Rob Kudla
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stands the test of time
I have a love-hate relationship with As The World. On the one hand, it has some of my favorite moments in prog-rock, like "A Short Essay" and "A Habit Worth Forming", all angular and harmonic and melodramatic, and some sweet instrumental interplay on "The Wiblet" especially. All the instrumental tracks, in fact, are beautiful, albeit all very short. Nonetheless, they pull off instrumental virtuosity without ever crossing into instrumental wankery, an all too common trap in which many modern prog rock bands are caught.
On the other hand, the lyrics tend towards bitter, angry criticism of intelligence ("Wormwood") and rational thinking ("As The World", "Never The Same"), with some tedious appeals to superstition (even on "A Short Essay", my favorite) as well as awkward, whiny indictments of "the cool people" (almost every other track) not heard since before Neil Peart could afford a second house. "Mei" or "The End Is Beautiful" this isn't, but only lyrically speaking.
Overall, though, this disc has survived the test of time better to my ears than other prog-rock albums released around the same time by the likes of Spock's Beard, the Flower Kings, even Yes and King Crimson. Echolyn shows here that they may be America's finest prog-rock band, warts and all. Buy Mei first, but don't miss out on this, a document of what a progressive rock band can do when given a shot at the majors.
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Bill Knispel
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Finally available again after 10 years!
as the world is possibly one of the most important American prog albums of the 1990's. Sadly out of print for almost 10 years, this release offers not only their wonderful major label debut (originally released on Sony/550 Records), but a professionally shot DVD of their release party performance from 4 March 1995. Essential listening for all rock music fans!
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CHINASKI
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impressive and beautiful
Echolyn created one of the most original progressive CDs of the 90's with As The World. The songwriting is excellent and the album is full of catchy, hook-filled and artsy songs that made it the best of its class. Impressive and beautiful, and I can honestly say I've never heard anything quite like it before. Recommended.
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Dave Tremper
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Well worth buying!!
A very different and interesting sound by a band that's very tight. "Uncle" was the song that I heard on XM Music Lab (channel 51) that immediately hooked me. There are touches that I hear of Yes, Genesis, Dregs and the just plain uniqueness of Echolyn. I will check out the accompanying DVD and I'm sure I'll dig it. Echolyn is music to this drummer's ears. :-) Now where'd that name come from?
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