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PENNIES IN THE KARMA JAR

Salem Hill

Neo-Prog


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Salem Hill Pennies In The Karma Jar album cover
3.67 | 52 ratings | 3 reviews | 13% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2010

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Carry Me (3:56)
2. My Gift To You (7:54)
3. Fine (6:06)
4. Stormclouds In Wonderland (4:13)
5. This Lump (7:28)
6. Why Did You Make Me (6:34)
7. The Horror Of Fearlessness (5:38)
8. The Day Is Yours (13:59)
9. Glimpses (6:03)

Total time 61:51

Line-up / Musicians

- Carl Groves / guitars, keyboards, Wurlitzer, Hammond, vocals, producer
- Michael Dearing / guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Patrick Henry / bass, fretless bass
- Kevin Thomas / drums, percussion, vocals

With:
- Jeff Malash / cello (8,9)

Releases information

Artwork: William Neagle

CD Lazarus Records ‎- none (2010, US)

Thanks to progpositivity for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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SALEM HILL Pennies In The Karma Jar ratings distribution


3.67
(52 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(13%)
13%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(46%)
46%
Good, but non-essential (33%)
33%
Collectors/fans only (4%)
4%
Poor. Only for completionists (4%)
4%

SALEM HILL Pennies In The Karma Jar reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by progpositivity
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars 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.

Latest members reviews

4 stars 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 wanti ... (read more)

Report this review (#488095) | Posted by nandprogger | Thursday, July 21, 2011 | Review Permanlink

3 stars 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 ... (read more)

Report this review (#308387) | Posted by robbob | Friday, November 5, 2010 | Review Permanlink

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