Epilogue (Purple Pyramid CLP0667, 2013)
It seems like the first installment of the Prog Collective did pretty well. Cleopatra Records’ Purple Pyramid imprint is releasing a second album this month by this project. The new album is titled Epilogue .
Despite the name, The Prog Collective is really one of the projects developed by multi-instrumentalist and producer Billy Sherwood. The American musician became a member of Yes during the late 1990s and recorded three albums with them: Open Your Eyes (1997), The Ladder (1999), and House of Yes: Live from House of Blues (2000). Sherwood’s other band is Circa, an AOR band that is erroneously frequently described as a progressive rock band.
For The Prog Collective recordings, Billy Sherwood invites well known musicians from the progressive rock, AOR, hard rock and heavy metal worlds. All the songs have a similar formula. The guitar parts are inspired by Steve Howe and the vocal harmonies borrowed from Jon Anderson and Chris Squire. But these are really not progressive rock songs. The songs have pop hooks and sound more like radio friendly AOR, although you do get some great solos.
The guests this time include Rick Wakeman, John Wetton, Alan Parsons, Chris Squire, Steve Morse, Larry Fast, Sonja Kristina, Steve Hillage, Jordan Rudess, John Wesley, Nik Turner, Geoff Downes, Roye Albrighton, Gary Green, Tony Kaye, Colin Moulding, Mel Collins, Derek Sherinian, Fee Waybill, Patrick Moraz, Jim Cuomo and the late Peter Banks. There is also the unexpected spoken word appearance of Star Trek legend William Shatner (Captain Kirk) on the last piece.
The Prog Collective demonstrates that Billy Sherwood is a great musician, but really needs to invite his friends to contribute more on the composition side. And if you call it prog, please deliver prog.
Buy Epilogue