THINKING OUT LOUD

This band set a standard in the Chapel Hill NC scene in the mid to late 1980s. They shunned the cop out forms of music at that time and decided to let imagination guide them. It's too bad this album did not reflect the full compliment of their tunage. Missing is the Emersonian Steinway work of Bollinger, the ripping soprano sax of Barbee, the Gilmorish singing guitar of Howerton, the punchy rythym section of Preston and Lindsey. Sure there are references and influences, and no band exists without them. I am aware of no band that could exist at all without showing tonal and melodic influence of their mentors. And the mastubatory implication is sophmoric and a lazy stab at art. There is no sauch thing as an artist who doesn't derive pleasure from their work, and the ones who claim they don't are liars. The previous reviewer either isn't much of a listener or a musician. In 1987 this band smoked, and in 2004 at the Progday show in the Artscenter in NC they smoked even more. If you like prog get this album.