, they never catch my attention deeply, the one i realy likefrom the whole bunch is the drumer John Bebbs, excellent musician, with a lot potential and great druming, from fast movements to smooth interplays with the bassist. I can't extract a piece to be the best, all have the same level. Anyway if yoy are into bands like Queen, Styx, the comercial side of these bands combined with the ELPish escapades on keys this make be a good one to aquire, 3 stars, good, but sometimes sounds dated and very unintristing, nevertheless a good album, who desearve a better view.