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The 44th President of the United States of America
President-Elect Barack Obama

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VOTE TOMORROW - 11/4/08
VOTE FOR CHANGE!

CDs Just Added to My Ipod

I have eyed this CD for the past year, and finally decided to order the thing. I am sorry I didn't order it sooner. These guys are absolutely brilliant musicians. I definitely think this is a solid prog masterpiece. It is produced well, all the instruments, vocals, stops and starts are crisp, clean, and balanced out well (unlike the strange piece of work Metallica just put out). They take some creative license with borrowing elements from all the prog metal bands I think are the most recognizable, especially Dream Theater. This Swedish quintet is dead on when it comes to playing accessible well done prog, melodic metal without overdoing it. The vocalist's voice is one of the best I have ever heard. His range fits the everchanging swarm of notes from the band, and fits this eerie, dark, moody quality the music portrays. The band is tight in their playing. I like the odd meters they break into, as it adds to the intensity or breathability to the music. There is definitely tension with this music. It feels broody and yet beautiful at once. I like this CD alot. And if I were just getting into progressive metal, this would be my guide. I highly recommend this to anyone.

I recently heard these guys online, and I was completely blown away by this band. If Darkwater is an introduction into prog, Isolate is the thesis for prog. Circus Maximus (funny little name) is not going to be everyone's taste, as this music requires some patience. The heaviness, the abrupt stops and starts, the harder edge to the music will set this release apart from the melodic prog metal out there. Isolate is CM's second release to date, and judging by their following online, this band cannot put out material fast enough to quench prog thirsty fanatics. What I like about this music is it is hard yes, but there are some very beautiful, acoustic moments that brighten up the mood, vibe, and direction of the songs. The drummer is very good, keeping time with odd meters, and in my opinion, has amazing chops when he has to, yet lays back when the music dictates. Very good guitar presence, and the keyboards are not obnoxious or overdone! The vocalist definitely has a tone to his voice, that reminds me of Korn's Jonathan Davis. This is definitely a "need to listen to more than once" kind of release in order to understand the nuance of the music, and the genius in these compositions.

I am still making my way through this one, but what I have heard so far, I like alot. This band makes no bones about it - they are a Christian band. With lyrics that investigate the tension between faith and doubt, love and hate, sight and blindness, this band has lyrics that frankly, any of us can relate to with our own feelings of inadequacy when trying to articulate and live out a faith that has meaning and purpose. Unfortunately, this band is not to be this year or ever again. Shortly after Sieges Even released Paramount, the band began to fall apart, and officially parted ways this fall. But, each member is working in other groups and it could be interesting to follow the new projects these guys may release. I can compare a bit of Sieges's sound to the likes of Skillet, and Seventh Day Slumber. Good stuff so far, or in this case, ever.

The latest from a sweet English prog band, Marillion. These guys are fantastic. I had pre-ordered this release back in January. This assured me to have my name printed with all the others who pre-ordered as well; our names printed in book number two. The limited edition version that I ordered comes in a nice hardcover box, with two separate books. Each book containing amazing artwork representing some conceptual ideas from the double album. Of course, in each book is a CD. The first CD is called, "Essence." While the second is called, "The Hard Shoulder." Each CD is filled with such a spectral bliss of sound and movement. Essence is my favorite. It has the more moodier of music that I have come to love about Marillion. h's voice has not lost anything with either of these two recordings. Of course, the band has also released just a regular jewel case version of both CDs available stateside at any local music emporium (check your local listings NOW). So far, this is definitely my favorite Marillion project - one, because it has my name in what would be considered a very large CD jacket, and two, because the music is by far the better of anything they have released in the past decade, including their much beloved recording "Marbles." Check out Marillion.com to order your own copy of the hardbook version or just download it, but do pay the artist.