CD Baby: THIRD VOICE: Moments Like These

www.cdbaby.com/cd/thirdvoice

5 out of 5 stars Puts the 'progress' in 'progressive rock'
Reviewer: Charles DeMarre
I've listened to countless prog bands and cd's over the years. Recently, the genre has become nothing more than a test of 'who's got the most audacity?' or 'what can we get away with?', and has been quite disappointing. Form, structure, balance, focus, and melody have disappeared from the mix. Until now. 'Moments Like These' takes the best aspects of prog and applies them in a palatable form. Gone are the ridiculous back-and-forth amelodic solos, the lofty and incomprehensible lyrics, and 15 minute 'songs'; in short, the excess is gone. The fat is trimmed, and what remains is a distillation of what good prog rock should be. The cd is unusual, especially with regard to its pacing. At first, I was disappointed with the last 5 or so tracks; the absence of percussion in many of them, the acoustic guitar providing the rhythmic foundation, the slower tempos, etc., all seemed to be a big letdown. However, once I really focused on the lyrical concept of the CD, it made perfect sense. It was ALMOST too clever; if I hadn't put forth the thought to make sense of it, I would have simply been lulled to sleep by the end of the record. Instead, I found myself identifying with the character, feeling his despair, coldness, and loneliness...those last few tracks aren't narcolepsy-inducing; they're genuinely disturbing. The energy is there, in spades, powerful, but subtle. A unique and original approach, to be sure, but it works. Prog without ego, pretense, or vertigo. It's about time someone did it right.

2 out of 5 stars A good effort!
Reviewer: Christian Floyd
Third Voice's CD Moments Like These is an interesting offer. I hear bits of Fates Warning in the way the lyrics are written, slow and steady as opposed to stuffing millions of words in to a four-four rhythm. The singer reminds me a lot of Dio, if not in actual voice quality than certainly in delivery. The songs are pretty good. This band has some maturing to do yet -- but don't we all! The solos are great, really very well done. However my only complaint with the CD is with the last half. The second singer on this CD is not very good. I'm sorry guys, I don't mean to rag, because I know how hard you must have worked on the CD. I've talked to the guitarist via e-mail and he seems like a cool guy. But all the songs after Voice of Reason -- which is my personal favorite on the CD -- could have been left off. Besides, like 5 ballads in a row? C'mon, guys. I'm no speedfreak; I like a good ballad as much as the next guy, but not five of them in a row! Overall I think anyone who buys this CD will not be disappointed with the first 10 songs. My advice to these guys for their next CD -- and I hope there is a next CD soon -- is to get rid of that second singer, add some more killer guitar solos, maybe work more with the keys, and mix up the arrangements a little more instead of just verse, chorus, verse, chorus. I dig the fact that the lyrics aren't all stupid and cliche, and there are some killer hooks musically and vocally. All in all, Moments Like These is a good solid effort. I'm interested to see where this band goes. Keep it up, guys!