Overworld Dreams – Under the Covers I (2020)
Overworld Dreams released an album of prog rock cover songs, Under the Covers I, on August 4, 2020. It follows the amazing studio album, Gateway, released December of 2019; which I reviewed earlier this year.
Although this is a covers album, the band has done some excellent work on these masterpieces, that signify their influences and allow the band to play some favorite songs from some of progs’ master bands. It also keeps Overworld Dreams busy during this ruthless pandemic, creating and bringing back wonderful memories.
They also chose some great songs to cover, that rarely get the play they should, or should have in the past.
Overworld Dreams, a New Jersey-based prog band, consists of members: Randy Sandmann, on guitars; Paul Higginbotham, on guitars; Matt Maugeri, on vocals and guitars; Ken Walker, on keyboards and vocals; Elizabeth Holder, on vocals and keyboards; Chris Parsons, on drums, bass, guitar, keyboards, and vocals. The band also enlisted special guest: Dylan Mays, to create the guitar solo on “In the Dead of Night”.
The album was engineered and mixed by Chris Parsons, Randy Sandmann, and Ken Walker. It was mastered by Randy Sandmann and Chris Parsons.
Every song on the album is a classic track revisited. It is worth listening to the band’s versions of these songs to hear their different perspective and highlights on these tracks.
My favorites were their rendition of Billy Thorpe’s “Children of the Sun”. Having a female lead definitely took this track in a different and interesting direction. The guitarwork was intense. Elizabeth Holder did an amazing job on vocals, providing a much-needed, softer and alternative sound. The keyboards were diverse and so different than those used on the original. Chris Parsons’ deep bass towards the end, was also memorable and different than what I remember from the original.
I am a Genesis fan. “Man, of Our Times” and “Just a Job to Do”, are not some of my favorite Genesis songs. But the band does bring life to these two songs that often get neglected both now and when the two albums, Duke and Genesis were popular. On “Man, of Our Times”, the keyboards sound especially better than the original. Which is a lot to say considering Tony Banks power on the keyboards.
“Snowblind”, the Styx cover is almost as good and in some cases better than the original. Elizabeth Holder does a better job than Tommy Shaw. Then again, I have never been a Tommy Shaw fan. Chris Parsons does a very good job covering the James Young brooding vocals.
“Feeling that Way’ is a good cover of the Journey classic, but it is almost impossible to compete with Steve Perry or Freddy Mercury. Good try Elizabeth Holder.
Rush’s “Subdivisions”, is one of my favorite songs by the band. But Overworld Dreams does a great job covering this song. Especially the keyboard work.
I have not heard Todd Rundgren and Utopia’s song “Caravan”, since the album came out back in the 1970s. So, this one was wonderful to hear again. Thanks for rekindling the interest in this song.
I also haven’t heard “In the Dead of the Night”, from UK, for a long time. The nostalgia was great.
I know I am amongst the very few, but I have never been a fan of Opeth or Porcupine Tree, so “Burden”, and “Blackest Eyes” were good renditions of those two songs. Very close to the originals, and some of the better songs I have heard from their catalogs.
This is a very unique line up of songs which brought back memories and at the same time shined new light on songs that I remember and have listened to fondly in my past. Please pick up this album and rekindle your interest in these songs and help support a band during this economically destructive pandemic.
Track List
- In the Dead of the Night – 5:13
- Children of the Sun – 5:54
- Caravan – 6:37
- Man, of Our Times – 5:28
- Snowblind – 4:36
- Burden – 6:24
- Feeling that Way – 3:31
- Blackest Eyes – 4:25
- Just a Job to Do – 4:36
- Subdivisions – 5:33
https://overworlddreams.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4JrwXywBYSN3edZ9uS8uWl
https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/overworld-dreams/gateway/
I just listened to pieces of this. You are right, it’s quite good and worthy of being in rotation.