THE HANGMAN'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER

More true folk music than prog, the influx of Robin Williamson's ever-growing eclectic collection of world instruments is possibly where the "prog" tag got linked to them--that or their attempts at long epics. The songs on this album are quite polished, quite witty (almost Canterburian but, yes, I get it: They're Scotsmen.)

Favorite songs: the Led Zeppelin training songs, "Waltz of the New Moon" and "Three Is a Green Crown"; "Swift as the Wind" (the best vocal on the album); "Water Song" with its amazing solo by the water (:)); "Witches Hat"; the final theme of "A Very Cellular Song"; the musical palette of "Mercy I Cry City";

Too much Jew's harp and kazoo for me. Plus, one of the lead singers (I'm guessing it's Mark Heron) is rarely pitch-perfect.