MENTAL NOTES

A surprisingly collection of highly original and eclectic songs reminding me of so many bands: from early Rush, early Supertramp, David Bowie, Queen, Rod Stewart, Peter Hammill, Family, The Woods Band, Gentle Giant, Gryphon, The Strawbs, Spirogyra, Jefferson Airplane, The Beatles, The Electric Prunes, The Chocolate Watch Band, The Beau Brummels, The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, 10CC/Godley & Creme, Syd Barrett Pink Floyd, and even some early AC/DC, with many truly unique and innovative ideas thrown in that are all their own. The album may not be engineered and mixed very well (thus the comments by other reviewers referring to the "demo" quality of this album when compared to the versions that were re-recorded a year later with Phil Manzanera). I do not, however, comprehend the Genesis comparisons. These are not the mythological musings of young aristocrats, these are the lyrics and theatrics of Elton John and Bernie Taupin, of some Berlin cabaret, of Italian band Jumbo, of Lennon and McCartney.

As other reviewers have said, there really isn't a weak spot on the album while the two long songs, "Under the Wheel" and "Time for Change" really standout. I'm glad this is under the Crossover sub-genre, though Prog-Related would be just as understandable.

Five stars for a minor masterpiece of fresh, energetic music with many, many unique tricks and twists and an astonishing knack for creating seemingly unnatural stylistic or sonic combinations that work! If only the sound were better! I really, really like this album! Definitely a keeper! This is the kind of creative genius that we should be extolling in Prog World!