Jem Godfrey, a British music producer, was responsible for several pop hits, such as songs by Atomic Kitten and Holly Valance. However, do not let this news misguide you – Jem Godfrey’s progressive rock band, Frost*, is as far from the cheese-factor of these songs. However, with such an extensive period producing pop songs, he has brought his experience of creating catchy riffs and elements to progressive rock. Frost* was formed in 2004 with members of other popular prog-rock bands, Arena, Kino and IQ. In 2006, they put out their first album, “Milliontown”, a masterpiece in neo-progressive rock ending in an awesome twenty-six minute song. As is often the case with progressive rock, the length is often a hindrance to introducing a band. However, today’s track – the first on the album is a brilliant instrumental introduction to the band which reveals the awesome talents of the band. Although Frost* split up in 2007, they reformed last year and released a second album, “Experiments in Mass Appeal” which is also well worth a listen. For now, enjoy today’s track, “Hyperventilate”:
It’s been quite some time since I last posted anything on Something Chewie I admit. However, when I received today’s track by Calgary, Canada’s “The Unravelling”, I felt I would be doing a great disservice if I didn’t post what looks to be an incredibly promising new progressive rock band. Describing their debut album as a “psycho-analytical concept album”, you can expect to be in for some dark, moody – but fundamentally – deep music. Their album is set to release later this year, although in the mean time, the majority of their music can be heard on their official website. Here’s hoping you’ll enjoy today’s track, “In the Safe House”:
I’m currently away on holiday, so I’ve picked out one of my favourite posts of the last year for you to enjoy – so whilst I’m not here, you can still get some good music – and if you’re a new reader/listener, it might be something new to you, or encourage you to browse through the archives. I will be back in the beginning of September!
I thought it might be somewhat ironically iconic to start off the second month’s barrage of music with an alternate take on the very first track. But my logic tells me I’ve already gone and ruined that, because yesterday’s post was technically the 32nd track. Never fear, it has only delayed the inevitable! So, you heard 3 – Lay Down The Law back in the day (well, last month) and now let’s go to Joey Eppard (lead singer of 3)’s solo career – where he also performs a take on Lay Down The Law. The bonus here is, along with the rest of Eppard’s 15-track album "Been to the Future", is performed in acoustic, with everything performed by the man himself. Even acoustic-ised, it comes off as funky and groovy. So, here’s our second look at "Lay Down The Law":
Because it’s been a while since we last featured any moody, atmospheric progressive rock, today’s track comes from British progressive rock band, Porcupine Tree. Some people I’ve given tracks of theirs to, often find it depressing music – but I think if you really get wrapped up into, the music is quite uplifting. Maybe not quite as much as the previously featured bonus track, Drown with Me. (How’s that for a depressingly-titled song with an uplifting tune?) In any case, I hope you’ll enjoy it. As always with the music on Something Chewie, I hope that you might from time to time peruse music from genres you wouldn’t usually frequent. On with the show, here’s today’s track “Glass Arm Shattering”:
Well known both by fans of progressive rock and Star Trek fans alike, Spock’s Beard is a powerhouse of good music. Although the band has had a number of albums, my favourite has to be the 2002 "Snow" – a double-CD concept album (described by some as a prog rock opera) about an albino psychic who gains himself a messianic following and then loses it all. Despite being a grand feat in production, the music and storyline come together so well. This is the last track of the first CD (and the second too, incidentally) which is quite a motivational, powerful track worthy of recognition. After the album, frontman Neal Morse left the band due to his recent finding of Christianity, and left the band in the hands of his brother, Alan. The later albums are good, but so far nothing has quite topped this. Here is today’s track by Spock’s Beard, "Wind at my Back":
Elfonía – an experiment rock band from Mexico starring the awesome voice (and violin playing) of Marcela Bovio, has had two albums to date. Their second, and presumably last (unfortunately), “This Sonic Landscape” features a mix of progressive rock with hints of gothic metal mixed with some very atmospheric guitar tracks. This is one of the gentler tracks on the album, but it soon comes full swing to show of the band’s prowess – here is today’s music: “… de los libros del tiempo” by “Elfonía”:
Buy the album through Amazon.co.uk – unfortunately I cannot find a UK online store with the album in stock. It’s seemingly quite a rarity, so grab it wherever you can! It is still available from the official website, but with delivery charges.
Mythic tales of fire, dragons, swords and Evermore – it doesn’t get more fantasy than this! Today’s track comes for the epic-sounding progressive rock band Ten, who we’ve seen once before. Ten’s “Evermore” comes from the aptly titled “Return to Evermore” – Ten’s seventh studio album released in 2004 – complete with what you might expect of a Ten album – fantasy concept, heavy hitting AOR, even the typical album cover. It’s a good song, and if you liked the last one, you’ll enjoy this one too. Here’s “Evermore”:
So, if you didn’t already know, Coheed and Cambria tells the story (through progressive rock concept albums) of The Armory Wars: following the adventures of Claudio Kilgannon who crosses the star system, Heaven’s Fence, to seek help from his uncle, The Prize Fighter Inferno, after his parents, two Iro-Bots called Coheed and Cambria are tricked into killing their children by Supreme Tri-Mage, Wilhelm Ryan. Confused!? I know you are!! It gets even better: today’s track comes from “No World for Tomorrow” (out in October!) which is the second volume of the fourth album (“Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV”) which is the third album they’ve released – since the first in the series will come last. Utterly confused?!?! Yes, I’m glad. You can just ignore all of that and listen to some good rocking music from the way of Coheed and Cambria, here’s “The Running Free”:
Members of the band Convey have been playing together ever since their time together in Elementary school – two years ago they got together to form their band. They describe their music as alternative progressive rock, “whose melodies, riffs, rhythms and lyrics derive from a free-flowing and metaphysical place”. It might sound a bit of a farce description, but the music is good – this high school band could definitely go somewhere, something worth watching! This is their first track of their eponymous EP, namely “Chalkboard”:
Porcupine Tree are a fabulous British progrock band started back in 1987 and in that time grown from strength to strength and released nine studio albums, their latest in April of this year. Today however, I’m going to play you one of their tracks which isn’t quite as proggy as the rest of their material, but its a brilliant song that was only released as a bonus track on the Europen release of their popular – and first major-label release – 2002 “In Absentia” album. It’s a dreamy, poppy, rocky, whatchamacallit song with dark undertones but amazingly upbeat melody. I have the urge to listen to it all the time, even though it is a bit of a departure from their more traditional tracks. Enjoy Porcupine Tree’s “Drown with Me”:
Jem Godfrey, a British music producer, was responsible for several pop hits, such as songs by Atomic Kitten and Holly Valance. However, do not let this news misguide you – Jem Godfrey’s progressive rock band, Frost*, is as far from the cheese-factor of these songs. However, with such an extensive period producing pop songs, he has brought his experience of creating catchy riffs and elements to progressive rock. Frost* was formed in 2004 with members of other popular prog-rock bands, Arena, Kino and IQ. In 2006, they put out their first album, “Milliontown”, a masterpiece in neo-progressive rock ending in an awesome twenty-six minute song. As is often the case with progressive rock, the length is often a hindrance to introducing a band. However, today’s track – the first on the album is a brilliant instrumental introduction to the band which reveals the awesome talents of the band. Although Frost* split up in 2007, they reformed last year and released a second album, “Experiments in Mass Appeal” which is also well worth a listen. For now, enjoy today’s track, “Hyperventilate”:
Well known both by fans of progressive rock and 
Elfonía – an experiment rock band from Mexico starring the awesome voice (and violin playing) of 
– unfortunately I cannot find a UK online store with the album in stock. It’s seemingly quite a rarity, so grab it wherever you can! It is still available from the official website, but with delivery charges.
Mythic tales of fire, dragons, swords and Evermore – it doesn’t get more fantasy than this! Today’s track comes for the epic-sounding progressive rock band Ten, who we’ve 
So, if you didn’t already know, Coheed and Cambria tells the story (through progressive rock concept albums) of The Armory Wars: following the adventures of Claudio Kilgannon who crosses the star system, Heaven’s Fence, to seek help from his uncle, 
(their previous 2005 that makes up part four)
Members of the band Convey have been playing together ever since their time together in Elementary school – two years ago they got together to form their band. They describe their music as alternative progressive rock, “whose melodies, riffs, rhythms and lyrics derive from a free-flowing and metaphysical place”. It might sound a bit of a farce description, but the music is good – this high school band could definitely go somewhere, something worth watching! This is their first track of their eponymous EP, namely “Chalkboard”:
Porcupine Tree are a fabulous British progrock band started back in 1987 and in that time grown from strength to strength and released nine studio albums, their latest in April of this year. Today however, I’m going to play you one of their tracks which isn’t quite as proggy as the rest of their material, but its a brilliant song that was only released as a bonus track on the Europen release of their popular – and first major-label release – 2002 “In Absentia” album. It’s a dreamy, poppy, rocky, whatchamacallit song with dark undertones but amazingly upbeat melody. I have the urge to listen to it all the time, even though it is a bit of a departure from their more traditional tracks. Enjoy Porcupine Tree’s “Drown with Me”:
(Special edition including this track)