Mojave Moon (1996)

Released in 1996, Narcissus Goes to the Moon remains Quebec progressive rock band Visible Wind's finest hour. This fourth opus saw them in full control of their musicianship. Creativity was at its peak and, now owning its own studio, the band had a chance to develop its musical ideas further, resulting in a musically cohesive album, where every song segued into, or at least related to, the next. If it had not been for the unexpected demise of the Kozak label, this CD could have introduced them to a more international prog audience. Stylistic references on Narcissus can be summed up with two names: early Camel and the Flower Kings. Bubbling synthesizers, solid guitars, and angular rhythm patterns balanced out by infectious melodies are the essence of highlights like "Fuzzy Concept," "Xenophobia," and the 20-minute epic "The Awakening," all tracks that will appeal to any fan of the aforementioned artists…

Once in a Blue Moon is the second album by German rock band Fool's Garden, released in 1993. It is the second and last album where singer Peter Freudenthaler and guitarist Volker Hinkel share lead vocals equally. Fools Garden (until 2003 known as Fool's Garden) is a German band formed in 1991 in the city of Pforzheim. The founders of the group and the only permanent members are vocalist Peter Freudenthaler and guitarist Volker Hinkel. In 1993, bassist Thomas Mangold, keyboardist Roland Röhl and drummer Ralf Wochele were invited to join Fool's Garden for recording of the first studio album Once in a Blue Moon. The band became famous worldwide in 1995 owing to the release of their second studio album Dish of the Day and, in particular, the song "Lemon Tree", which entered numerous music charts around the world and topped five of them.

All right, he's made a record with his wife and a record with his pickup band where democracy is allegedly the conceit even if it never sounds that way, so he returns to a solo effort, making the most disjointed album he ever cut. There's a certain fascination to its fragmented nature, not just because it's decidedly on the softer side of things, but because his desire for homegrown eccentricity has been fused with his inclination for bombastic art rock à la Abbey Road…

The 1996 release Mississippi Kid sounds like it could have been released a quarter-century or more before, which is a compliment. Bracingly free of the rockist clichés that bog down so many latter-day blues albums, Mississippi Kid is solid Chicago-style blues, with Smith's guitar and vocals supported by two organists and a full horn section. Presented as a sort of musical autobiography, with the personal title track ending the album as a kind of summation, the album dusts off a couple of Smith's earlier hits, most notably a slow, gripping version of his signature song, "Give Me My White Robe," and the playful shaggy-dog story "Blues on the Moon," given a suitably light-hearted and sly treatment. Smith is in excellent voice throughout and his playing is as fine as always, making Mississippi Kid a late highlight in his long and sometimes underappreciated career.

Come's Near Life Experience covers both old territory for the band as well as heading in new, exciting directions. Singers/guitarists Thalia Zedek and Chris Brokaw weathered the departure of the band's original rhythm section a year ago, to be replaced by 11 different musicians for the recording of this album, including bassists and drummers from groups like the Jesus Lizard, Retsin, Tortoise, and Rachel's…