CLASSIC ROCK PRESENTS: PROGNOSIS 6

No doubt most people on this site are attracted to the idea of a stand alone prog-focused magazine, especially one with the budget and distribution of Classic Rock Magazine. That said, I've heard a few of these compilations and have been left underwhelmed at best. If prog is to truly thrive as a viable, "living" form of rock and not just another recycled genre from the past, it needs to promote new bands and scenes. And that's where this particular compilation falls short. Other than Steve Wilson who needs no further introduction to the initiated, the groups being featured generate little excitement. The musicianship, production and themes being explored have their heart in the right place, but there's an overall lack of exciting melodies and a real dearth of talented vocalists. Vocalists might not be at the top of the prog food chain, but this magazine tends to really promote vocal-heavy bands, so as such they need to do a better job of quality control. For me personally, I'd prefer a mix of new bands and older re-released material, given that the prog landscape is so vast. Anyway, the magazine is good step in the right direction and hopefully the quality and mix of bands given exposure on the free CD improve over time. In a simpler sense, I've always judged free CD's from music magazines in a very simple way - how often do they make me want to go out and immediately buy a new band I would have never heard of? On this CD it might just be one band, possibly two.