ACROSS THE RUBICON

As I listen to this album (again) I'm reminded as to why I've never rated their previous albums very highly: I do not enjoy the plugged-direct-to-computer versus microphone-recorded sounds and recording techniques, the RUSH- and SURVIVOR-like rock feel, and the ALAN PARSONS PROJECT feeling of the variety of lead vocalists used. There is nothing exceptional here and a lot of music that is imitative of what I call "second-tier" or "prog-related" rockers from the 70s, 80s and 90s. The stuff is okay, it's just that there is nothing here calling me back (though I've gone back now several times over the past couple of months). Definitely not 'essential' listening.