PENNIES IN THE KARMA JAR

Fresh off the heels of arguably the most ambitious and masterful symphonic prog rock album of the band's storied history, Salem Hill follows up in 2010 with "Pennies in the Karma Jar", a collection of concise songs which unabashedly aspire to tickle our ears with tight vocal harmonies, move our toe-tapping feet with infectious grooves, and impress our 'inner musician' with tasteful displays of talent, all while audaciously daring to even go as far as to shamelessly appeal to "the dark side" of prog fans everywhere through (gasp!) catchy sing- along melodies!

The album wastes no time in setting the tone with "Carry Me", an opening tune which strikes me as the intelligent, crystal clear sing-along rock track that 1994's "Brave New World" could have been had the band been experienced and accomplished enough to sculpt it to a state of such perfectionist audio bliss their first time out.

As usual, Michael Dearing's lead guitar work is memorably melodic and tasteful throughout. Kevin Thomas drum performances manage to shine magnificently without ever distracting from the songs in which they reside. He does, however, take full advantage of the opportunity to cut loose a little when the song "Stormclouds in Wonderland" asks for it.

"Pennies in the Karma Jar" is clearly the work of a mature band at the peak of their technical prowess, a group with nothing left to prove yet quite a lot still left to compose, to sing and to say. This time around Salem Hill have their hearts set on a goal more meaningful than earning more trophies to place on a shelf. This is their day to lay it all on the line in the attempt to provide us glimpses of deeply held convictions and they have boldly done so even to the point of risking failure. That is, after all, what artists do, isn't it?

I can only hope that, as prog fans approach this album, they will give it a fair chance to stand or fall on the basis of its own merits, rather than rush to judgments based upon comparisons to "Mimi's Magic Moment". Given such a chance, I suspect that you, like me, will discover that you cannot help but be "won over" by the sheer excellence of it all.

They have passed 5 years since Mimi s M M .

That one was a beautiful symphonic album.

Pennies I T K J is not so symphonic rather folk prog...in line of the SH old ballads.

Good songs but nothing very inspired.

I miss here a long symphonic epic song as the ones we could listen to in MMM or Be.

"The day is yours "....does not fill my appetite in that way.

In my opinion Carl Groves and company should have built a better piece of art.

The have passed five years and for a band so prestigious in America s neo prog matters we should ask for more.

8 satisfactory (prog) songs is not enough.

So I hope in the next album, Glass Hammer s influences in Carl Groves(he has sang in many GH concerts and projects)could get plasm better.

3 stars for me.

Salem Hill after a long time after the fantastic "MMM" hard returns nearly complete, but without losing the level. More inspired by the classic rock / hard rock. Try to make an album more accessible to the public while the public to please prog. "Carry Me" is a beautiful song even though wanting to be a pop pop is distinguished by a perfect vocals and beautiful guitar solo "My gift to you" might not have heard a song so different is accustomed to hear in the middle prog. The melodic line very unusual in that it is interesting to follow the verses, as he embarks on a blues-rock and surrounding organs. The best is to end, although a few platitudes rescued from previous albums the music is heading towards its end with complex lines and battery involving a guitar melody and flows at its end back to the beginning. Without forget the role of striking down as to compose this masterpiece "Fine" is between a ballad and a psychedelic composition, causing an interesting effect, leaving the mark for his melodic vocals. "Stormclouds in Wonderlane" hardrock for ardent fans, perhaps may be due to demanding fans of the style. Here we return to the commercial part of the album. "This Lump" remarkable mainly for its melody for the chorus, but it seems a hymn. Remarkable guitar and piano solos added with a soft sound of mellotron in the background. "Why Did You Make Me?" Recalls the sound of the band's first guitar with fIffs similar, here again the vocals give "face" of music. "The honor of fearlessness" is perhaps the weakest point of the album, here we come to think too much slower songs, which can cause an excess of "feeling" in an album. "The Day is Yours" the most anticipated album, because it is an epic, symphonic and tied to the side and with a language very well can not please some, at times it seems that the size foraçar even want it; is good, but not enough to be something worth mentioning. Salem Hill seeks a middle ground between a sound and a prog music more accessible and get two. 3,8