Through a series of adventures, and the passing in 2004 of Starcastle bassist and driving light Gary Strater, this dedicated group of friends and associates have completed a new record, entitled Song of Times. To be releas... more »ed March 13th 2007 on Prog Rock Records, Song of Times combines the trademark prog rock of Starcastle with a more modern and rocking sound
Song of Times includes all the original members: Gary Strater (bass and vocals), Matt Stewart (guitars and vocals), Steve Tassler (drums, vocals and keyboards), Herb Schildt (keyboards), Steve Hagler (guitar and vocals), and Terry Luttrell (vocals, original REO vocalist)- alongside new players and singers, including current Starcastle vocalist Al Lewis and guitarist Bruce Botts.« less
Through a series of adventures, and the passing in 2004 of Starcastle bassist and driving light Gary Strater, this dedicated group of friends and associates have completed a new record, entitled Song of Times. To be released March 13th 2007 on Prog Rock Records, Song of Times combines the trademark prog rock of Starcastle with a more modern and rocking sound
Song of Times includes all the original members: Gary Strater (bass and vocals), Matt Stewart (guitars and vocals), Steve Tassler (drums, vocals and keyboards), Herb Schildt (keyboards), Steve Hagler (guitar and vocals), and Terry Luttrell (vocals, original REO vocalist)- alongside new players and singers, including current Starcastle vocalist Al Lewis and guitarist Bruce Botts.
CD Reviews
Glad They're Back - They Deliver!
Peter Anderson | Levittown, PA United States | 05/04/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In the 1970's Starcastle created progressive rock which had a rich, warm, ornate, multilayered sound. They avoided dissonance and kept the sound very positive. To me, their music communicated joy and a love of life. Their style featured a warm and melodious synth sound coupled with killer bass playing and dual (or even triple) guitars. Their album "Fountains of Light" was my favorite, in my opinion perfectly balancing all the instruments with layers of vocal harmonies into a unified whole. Well, I'm happy to say this new album (released thirty years after "Fountains of Light") lives up to the legacy! It contains the elements that made their sound unique, and expands and updates that sound! I am very happy with this new release and feel they have succeeded in creating a reunion album which shines brightly rather than merely being a pale reflection of former glory, as is so often the case with reunion albums.
I also had the good fortune of seeing Starcastle in concert recently at a progressive rock festival in Pennsylvania (RoSFest), and posted short videos I took of them on YouTube. The band was great, playing most of this new album as well as tons of the classic material from their first three albums. I assure you this new album, "Song of Times", is well worth getting."
Are you people desperate or do I have a different CD or what
JP | Macon, GA | 07/31/2007
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Back in high School I always liked Starcaste but had no illusions as to who they sounded like. The one and only time I saw them I think they were even opening for Yes (in many cases I have forgotten who exactly opened or played with who). I had the 1st 3 albums, liked them all and bought all 3 on CD when they became available. Back then they were just different enough that I could always tell it was them, and not Yes, when I heard them. And I always thought Terry Luttrell sounded just different enough to tell it wasn't Jon Anderson.
But, this new album......nice to see them back from oblivion but.....what did they do - go out and hire the winner of a Jon Anderson sound alike contest?!?!?! This is SO similar I'm waiting to read that Yes is suing them for copyright infringement. And, as for the reviewer that says he sounds just like Luttrell....maybe you simply hear things differently than I do.
Besides that, the music is pretty pedestrian as well, not even up to the standards of those first 3 albums!!! I have listened to it 5 times now and the only song that even catches my ear is "Babylon" and even it is "B-budget" Yes!! As is I'll probably put that track on my MP3 player and never play the CD again.
If you merely liked Starcastle...ignore this and fondly remember the 70s stuff. If you LOVED Starcastle...then go ahead, get a copy and decide for yourself. But be prepared to be disappointed.
I won't even go into the people who gave this thing 5 stars other than to say I'm laughing so hard I can barely type!!! Are you people in the band or what?!? If THIS is 5 stars then what the heck do you give Rush's new CD...Porcupine Tree's new CD...Neal Morse's new CD... and several other recent prog rock CDs that are SO superior they are on an entirely different level. As the title says....are you people desperate or what?
"
The last, and possibly their best......
Barry P. Saranchuk | Moosic, PA United States | 10/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I can't believe the reviews here cutting this album down. This along with Fountains of Light could be the best album that this band has ever made!
The vocals are fine,and the harmonies shine too. The songs are well written and show a maturing over their early writing(too bad Gary Strater passed on before the album's release). But over all this ranks as a classic of our time in "classic era" sounding prog releases ,as far as I am concerned.
The production shows all the band's strengths....hot keyboard playing and bass sounds are nice and to the fore....tasty guitar licks too. But for fans of classic era Yes,this band delivers what Yes hasn't in years....a purely Progressive dish for your enjoyment.
It also stands as a great testament to Gary Strader.....I don't know how Starcastle would ever follow-up this success(sadly) since the writing force behind this is now gone. A fine album that should be heard by all classic prog fans.
Congratulations to Al Lewis too for a fine performance. Where's the next ALASKA album?? Hmmmm...?"
A very, very good CD....period...worth owning!
K. J. Brophy | shavertown, pa usa | 09/04/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Firstly, the slant of some of the reviews of this CD reminds me of people who say they don't like something because it's been said or done before...doesn't break any new ground. As if love or a starry sky can't be appreciated because they've been around for too long. Give me a break. This CD has a soul, unlike much of the music popular today. The songs may not ALL be the best tunes that the band has ever written, but whose CDs ever achieve that! Song of Times (the live version at RoSfest was inspiring) and Babylon are truly great tunes. It's refreshing to hear music that has some lyrical meaning, great musicianship and vocals sung with intensity, clarity and by a guy with a great voice...and as for those who complain that he sounds a bit like Jon Anderson...Last time I checked Jon Anderson was considered a great singer! SO Al LEWIS IS IN VERY GOOD COMPANY. If you are a Starcastle fan or if you like great music this CD is a must."
Starcastle - almost as good as the original Starcastle
Lee B. Bjornson | 07/16/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Great music, if you liked the original Starcastle. Not quite as good as their debut album, but very listenable. A number of the tracks sound like the old Yes. If you like Yes, Rush, or the original Starcastle, you won't be disappointed."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1