The Golden Mean of ELO’s “Eldorado”: Prog Review #43
Upon hearing the distorted and looping vocals that give way to a grand orchestral sweep in the “Eldorado Overture,” I knew I was in good hands with Eldorado.
Choosing None of the Above with Meshuggah’s “Destroy Erase Improve”: Prog Review #42
A whole lot of yelling, thrashing, pounding.
Warming Up to Amon Düül II’s “Yeti”: Prog Review #41
It was a wonderful surprise that I was into Amon Düül II’s Yeti (1970) from moment one.
Halfway to Soft Machine’s “Third”: Prog Review #40
There’s something unfair about this entire project of listening to an album with the purpose of generating content, a review that both forms a judgment of the artist and some pithy observations about music, culture in general, or myself.
“Over/Under”: Pixar Edition
Setting the record straight on the best and worst Pixar movies.
War is for Children: Star Trek TOS, S1Ep18, "The Squire of Gothos"
An entertaining meditation on the childish nature of war with more subtlety than is characteristic of the show.
The Limits of AI for Writing
All these problems speak to the immense gulf between AI writing and the stuff put out by actual people. Many of us are focused on the I part of AI—intelligence. But it’s the artificial we need to understand better.
Facing Porcupine Tree’s “Fear of a Blank Planet”: Prog Review #39
Porcupine Tree’s Fear of Blank Planet left me in fear of a blank page.
“You” is Gong Wringing Out New Sounds: Prog Review #38
… while I typically find all these sounds and subjects uninteresting or off-putting, there’s still lots for me to love here.
Marillion Keeps Prog Alive Through “Clutching at Straws”: Prog Review #37
But what a showcase of how 80s production and themes can go right!
Casual Friday: Reviewing Nirvana’s “Nevermind”
Listening to Nirvana’s Nevermind for the first time
“Si on Avait Besoin d'une Cinquième Saison,” on L’Appelle Harmonium: Prog Review #36
I did not expect to see a French Canadian band on the Rolling Stone list, but I did expect to love it
Banco del Mutuo Succorso's "Io Sono Nato Libero" is a Sound Investment: Prog Review #35
Banco del Mutuo Succorso translates as Bank of Mutual Relief; not as whimsical as Premiata Forneria Marconi, (Award-winning Marconi Bakery) and the same can be said for the music. PFM's bakery is full of sundry delights, while Banco's staid offerings are all money.