Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is how to rock., 12 May 2007
When a band you have loved splits and splinter groups are formed, I always feel that something will be lost, and that is how I felt about the split of Karnataka and the subsequent formation of bands after that. Though the band have "reformed" (only the bass player from Mk 1 is in the band now) they have nothing on the original line-up and never will. Rachel Jones was / is Karnataka and has one of the best and most emotive voices out there and when she and the band called it a day, like many others, I mourned. I was never going to hear that voice again which always made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
I understood that Rachel had given up music but when I heard she had joined a new band, I started to dig through the web sites and chat rooms to find out what was this new project all about. That band is The Reasoning. Formed by Matthew Cohen (ex-Magenta - and not a band I like at all) I was hesitant, just in case this was one of those over blown "Prog" bands - Oh, how I was wrong.....
From the opening title track, this album just ROCKS. It has all the elements that you could ever want in a rock album. There are driving riffs, beautiful melodic sections, great guitar and keyboard solos, a skilled and knock out rhythm section and to top it all - the vocals, oh the vocals. There are 3 singers and they blend so well, so majestically, this is how vocals should sound - full and rich and with loads of emotion and feeling.
Stand out tracks for me are Chasing Rainbows, Fallen Angels, Shadows Of The Mind and Within Cold Glass (that has a special guest in the form of Steve Rothery from Marillion). But all the tracks are wonderful and I mean that. I put this in the car and it is the perfect driving companion. I think the true telling point for me was when my eldest son (11) asked me if he could have the album and so I bought it for him.
The Reasoning are more than just another rock band. They have the rock element, the Celtic element, the prog element and even the gothic element, but they really do have their own sound and that is an achievement in itself, especially in today's musical climate. Just amazing and I can't recommend this enough. I was lucky enough to see them live and on stage they rock harder, look fantastic and more importantly they do all the vocals from the album and pull it off perfectly. Amazing. Buy this CD, you will not regret it. The Reasoning have awakened!!
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A ROCK CLASSIC IN THE MAKING, 13 May 2007
Remember the good old days when music was MUSIC????And NOT just a thrown bunch of malarkey that all the bands of today seem to be dishing out like a tidal wave flowing through an open dam???One listen to this record by UK's The Reasoning,spearheaded by ex-Magenta bass player Matthew Cohen,and I can guarantee you that you will get that warm promising feeling that music in general is taking a turn for the better once again.After listening to this recording,I just don't know what parts of the record to rave about first.The music itself is a prog feast but goes beyond the term "prog".The vocals and harmonies are purely magical yet intense.Guitarist Dylan Thompson and keyboardist Gareth Jones bring back a true Hughes/Coverdale Purplish type of up and down melodic balance and its all topped off with ex-Karnataka vocalist,the lovely Rachel Jones whose octaves take a back seat to one before her.Guitarist Lee Wright and drummer Vinden Wylde cap off what is a true musical section of brilliance and swank musicianship.This is one of those records that you will be listening to over and over again,and will know all the songs by heart in a very short time.No my friends,they just don't write music like this anymore.Steve Rothery of Marillion (a truely underrrated guitarist)makes a special guest appearance along with a beautiful violin and mandolin virtuoso by Blue Horses' Liz Prendergast.Dave Meegan(Marillion,Rush,Yes)did the mixing.The album is produced,recorded and engineered by Matthew Cohen.The tracks are flawless from beginning to end and the problem is...you just don't want this record to end...It makes you anticipate and wonder just what their next record will be like...Just like in the good old days,when music was...well, music!! Do yourself a favor and give this a listen.I guarantee you will be mesmerized by the true beauty and sound of this great recording and how much heart and determination these fine musicians have put into this piece of work...Happy Listening ONE and ALL ,,,,Michael Maffei,New York,USA
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb debut, 31 May 2007
Must echo the previous reviews.
Awakening is the best rock CD of the year for me.
An excellent collection of rock music wonderfully played and with vocal duets & harmonies that send a tingle down the spine.
I doubt there will be a better release this year.
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