NOT AS GOOD AS THE BOOK

Tough to know where to start with this one. It's a double album that has a concept to it. It also came with a book that Tillison wrote and it is excellent. I had such a good time reading it as the subject matter is about this middle aged man who talks about the past and present with Prog bands and music being central to the theme. It also goes far into the future when the earth has been long since destroyed. Well I won't go into the details but it's a blast with Prog music still being the center of it all even thousand of years into the future. I like at the start of the book where he thanks groups of people using only their first names. They're all Prog bands, and it's actually very meaningful because he brings it to such a personal level, like they're old acquantances. It's fun too trying to figure out each band. I also got a kick out him saying he's been yelled at for playing VDGG by four generations, his Grandparents, parents, wife and kids. Haha. This book is something I treasure.

I do prefer "A Place In The Queue" to this one musically, but the whole package here makes it a must have in my opinion. Sam Baine is not on this one. She's been with Tillison from those PARALLEL OR 90 DEGREES days up to the last album I just mentioned. Most know they are a couple who just recently broke up, and that's why she's not here. The final track "The Full Gamut-A Travelogue" actually takes us through their final tour together (read the subtitles) and the problems and battles they had. It's very personal and Andy chose not to have the lyrics for this song only omitted. He had to be convinced by band mates to even include this track. Some of the lyrics are "And the water turns to wine, and the wine turns to pills, and the pills turns to games, and the games are just cheap thrills." The song and album ends with "And I only can dream maybe someday we'll meet again."

For me the second disc is a five star record in itself. My favourite song on the album is "Four Egos, One War" which features Julie King on vocals and she's incredible.

I highly recommend this double album to all. Again this package goes beyond the music, and the book will make you feel proud.