Search - Enchant :: Juggling 9 Or Dropping 10 (Dig)

~What a find!~

TensionExperiment | East Coast | 02/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"While attempting to complete my Spock's Beard collection I happened to stumble upon this disk. After looking at some of the reviews [Mainly the Mighty Chimps]I thought what the heck, I might as well give them a shot. After completing my Enchant collection I can say that I am SO glad I followed my gut. In all of my years of fanboy music raving, I can tell you right now Enchant is singular. J9 or D10 is now one of my top five favorite albums. There is not a single song on this disk that is not astounding. From the shatteringly painful "What to Say" [Quite possibly the greatest song ever written], to the sweet and loving "Elyse," this is a phenomenal album. Ted Leonard is one of the most talented vocalists that I have ever heard. This guy can sing, and with passion. To hear him belting out pure visceral emotion on tracks like "Shell of a Man" or "Rough Draft" is a chilling experience. Douglas Ott is a tasteful and talented guitarist, and Paul Craddick quickly became one of my favorite drummers. Musical merits aside, the songwriting is what really hits home for this listener. Lyrically these guys have no peer. Dealing with issues ranging from the last wish of a dying man to someone dealing with the terror of Alzheimer's disease, you will not find more powerfully written songs anywhere else. Unless of course you purchase Tug Of War, Wounded, Break, A Blueprint of the World, or Blink of an Eye. Wait a tick, those are all Enchant albums as well ;)Purchase and enjoy."

Some of the best rock out there

Wheelchair Assassin | The Great Concavity | 06/21/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"*If I could, I would definitely give this album 4.5 stars.I purchased this album based solely on the reviews I saw on this site, and I must say I was not led astray. If you like prog rock and metal bands like Rush, Transatlantic, and Dream Theater, "Juggling 9 Or Dropping 10" is a must. Although Enchant bear more than a token resemblance to the above-mentioned bands (especially Rush), they turn down the bombast commonly associated with progressive music in favor of a more straight-ahead rocking approach. And rock this album does. In style and overall "feel" it reminds me a great deal of the Rush classic "Permanent Waves," and that's a very good thing. Even during its frequent acoustic moments it rocks pretty hard, and the obvious emotion in Ted Leonard's vocals adds an extra dimension too often lacking in the prog field. Ted's delivery is perfect for the catchy, melodic songs that abound here. I even think I detect some hooks on songs like "Bite My Tongue" and "Colors Fade." The musicianship is top-notch, and the songwriting is diverse and always interesting. One minute I'll be tapping my foot to an addictive melody, and the next I'm banging my head to some chunky metallic riffing. It's a somewhat similar approach to the one that worked so well for Porcupine Tree on last year's brilliant "In Absentia," although it should be noted that this album isn't quite as eclectic. While there are some solo spots where the band members (most notably Alex Lifeson-sounding guitar whiz Douglas Ott) get to show off their skills, they're typically integrated into the overall fabric of the songs rather than standing out the way they do in the case of, say, Symphony X. The result is songs that may not be the most complex or technical you ever hear, but that flow very well from beginning to end. It's a shame a band this good doesn't get more attention, but if you're looking for some well-played rock with lots of emotion, you can't go wrong with these guys."