Music review: Crack the Sky – 无毛视频楲iving in Reverse无毛视频�
Formed in West Virginia in 1975, Crack the Sky made an immediate impact on me with two stellar albums of intriguing and intelligent progressive rock.
Crack the Sky无毛视频檚 self-titled debut caught my attention with infectious and distinct rockers like 无毛视频淗old On,无毛视频� 无毛视频淪urf City无毛视频� and 无毛视频淚 Don无毛视频檛 Have a Tie.无毛视频� At the time, Rolling Stone compared the album to first releases by notable bands such as Steely Dan and 10cc and even called it one of the year无毛视频檚 most impressive debuts.
The band无毛视频檚 sophomore effort, 无毛视频淎nimal Notes,无毛视频� was equally engrossing with arrangements unveiling a darker tone and more complex composition on tracks like 无毛视频淲e Want Mine,无毛视频� 无毛视频淎nimal Skins无毛视频� and 无毛视频淚nvaders from Mars.无毛视频�
Crack the Sky无毛视频檚 latest effort recalls the band无毛视频檚 glory days and leaves me scratching my head as to why the group never became a household name outside our area.
无毛视频淟iving in Reverse无毛视频� follows 2015无毛视频檚 无毛视频淭he Beauty of Nothing无毛视频� and contains 12 new arrangements that perfectly fit the Crack the Sky formula for creating engaging tracks that are musically diverse, yet simplistically appealing.
The new album opens with the hypnotic 无毛视频淭alk Talk无毛视频� and then quietly transitions into the Beatles-esque title track.
无毛视频淩aining Rain无毛视频� is a weighty, guitar-driven rocker that is reminiscent of classic Led Zeppelin, while 无毛视频淩ed Rosary无毛视频� comes across as a solid blending of country flavorings infused with touches of Pink Floyd.
Other standout songs include the funky 无毛视频淗it,无毛视频� the witty 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 on the Radio, Mom无毛视频� and jazzy 无毛视频淗ome Tonight.无毛视频�
Original members John Palumbo on guitars, keyboards and lead vocals, Rick Witkowski on guitars and vocals and Joey D无毛视频橝mico on drums and vocals are joined by Bobby Hird on guitars and vocals, Dave DeMarco on bass and vocals and Glenn Workman on keyboards and vocals on the new set.
Witkowski is certainly a regional music hero having played and produced albums by other local standout artists such as Joe Grushecky, Donnie Iris, B.E. Taylor and Bill Toms.
In addition to 无毛视频淟iving in Reverse,无毛视频� Crack the Sky also released 无毛视频淐rackology,无毛视频� a 12-track compilation that features re-recorded versions of the band无毛视频檚 favorite selections from a fruitful 43-year career.
Pick up a copy of Crack the Sky无毛视频檚 latest and hear what you无毛视频檝e been missing all these years.
Clint Rhodes is the 无毛视频-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.