Asia

A merger of some rock and roll's greatest prog rock artists. Guitarist Steve Howe (Yes), keyboardist Geoff Downes (Yes), drummer Carl Palmer (ELP) and John Wetton (King Crimson, Uriah Heep) forsake the 20 minute epics for the shorter, catchier pop oriented songs. Sounds like a recipe for disaster among prog rock purists, but Asia fared exceptionally well-churning out hit after hit while still keeping their integrity as respectable artists they are.

Armageddon

Another one album wonder that never seems to get much recognition... It was to be the Yardbird's legendary vocalist Keith Reif's swan song. A hard to find record and it's a shame. Here a quintet of superstars lay down a prog rock/stoner jam that was way ahead of their time. The band unquestionably yielded some inspired songwriting, and even memorable improvisational moments within driving opener "Buzzard," the gently whimsical post-psych ballad "Silver Tightrope," and the 11-minute, prog rock smorgasbord of "Basking in the White of the Midnight Sun" It's worthy to be in any collection.

Arc Angels

There are one-hit wonders throughout the history of music, but very few one-album wonders like the Arc Angels. Formed after the death of the blues legend, Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton along with singers/guitars Doyle Bramhall II and Charlie Sexton kicks out a blues rock album that stands against the test of time. Here the spirit of Vaughan permeates the entire recording. This album never sounds forced, purposeful, or contrived. Unfortunately, this is the only album from these guys.

A/2

A friend of mine gave me a tape of this. Think I listened to it twice before I shelved it. Featuring vocalist Steven Pearcy from Ratt , Cinderella drummer Fred Courey and guitarist Johnny Angel of Talas, this band offer up no nonsense glam metal. It wouldn't be so bad I wasn't so bored with glam metal at the time.

The Nature of the Beast

Canadian rockers April Wine reaches their most creative and commercial peak with their ninth studio album, The Nature of the Beast. Like any good wine, they got better with age-going platinum over tunes like "Sign of the Gypsy Queen", "All Over Town" and their career defining power ballad, "Just Between You and Me". Unfortunately, April Wine's luck ran out as they lost steam and faded into obscurity.

Harder.... Faster

As suggested by its title, April Wine kicks it up a notch with relentless slabs of hard rock. Tunes like "I Like to Rock" and "Ladies Man" sets the stage here. There is a curious cover of King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man," on this album. Ultimately, this is a consistently strong album which sets the stage for what would be April Wine's next album...

First Glance

April Wine was one the bands that critics loved to hate. Well, they are not exactly challenging or cutting-edge. These Canadian rockers' mission was to pull the listener in with infectious grooves and hooks and enable him/her to escape.