Posted by: leeway | September 7th, 2005
"Sunrise">"Dark Perimeter" enters a Dark Star-lamb and exits as a roaring heavy lion, exposing the sordid periphery of a scene that is filled with negativity--again, Miller shines with astute lyrics and a robust guitar vibe wrapped in a great tune with the entire band focusing upon serving the song. And that's the great hook to "The Sound"--not one note isn't played with tight focus while displaying a hard maturity that can only come from many nights gigging throughout the States, experimenting with what works, what doesn't. For the most part, everything clicks on "The Sound." The early highlights are just an appetizer, however, for the full-on banquet of the second half as the final quartet offer a multi-layered feast: "Rock Springs Road" shimmers down an early Saturday morning with acoustic bliss, "Bridge of the Gods" is a road-tested gem which excels in its fiery instrumental transition to the studio; Miller plays a Mt. Rushmore solo that has everyone pushing the tempo on towards its epic coda. "Hold On For Now" is the best Pink Floyd song in 26 years and "Trees" is the pathos-riddled cherry on top of the cake--a piano lullaby to roll us back to "Journeyman" as I hit REPEAT yet again...
-- Randy Ray