NEXUS

In my teenage years, this disc got lots of turntable time (dating myself here). The disc seems to have a split-personality, divided between straight-up prog and straight-up rock 'n roll of a very high calibre I hasten to add. It was this dichotomy that actually made Argent a compelling listen for me.

"The Coming of Kohoutek" is a killer opening track (I think the main theme is from an old Gregorian chant of some sort) and the two succeeding parts are equally stunning, great keyboard work, fiery and upfront yet not obnoxiously overbearing either, a scary tightrope to walk and yet Rod Argent pulled it off so beautifully!

The ballad "Love" I could've done very well without, but the following track "Music Of The Spheres" is one that sticks with me long after it fades, very nice vocal arrangement, cool music and that repeating figure on the Rhodes and guitar together is so hypnotic, like another reviewer said it seems to go forever and you STILL want more! So true.

"Thunder and Lightning" is a good straight-up rocker, "Keeper of the Flame" is positively heart-wrenching with its haunting Mellotron and plaintive vocals. "Man for All Reasons" doesn't make much of an impression on me, but the disc closes strongly though with the fiercely rocking "Gonna Meet My Maker".

If Argent had one positively maddening aspect to it, it was Russ Ballard's guitar work, while certainly not bad by any means, it just didn't add much to the band either, especially on the more progressive tracks where some scorching lead guitar would've been a welcome sound. It seemed like he was afraid to just let go and burn up the fretboard. My impression is that Russ was more of a songwriter than instrumentalist anyway.

A very fun and engaging disc, misgivings aside, "--Kohoutek" alone makes it worth the price.