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Band/artist: Bruce Main
Title: Elements
Released: 2006
Label: Self Released
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Track
listing:
1. Before
2. The Heat
3. Feel the Rain
4. Arctic Toast
5. Things of Earth
6. Red Flags
7. One Day |
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The Players
Mark Phraner (vocals), Don Freeborn (drums),
Brian Phraner (bass, vocals), Bruce Main (guitars, keyboards, drums,
percussion, vocals), Freddy Krumins (vocals), Bruce Jones (piano), Matt
Main (bass clarinet) |
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 Bruce
Main is a US-based artist that has been around for quite some time. He
has been active in more or less well known prog bands since the 70's,
and has also had a successfull career in sound engineering and related
areas, from mixing to installments of large scale sound systems. After
some years hiatus from producing music, Bruce started recording and
releasing solo albums a few years back, and Elements is his third
release as a solo artist.
Musically I find it a tad difficult to place Bruce Main's music. Most
songs have a 70's tinge to them in my opinion, although I can't pinpoint
any special references here. Bits and pieces of songs makes me think of
artists as different as Genesis, Gentle Giant, Kansas and Tom Petty, but
the overall sound here sounds, in lack of better descriptions, original.
This in spite of the 70's feel I get when listening to this music.
The overall musical expressions on this release are on the slightly
mellow side, and quite varied as such. All of it within a musical
framework I personally would call "classic prog rock". No metal edges
here, few if any touches from hard rock. The music can at times have
some moments of folk, psychedelic or jazz influence to it, but mostly
this is classic, melodic prog rock.
The songs on this release have an overall high quality as well. Well
played, produced and performed, with good melodies, interesting moods
and well thought out instrumental explorations. No instant classics
here, but no fillers either. Just a good, solid release.
I'd recommend anyone into mellow rock as well as fans of melodic prog
rock to check out this release.
For specific tracks to check out, "The Heat" and "Things of Earth" are
tracks that will give you a feel for the album, as well as the dreamy
"One Day". All of them available from iTunes, as is the rest of this
album.
Rating: 8 (out of 10)
Reviewer: Olav Björnsen
Visit the Artist’s
Website
Discography
Elements (2006)
Layers (2005)
Tracks (2004)
(Review also featured on
www.progressiveears.com) |
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