THE GREAT PROPHECY OF A SMALL MAN

The return of the 80's! Shall we call it "Neo New Wave"?! Thank goodness for some technological advances since 1986. Here we have what feels like THE CHURCH or AZTEC CAMERA gone upbeat and electronic. BUGGLES! I must admit to being sucked into and moving around the floor to a couple of these songs ("Troubles in Heaven," "Here I Go") and smiling at many amusing instances--but to me this is really pop music--at times the kind Steely Dan, Aztec Camera and XTC made-- intelligent but with (usually) a very limited popular appeal (while churning out the occasional idiosyncratic 'hit') --while at other times it is very much Adam Ant or Duran Duran. I admire the way the singer/lyricist and musicians often go out on a quirky limb--as if to make fun of themselves. And I admit they seem to create unusual song structures with very tight and able musicianship. It's just that . . . How far do we keep stretching the envelope of what is acceptable to 'prog music?' Is this progressive as we consider YES, FLOYD, GENTLE GIANT, KING CRIMSON and JETHRO TULL? Or, is it even progressive in terms of pushing the envelope of sound, musical constructs and delivery shapes and forms? Are clever lyrics and quirky musical deliveries enough? If so, bring on DEVOTCHKA, PRINCE, EMINEM, and LADY GAGA!