SLEEPING IN TRAFFIC - PART ONE

Beardfish is the perfect example of modern prog successfully taking cues from the past classic artists, and making those ideas completely their own. Many other bands attempt this, but fail. Why does Beardfish succeed above others? It's all about heart. As I have said time and again, technical ability and knowledge of proper music theory will get you nowhere if you don't know how to write good music to begin with. All of that previously mentioned stuff . . . it's all tools. If you don't how to use those tools, knowing how they work isn't worth anything. The guys in Beardfish seem highly aware of this, since they, just like all the greats, know when to back off and allow the artistry and emotion shine. There is still plenty of complex, involved stuff here, but it never goes too far. It's just the right dose of everything needed for an enjoyable, well-balanced listening experience.

That's why ''Sleeping In Traffic: Part One'' is so special. It seems to do everything right musically, and never bored me. It was my first Beardfish experience, but will not by any means be my last. The higher points of the record include: 'Sunrise', 'Afternoon Conversation', 'Roulette', 'The Ungodly Slob', 'Year of the Knife' and 'Without You', but the whole thing is good. It's a concept album that carries over into a second volume, which I have not heard yet (I know, I know).The lyrics on the whole are pretty strong, and I quite like Rikard Sjöblom's voice. He has a comforting tone to his singing, can also be quite brash and abrasive when needed. That factors in when the music takes its darker turns. Now, for the most part, this record is light, classic-style Prog Rock, but sometimes the Beardfish boys get down with their bad selfs, and when that happens, they prove quite capable of crunching out the more modern, heavy tunes as well.

I want to stress this band's originality, despite their obvious influences. The music found within ''Sleeping In Traffic'' is still unique and fresh. It is reminiscent of past greats, but this is not by any means emulation or imitation. It's Beardfish, plain and simple.

I'm glad to see this group gaining the popularity they have, especially in more recent years. I've owned this particular album for nearly two years, myself, and I still love listening to it from beginning to end when I have a day to kill. It's absolutely worth adding to your collection, and should not be missed by any modern Prog enthusiast. If you're a more prudish ex-Prog fan, then you may find there are moments on this record that are too 'modern', but if you love music in progression, this one can't be passed up.

Happy Listening.