Spock’s Beard – X (2010): Riding High on a Second Wind

Americans today don’t give a hoot about progressive rock.  Our parents grew up on Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd; the lucky ones collected vinyl from Kansas, ELP, and King Crimson.  Those heirlooms have clearly not trickled down yet here the way they have in experimental music havens scattered around Japan and Northern and Western Europe.…

Relient K – s/t (2000): There’s So Much Time, So Little to Do

This is part 1 of the Relient K retrospective Rating: 2 stars (out of 5) One of the best arguments in favor of nurture over nature, Relient K transformed themselves from completely insignificant to one of pop’s most underrated bands not through luck or by accident, but hard work and steady improvement. Each album’s craft…