PART THE SECOND

When the name 'maudlin of the Well' came up in conversation in the past, I would always find myself filing them away under the 'maybe someday' category in my head by default. It wasn't that I was biased against them for any reason, but they just never seemed like a band I could see myself getting into right away, and I didn't want to jump in to a huge time investment to allow them to grow on me until I knew I would be able to give them the proper attention.

Then, I saw where this particular album was being offered for free by the band. ''Well . . . maybe I'll like them more than I thought'' became my next thought. So I went straight to the official website, downloaded this album, and began my musical journey . . . Let me tell you right now. If you ever had any doubts for any reason about this band, lay them to rest immediately, and listen to this album. You will be more than happy that you did.

I know these guys are considered a 'metal' band by many, but Dream Theater they are not. Nowhere close. This is more along the lines of Indukti, if I were to name another band that would even come close to the sound of this album. But in all honesty, this gem of a record is a completely separate entity; it has no peers. It is perhaps the most beautiful modern album I have ever heard in my life. Trust me, it takes a lot for me to say that, because I've been a diehard Tool fan for ages, and still consider 'La te ra lus' to be my personal favorite album of all time, and while this one doesn't quite reach those heights for me, it comes pretty durn close-- especially by modern music standards.

So . . . what IS it, you may ask? That's much harder to explain, but I will do my best. It's Post-Rock meets Prog Metal meets Classical. That's not even accurate, but what the hell; I can't put it in any clearer terms than that. Let me just assure you that if you keep an open mind going in to this, you will love it, regardless of what genre you may normally like or dislike. It's the immediate accessibility that makes this record so special, I think. Without even the smallest amount of embellishment, I can confidently tell you that from the very moment I started ''Part The Second'', my jaw was on the floor in awe. It doesn't pick up from the first verse, or the first solo; this album grabs your attention from the very first NOTE.

The music is absolutely beautiful from start to finish on this thing; nothing ever sounds like it shouldn't be there. Things just fall into place so naturally, as if these songs were always there, and the band members simply 'uncovered' them over the course of the album's recording. I've every now and again found myself connecting with a piece of music in such a personal way that it truly felt as if I'd known it all along. Typically, this only happens with short jingles, such as a famous movie theme or long-played commercial on television. Until I heard maudlin of the Well's ''Part The Second'', only one full length album had done that to me. Now I can say that there are now two.

This is a much shorter review than I usually write, but I fear that if I go into any more specific detail, it may ruin the listening experience for you. So let me just say, again . . . go download this album right away. Nothing is keeping you from doing so. it's free, legal and worth your time 100%. An unbelievable piece of audible art that can only be fully understood upon hearing it for yourself. I cannot sing its praises enough. This album IS a masterpiece, indeed. Absolutely essential.

I try to keep my five-star ratings to a minimum, but this album may be the most deserving yet of the score out of everything I have reviewed thus far. You simply must hear it. It's amazing.

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