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Jordan Rudess - The Road Home CD (album) cover

THE ROAD HOME

Jordan Rudess

 

Crossover Prog

3.21 | 104 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

johnobvious
4 stars Listen, I am not a covers guy. I avoid them like the sour milk. It is just not in my makeup to seek them out. Sometimes they are done well and I usually don't mind them as add-ons to proper albums. But a whole album of them? Forget it. But this is really good stuff we have here.

Let the purists rip this one but it is a rollicking affair that takes some great material, enhances it in some instances and changes it in others but keeps the originals basically intact. Dance on a Volcano is great and has a ripping guitar solo in it. Soundchaser lets Rudess show off his speed chops. I am not a Gentle Giant fan but if all their stuff sounded as good as Just the Same on here, I would be buying their albums. The Piano Medley is just that. Beautiful music but it does stick out a bit on here. The album probably needed a break from all the energy before and after. Piece of the Pi is an interesting little piece that is the only original music on here. I like it.

Tarkus is the grand finale and JR lets it all hang out on this one. Every section gives him a chance to blow your doors off in a new fashion. Sometimes, the song veers off to where you might not recognize it, but it always comes back to the familiar (yet different). There is supposedly no bass played on the album, replaced by some Rudess keyboard effects and bass pedals. You won't miss it. Just don't waste your time thinking about the lack of it, just sit back and enjoy the ride. The vocals are handled by a few different guests. Most of what we have here is much less distinct than the original vocalists, which is fine by me, since I want to let Rudess and his music be the star.

So get your nose out of the air and enjoy this for what it is. JR puts his spin on a few classics and with today's production techniques made them more enjoyable than I could have hoped for. Four solid stars and a unique gem in my collection.

johnobvious | 4/5 |

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