Ghost

Personnel: John Palumbo (vocals, guitar, synthesizer); Jen Smith, Patty Reese (vocals); Bobby Hird, Rick Witkowski (guitar); Glenn Workman (piano, keyboards); John Tracey (drums).
Audio Mixers: John Palumbo; Rick Witkowski.
Recording information: Busy Buddha, PA; Freq Sound, MD; Studio L, WV; Zenlabs, NJ.
Photographers: Dan Crim; Rick Saphire.
Crack the Sky deliver an album of prog rock goodness as they approach their 30 year anniversary on Ghost. It seems as though the band has given up on incorporating accessible elements into their sound, which is just as well considering their best material is their most bizarre material. Thick, King Crimson-esque songs like the title track are where the band truly shine, especially considering the way they compose hypnotic melodies. They seem to have a similar style of songwriting as Genesis-era Peter Gabriel, composing odd vocal lines over repetitive riffs and synth lines while spouting reflective and frank lyrics about living dirty, mentally unsafe lifestyles. Like any prog rock album, this will definitely have its detractors, this is simply a genre that isn't for everybody. On top of that, this isn't as good as their 70's material, although it is a big step in the right direction after a rough period in the late 80's. Fans of the band should definitely check this out, while fans of the genre may want to start earlier in their career before moving on to this album. ~ Bradley Torreano