Search - Starcastle :: Starcastle

Evocative of Yes...so what?

progstock | U.S. | 01/15/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"By now you know that Starcastle is unabashedly modeled after the Yes sound. If you can't get past your teen angst (now mellowed to post-middle-aged-annoyance) over that fact, then this is not for you. Personally, I've never understood why apparently only bands of the prog rock genre are subject to such heated vitriol over being "derivative". Bruce Springsteen is never accused of being derivative of the many that came before him who's sound he emulates, and so on with myriad other bands of every other genre. Yet proggers often seem unable to appreciate music on it's own merits if it bears overly familiar resemblance to idolized bands that opened the flood gates. Don't get it.



I got over it in the late 70s when I realized that this CD sounded BETTER than the stuff Yes starting kicking out (think "Tormato"). Great melodies and nice vocal harmonies. Lead vocalist, when not singing in harmony lacks the punch of Jon Anderson, but is still exceptionally good. Absolutely great keys throughout with a few short and very well executed guitar solos, and I particularly enjoy the many textural changes in the music. That's perhaps one of Starcastle's best attributes. Same sort of ethereal "light seems to be really, really good" poetic lyrics of Yes, circa "The Yes Album". Not entirely awe-inspiring, but I accept it on it's own poetic merits, and as a prog enthusiast, prefer this type of vague spiritual/natural world message to "I wanna hold your hand".



I've owned several Starcastle albums on vinyl for decades and recently picked up this CD on amazon for under three bucks. If you're into 70s prog, you're crazy not to add this gem to your collection while the gettins' good."