NOT EVERYBODY'S GOLD

Not Everybody's Gold from 2000, is the big step in Salem Hill career. To me is much better then Diffrent world and among their best works.The sound is more fat, they try and most of the time succed to come with a more pompous more elaborate arrangements here. I was quite pleasent impressed about this album, after the not so exciting Diffrent world. The arrangements are more elaborated, the progressive elemenst are now melted great with their AOR sound, this time lesser, Salem Hill comes with a great album that push them not necesarly in top 10 prog bands from USA, but in a good spot to be discovered or re discovered by a larger public.The symphonic prog elemets are now more in front, th neo ones are just here and there but alway combining succesfully. Some highlights hereb like the smooth and elegant January, very good piece, with fantastic keyboards who interplay excellent with the guitar parts, intristing and damn catchy tune and the last track thier longest track Sweet Hope Suite I guess since today nearly 35 min of greatneass and good musicianship. Salem Hill's music is something between Relayer (band from USA), some Kansas or Styx in places, always bordering the complxity with pompus arrangements. ON Sweet Hope Suite he is invited as guest one of the Knasa members David Ragsdale who made some violin parts here and there, good track, thier second best after January. Let Loose The Arrow is another winner for me, a positiv track full of great musicianship and great atmosphere. Well this album is in any way better then some of the past albums they done, I will give 3.5 rounded to 4, because I like this band and I like their positiv attitude on their albums.