SKYLGE'S LAIR

As I continue to listen and assimilate the songs on this new Leap Day CD, I find myself wondering if I still hear the bit of Supertramp influence in the songs that were on "Awaking the Muse". It seems it's still there, but a lot more subtle.

For one thing, the songs on this new CD are not quite as simple and straight-forward. And that's a good thing, I think. It shows something I admire in a good band (and Leap Year by rights are a good band with alot of potential to stay around and make lots of music): versatility. Lots of good bands lack it, and wind up rather cranking out the same thing. Same ideas, just re-arranged somewhat.

Not so with these boys. Just on the opening track "The Messenger", there are enough starts, stops, and changes to make this something of a mini-opus, but it isn't credited that way. Which again is ok by me.

This CD is - compared to "Awaking the Muse" - a lost "looser" feeling, and not so heavily structured. There's a nice bass lead here, lots of excellent guitar work (yay, Eddy!) all over the place, and with 2 keyboardists, you know you're going to have more than enough textural layers (but not overdone one iota mind you) to keep things lush but not mushy. There's an edginess to this CD that I really like that puts a bit of a "zing" into the songs.

I don't believe it is a better CD than AtM. Just a nice LEAP forward. Keep it up, boys.

Oh! And I loved the little "outro" at the end: "Eddy!! SUPPER!!!" "Oh. Ok." "Fucking noise...." ah ha ha!! Sounds alot like my house when I was growing up and my brother jamming while our dad was trying to get his attention.

Overall rating: 4.25 stars