Unknown Soldier

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?

Of how diverse the band were musically and I wasn't quite expecting the Caribbean flavour on the opening song either. There was a good harmonious feel to the vocals as well and the album had an off-beat AOR meets progressive rock feel from its start.

2. What did you think of the opening tracks?

"Nice Nice, Very Nice" may have been a bit too offbeat for an opening track and its musical style reminded me in some way to the type of thing that Spock's Beard could put out. "Time Waits for No One" as EP said had a Yes feel about it and what I refer to a breezy British sound of the early 1970s but never in a really flowing manner, but that didn't detract from it in any way..

3. What did you think of the later tracks?

"Make Us All Aware" generally starts of as safe sounding track and has a melodic warm feel about it and some diverse bits added in and the type of track that I really like. "Lover Arrive" is one of the best tracks on the album and "Drink of Water" is a strong closing track.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?

As ET said I saw all three artists labelled as the vocalists but then saw that David Pack was the lead vocalist. The vocals are good but I wouldn't put Dave Pack on the same level as say Brad Delp that had been mentioned by Big Ears.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?

Defintely impressed me and initially I thought the album was going to be one of those offerings where despite the musical diversity on board, most of the tracks would end up sounding like a compilation album rather than one focused album, but amazingly the whole thing sounded like just one album.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?

First time I wasn't overly impressed, the second I was impressed and it's an album that offers so much to the listener.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?

The song titles were quite boring in terms of the quality of the music but the lyrics I noticed had some clever twists here and there.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?

Couldn't fault it and I'd say the keyboards really stood out for me here.

9. What did you think of the production?

One of the album's highlights and Alan Parsons certainly had his stamp on this album and brought the best out on an AOR meets prog band.

10. How well do you already know the band/artist?

I just knew their third album which I haven't heard in more than 10 years.

11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to?

Pogressive rock with a strong AOR slant, a style that was quite popular at the time with US bands but I have to say few did them as well as this complex wise.

12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?

I mentioned this earlier so yes a strong yes here.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?

Tracks I like are "Holding On To Yesterday" which has the trappings of a great 1970s commercial sounding track. "Lover Arrive" and "Drink of Water"

14. And the one you liked least?

There was nothing bad on the album but I guess "Mama Frog" was the song that felt out of place on the album.

15. Did the fact that this album is a debut/sophomore/middle period or later period allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated?

Didn't initially feel like a debut at all, as it seemed too contrived but then on a second listen the spontaneity of certain aspects of it could pass for a very accomplished debut album.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist?

This complex blending of AOR and prog is not overly my thing, I normally prefer the two styles seperate or at least offered in an easier listening tone such as Kansas and Styx. But I'd say of its style I can't imagine too many other albums around this time being better than this.

17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one?

Didn't notice one, but that's not say that there wasn't one.

18. Did the album end well?

"Drink of Water" is a slowish finishing track and worked really well.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?

Not really as its diversity was its saviour and strength.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?

I think its cohesiveness as I mentioned earlier as its really strong point, it's actually a real skill to present an album of great instrumentation and diversity and then get it to hang together really well as one cohesive album. Just yesterday I was listening to Lucifer's Friend third album I'm Just a Rock N Roll Singer which is an album that is ruined by its lack of cohesiveness, despite its obvious initial qualities.

Overall Album Rating:

Very Impressive 8.5 out of 10

__________________
Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History