WARNING: This CD Has Never Been Issued with Extra Tracks!
RockSteadyEddie | Los Angeles, CA | 05/18/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
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Amazon is mistaken in it's description, this cd has never been issued with bonus tracks; I personally own the older Italian version and the newer Japanese mini LP version and neither have extra songs on it.
Otherwise, this band is actually GOBLIN, who originally called themselves "Cherry Five" and released this self-titled album in 1974. This will have a positively great appeal to anyone who can't get enough of YES, ELP & GENTLE GIANT, and some of the other Italian prog masters like PFM, BANCO & LE ORME. This is also much better than the so-called 'YES clone bands' such as DRUID or STARCASTLE.
The musicianship here is top notch, with a strong, symphonic progressive rock of a more traditional kind, (Rather than the horror movie soundtracks that Cherry Five would later record as GOBLIN). The lyrics are unlike most other Italian progressive rock bands, they're sung in English and it works very well.
The opener "Country Graveyard" is very representative for the album, tight, energetic and complex progressive rock based in strong themes and arrangements with lots of mellotron, organ, 70's synths and guitar. Some of the breaks in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" sounds a bit like Genesis, and the organ on "Oliver" have an obvious ELP-influence. The two-part "The Swan is a Murderer" also made some very intelligent use of harpsichord.
This is a great album, and next to PFM's "Photos of Ghosts" it will probably be one of the easiest and best places to start if you're not familiar with the wonderful Italian progressive scene.
Sound quality is excellent and comes packaged in a deluxe mini LP with a glossy booklet in English, (Yeah!) However like I said, NO Bonus Tracks.
But who cares? If you can find this one you'll be glad you did and will make an excellent addition to your prog collection.
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Track Listings (6) - Disc #1