A LIFEBLOOD PSALM

Okay, it's official. We need a new sub-genre called "Prog Pop" because these bands are coming out of the woodwork all over the place. Probably influenced by the likes of Frost* or ELO, bands such as Active Heed and The Twenty Committee are fusing pop into their music like it should have been there all along. I'm no pop fan, but I do have to admit that it sounds fresh and inviting, to say the least.

The Twenty Committee's debut album "A Lifeblood Psalm" is certainly an ambitious take on the prog style of music. After a great little intro, the album begins with a very "pop" song called "How Wonderful". Now, this may sound weird, but the chorus reminds me of something pop band Lonestar would do. That was a turn-off at first, but then the track progresses to more lovely lyrics and then a KILLER instrumental portion with flaring pianos, pounding drums, and excellent guitar solos. This, my friends, is what The Twenty Committee does best. They take a lovely, gentle-spirited love song, and then they turn it into a display of both surprising virtuosity and ingenuity. Soon enough, the pop sensibility in this album becomes more endearing than irksome. It did for me, anyways. If we love "progressive" music so much, sometimes we just have to sit back and wait. This album is a case in point of waiting to get the bigger picture.

Again and again, this group has impressed me, as this entire debut album is worthy of even the "strictest" prog fan. The classic sound of the fantastic guitars, the worthy drumming, and the excellent piano/keys straight out of Coldplay and Frost* are all more than just complementary to the whole experience. They are the main show, as the outstanding vocals pleasantly lead us along a path of love and music; from one stunning instrumental passage to the next. And, if you can't relate to the lovesick lyrics or even the bit of social commentary involved in the multi-track masterpiece, "The Knowledge Enterprise", then maybe you need to pet a kitten or play "phone" with a toddler. This is innocent stuff here. I have no problem with that.

The Twenty Committee is currently offering this great album for FREE on their bandcamp page, so I hope everyone gives it a listen. Believe me, you will get hooked on the gentle vocals and the wild displays of piano and guitar expertise, if you just try.