Spocks Beard
The Oblivion Particle
Inside Out
Release Date: 21 August 2015
Review By: Rod Whitfield
Sometimes you just need to listen to a record multiple times for it to sink in properly. The twelfth album by this classic American prog act is another such case.
First impressions of this album were that it’s an ‘old school’ prog album, and I’ve always had somewhat of a philosophical problem with that concept. By their very definitions, ‘old school’ and ‘progressive’ are contradictory.
So upon first listens, this album comes across like an Americanised version of ‘70s British prog rock recordings by legends like Yes and Genesis. However, after a number of digestions, it was the quality of the songs that won out over any feelings of The Oblivion Particle being passé. Unlike the majority of prog rock and metal, SB’s tunes are relatively bright and breezy, believe it or not. Especially a track like Bennett Made a Time Machine.
Best track award goes to the spanking riffs and grooves, and soaring vocals of Minion, however.
The term ‘fun prog rock’ is not often heard, but this album is prog rock, and it’s fun, so it appears that it has been achieved here.