NEW MUSIC CORNER # 56 MEGA POST (FAIR TO MIDLAND/PAGANS MIND/KYNG) (PROTO-KAW/DARYLL HALL/LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM)

Okay, so I'm totally breaking the rules here. I have a surplus of 2011 releases that I want to share with you, so this week I'm bringing you a total of 6 new albums to judge. I've grouped the heavier albums by the modern bands together (the first 3 albums) and the lighter albums by the classic artists together (the last 3 albums). Also, I've put a single asterisk by my favorite track on the album, and a double asterisk by any track that I'm considering for my Top 10 Songs of 2011.

Don't worry about me, if you can't find time to listen to them all, I won't be offended. But I had to get these out there and at least give you the chance to hear them, just in case you find something you like. To that avail, I've made it quite easy for you to pick and choose. I made a separate player for each album that is linked to the album cover. So if you don't want to hear them all, just click your preference and give it a listen.

I'll give the best album cover award for these six albums to....Pagan's Mind.

Fair To Midland - Arrows & Anchors (2011)

Fair To Midland is, according to Wikipedia, an American Progressive Metal band. Arrows & Anchors is their fourth full-length studio album. They have also released one EP. Jon and I have touched on this band briefly, as I posted their previous album as an AOTW after Jon had posted a song from that album as a mystery song. Quite honestly, they don't sound like any other band. That may be a good thing or a bad thing, who knows. Anyway, I like 'em, and the second song below is one of my favorites of the year.

1. Heavens To Murgatroyd

2. Amarillo Sleeps On My Pillow **

3. Rikki Tikki Tavi

4. Golden Parachutes

5. Bright Bulbs & Sharp Tools

Pagans Mind - Heavenly Ecstasy (2011)

Pagans Mind is a Progressive Metal band from Norway that was founded in 2000. Heavenly Ecstasy is their fifth studio album. And, that's all I know. I picked this up for no real reason. I just thought I'd give it a try. For me, it falls somewhere in between great and terrible. In other words, it's okay. I do like the song Eyes Of Fire pretty well.

1. Eyes Of Fire *

2. Into The Aftermath

3. Walk Away In Silence

4. Follow Your Way

5. The Master's Voice

Kyng - Trampled Sun (2011)

Kyng is a trio from southern California. I bought this based on some of the sound clips, basically just taking a chance. I don't love it but I don't hate it. I don't know much about the band but at times the vocalist makes me think of Chris Cornell from Soundgarden.

1. Falling Down

2. Pushing And Pulling

3. I Don't Believe

4. The Roses

5. The Beauty Of The End Shorelines Pt. 1 & 2 *

Proto-Kaw - Forth (2011)

Proto-Kaw is an American progressive rock band. It's basically a re-formation of the band that proceeded Kansas. It features Kerry Livgren, who, if you don't already know, wrote Carry On Wayward Son and Dust In The Wind for Kansas. While there are not any songs quite as stupendous as those, this isn't a bad collection of music at all. I like the guitar work, and there is even some flute work that reminds me of Jethro Tull a bit.

1. Daylight *

2. Pilgrim's Wake

3. Pollex

4. Lay Down

5. Utopian Dream

Daryl Hall - Laughing Down Crying (2011)

I'm sure you all know that Daryl Hall was/is the main vocalist for American band Hall & Oates. This is his 5th solo album and his first studio solo album in about 14 years. It's very typical music you would expect from him, a touch or rock, soul and R&B. The big thing for me is that he has actually written original music here. I'm so tired of these aging rock stars putting out covers albums. Kudos to DH for this.

1. Laughing Down Crying

2. Eyes For You (Ain't No Dobut About It)

3. Save Me *

4. Crash And Burn

5. Problem With You

Lindsey Buckingham - Seeds We Sow (2011)

Other than one cover, the Stones "She Smiled Sweetly", we get all original music from LB as well. But unlike Daryl Hall, this dude has been busy. This is his third original studio solo album in the last 5 years. Awesome. Take one listen to Illumination and tell me that would not be a perfect song for the Mac. I'd go as far as saying that if it were a FM song, it would probably be a hit.

1. Seeds We Sow

2. Illumination *

3. When She Comes Down

4. One Take

5. End Of Time

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jon on November 3, 2011 at 5:08pm

This is too many. Were you talking to Scott and he gave you the cool idea to break the rules? This is anarchy!!!!

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Permalink Reply by RJhog (Admin) on November 3, 2011 at 5:35pm

No. I was thinking along the lines of "I wrote the rules, I can change the rules, I can break the rules, because I am omnipotent". Besides, quit cryin' and just pick out two to listen to.

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Permalink Reply by Jon on November 3, 2011 at 6:06pm

Fine. I'm posting 20 next week. Twenty.

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Permalink Reply by Scott on November 3, 2011 at 7:42pm

My first choice was the Daryl Hall release... He's such a talented song writer, musician, and even visionary. His Live from Daryls House is one of the coolest things Ive ever seen.

Check this link if your curious (http://www.livefromdarylshouse.com/welcome.html)

I loved "Laughing Down Crying" outstanding!
Eyes for you sounds like it woudl fit on any Hall and Oates release from Marigld Sky til now. But still a nice track for the style of music he's writing.
Save Me. Strong!
Crash and Burn. Stunning, not sure why but this one was really nice from listen #1. Love the acoustic rhythm. Classic!
Problem With You. Didn't start off very strong but just like some of his other quirky tunes, this one just gets better as you listen kind of a cool bluesly feel to the geetar work. I suspect this song would be a favorite after the 4th or 5th listen. But if this is the worst track then this is a great CD?

Im in full purchase mode on this one...

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Permalink Reply by Niels (Mod) on November 5, 2011 at 10:45am

From now on, I'm going to break the rules also. HA HA HA...no more rules!!!!!!! Can I swear from now on? Can I?? Guess not!! Interesting that the P-word, you wrote a couple a days ago, RJhog, is NOT swearing, but if you call it a C..., THEN it's swearing. You americans are funny!!!!! I'm allowed to say Vagina, but not P.... or c..., or what???? HA HA HA.

LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM - THUMBS UP

I like LB. He has got a great voice. Easily the best voice in Fleetwood Mac. Even though Stevie Knicks WAS a knockout, I never really liked her voice. In fact, women can't sing. I almost bought this album, but didn't. I kind of regret that. Good guitar-player as well. Music for 46 years old people like me. Are these, the best songs on the album???

PROTO-KAW - THUMBS EVEN

When you write "Progressive Rock", I've GOT to listen, and when you write Jethro Tull and Kansas, my expectations are pretty high. But already in the first track, there's that dreadful saxophone. Otherwise track no.1 is pretty good. Not THAT good, but okay good. The "Kashmir"-riff lives on!! Track 2 is not really good, a bit on the boring side. That flute does not remind me of Jethro Tull, not at all. It kind of reminds me of Kindergarden. Track 3 starts with a guitar-sound stolen from RUSH, and NOW it sounds a bit like Ian Anderson on flute!! The singer is not very good. He kind of ruins it. It's a good song!! But That RUSH-guitarsound, is clearly stolen!!! When I posted Neal Morse (remember him?) in NMC a couple of weeks ago, you mentioned CSN&Y. Well, the start of track 4 sounds like CSN&Y-vocals to me, so there!! I don't think, that this band is very original. It sounds okay, but nothing that I would purchase. I don't really have time to listen to the last track. Maybe some other time.