Here we are again, folks. We find ourselves at the end of another great year for prog. Sadly, we’ve had to say goodbye to some amazing artists this year, including John Wetton, but we at least have their music by which to remember them.
I know I’ve been a bit quiet here at Progarchy lately due to beginning graduate school this fall. Hopefully things settle down going forward, and I’ll be able to contribute more. For now, here are my favorite albums from 2017 in vaguely ascending order.
10. KXM- Scatterbrain
If you’re missing King’s X, then this one will satisfy your craving. Ray Luzier (KoRn) is on drums, George Lynch (Dokken & Lynch Mob) is on guitar, and Doug Pinnock (King’s X) is on bass and vocals. This is their second album, and it is much more varied in its music styles than their debut. I never was into Dokken, but George Lynch’s guitar work is killer -especially on “Breakout”.
9. Big Big Train – Grimspound
I give Grimspound the edge over its sister album, The Second Brightest Star. What a great collection of tributes and vignettes of everything that is good about Great Britain. Using small details to convey big ideas is really difficult, but BBT are masters and make it look easy.
There’s no doubt, it’s fun to be self-righteous from time to time. Well, “fun” for the writer, if not for the reader.
I’ve been patiently waiting for my deluxe box set of TO THE BONE to arrive in Michigan. It finally arrived today, and it’s a thing of beauty and wonder, at least in terms of packaging. It’s now my fourth such Steven Wilson deluxe box set, and I assume the deluxe edition will always be my default purchase option when it comes to any thing new Wilson releases.
Our own beloved Richard has already reviewed the new album rather nicely and objectively.
I’ve only given the album a listen or two. It’s pretty neat, but it’s not grabbed me in the way that the previous solo albums have. Such is life. I’m going to let my like or dislike of it grow organically.
Still, I must write this. Not liking the album is an OK position to hold. I saw several folks today on social media claiming that if you don’t like the new Steven Wilson, you’re betraying the prog tradition. What the ???????? Let me repeat that: What the ????????
One more time: What the ??????
There are days I simply need to detox regarding social media and, especially, Facebook. For some reason, the new Steven Wilson has become a lightning rod in the way Donald Trump is a lightning rod. One either hates or loves him. No via media.
If I choose not to decide, I still have made a choice. So once spoketh Neil Peart. And, I agree wholeheartedly.
Just about two hours ago, the pre-orders for the new Steven Wilson album, TO THE BONE, began. The release comes in four versions, with the deluxe box set being limited in number.
To pre-order from Steven Wilson’s official store, go here: https://store.universalmusic.com/stevenwilson/*/*/To-The-Bone-Box-Set/5IVP0000000
Below is the first video from the album. According to the official write up, Talk Talk’s THE COLOUR OF SPRING and Tears for Fears’ SEEDS OF LOVE serve as two of the three inspirations for the album, labeled as “progressive pop.” The third is Peter Gabriel’s SO.
