Progressive Rock Reviews

Choices
THE PUDDLE JUMPERS





The Puddle Jumpers are :
Tom Austin (Bass, Vocals)
David McGrath (Guitar, Vocals)
George Michael (Guitar, Vocals)
George Short (Drums and Percussion)
Rick Varitan (Octave Mandolin, Keyboards, Vocals).

The Songs:
1. Choices (3:10)
2. Not So Easy (4:01)
3. Lost Star (3:34)
4. The Boy and the Gnomes (3:14)
5. Storybook (3:50)
6. Pay the Piper (4:00)
7. Colours (3:35)
8. Disarm Yourself (4:55)
9. The Magic One (3:22)
10. No Sleep for Me Tonight (2:51)
11. Dead of the Night (3:09)
12. Pawn of the White Queen (5:12)

This is the second album from the progressive folk rock band The Puddle Jumpers, and the follow-up to the debut album "Out of the Shadows" from 1996. Both the albums are self-financed, but they're so professional that they easily could be mistaken for being major record company releases.

Their music is a mix between Boston, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Rush, Steeleys Span and Yes with influences from Pop and Southern Rock. The band contains first-class musicians, and with the whole band singing backing vocals except for the drummer, you got some mighty harmonies. The lead vocals are reminiscent to Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull and the backing vocals are sometimes reminiscent to Gentle Giant. The mandolin has got a main role on this album, and it's played by the multi-instrumentalist Rick Varitan.

The highlights are "Choices" "Storybook", "Pay the Piper", "Disarm Yourself", "Dead of the Night" and "Pawn of the White Queen".

This album is even better than their debut album, and if you liked it you will surely buy this too. If you haven't heard any of them I suggest that you buy them both.

-Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist-

 

Out Of the Shadows
THE PUDDLE JUMPERS





I guess that not many of you have heard about The Puddle Jumpers, and if so, it's a shame. This is my first contact with the band too. The first time I listened through the album I wasn't impressed at all, but the next time I was already grabbed by some of the songs. Now I kind of like every song.

They have released this CD on their own label Golden Goose Records, but it's so professional it could easily be mistaken for a major label release. From the music to the packaging it's top class. The packaging is a triple foldout with beautiful pictures and a nice booklet inside.

This band is playing something that could be described as a mix between pop, Celtic folk music, country and progressive rock. I think that they are reminiscent to Allman Brothers Band, Boston, The Eagles, The Hooters, Jethro Tull, Kansas, Phish, Styx, Toto and Yes. The members are fans of '70's progressive rock bands such as Emerson, Lake & Palmer, early Genesis and Rush, but I can't hear much of it in the music though, even if you sometimes can hear some bits and pieces that reminds of them. Maybe they aren't that original, but face it; every band can't differ from the others. They have got a lot of interesting instruments such as Mandolin, Hammond C-3 organ, Mini-Moog, Harmonica to go with the common instrumentation. They are tight musicians, and they have also put a lot of work on the background vocals with wonderful harmonies.

The songs are well written and arranged. When I started to write down my favorites of the albums 15 tracks, I ended up with every track except "Savor the Moments", "A Matter of Time", "A Younger Year" and "The Many Sides of You". Need I say no more?

If I had seen this CD with its beautiful packaging in the music store, I surely would've been curious to hear what the music was like. This isn't exactly the kind of music I listen to that often, but The Puddle Jumpers is an exception and I hope that you check them out too.
Highly recommended!

Contact:
Golden Goose Records
203 Bellevue Way N.E. Suite 506
Bellevue, WA 98004
Website: http://www.puddlejumpers.com

-Reviewed by Greger Rönnqvist-