Syndestructible

Product Description
This is the new album from legendary pre-Yes prog-rock pioneers, featuring Yes bassist Chris Squire and original vocalist Steve Nardelli, joined by world-renowned musicians Gerard Johnson, Paul Stacey, and Jeremy Stacey. The result will herald the "prog modernist" movement and is receiving rave reviews worldwide. The single, "Cathedral Of Love" has been described as a masterpiece and is the most requested track on prog rock radio stations across America.

Syndestructible,Syn,Umbrello,British Psychedelia,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop

Syndestructible

Average customer rating:

wonderful!
I feel a bit like a traitor. Sorry Chris.
Chris Squire & THE SYN create tuneful retro-prog with a positive message (2005)
Excellent music
awfully good, yes-s-s!

Syndestructible
Syn
Manufacturer: Umbrello
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

White
In Elven Lands: The Fellowship
Homebrew 3
The Word Is Live
Paradox Hotel

ASIN: B000BKUX2E
Release Date: 2005-11-08

Tracks:

Breaking Down Walls
City Of Dreams
Promise, The
Cathedral Of Love
Golden Age
Some Time, Some Way

Album Description

This is the new album from legendary pre-Yes prog-rock pioneers, featuring Yes bassist Chris Squire and original vocalist Steve Nardelli, joined by world-renowned musicians Gerard Johnson, Paul Stacey, and Jeremy Stacey. The result will herald the "prog modernist" movement and is receiving rave reviews worldwide. The single, "Cathedral Of Love" has been described as a masterpiece and is the most requested track on prog rock radio stations across America.

Customer Reviews:

wonderful!.......2006-06-30

This album is simply wonderful. I recommend anyone who loves top class prog rock, particuarly from the classic era of the 70s, to buy this album.
It is as good as anything I've heard in the last 10 years.
I predict this will become a classic, in line with the likes of the best of Floyd or Yes.
I am stunned at the sheer beauty of it, and to think this is their first album after 40 years, it is an amazing achievment.
I congratulate every member of SYN and long for their next offering as soon as possible please!
Wonderful!

I feel a bit like a traitor. Sorry Chris........2006-06-10

I could quickly rip off the names of twenty or so master bass players (from McCartney to Wooten) for whose playing I have always had a deep appreciation. None of them have ever thrilled me as consistently or deeply as Chris Squire. For me, his playing has always possessed the greatest combination of tone, speed, melody, creativity and personality of any bass player before or since. So it pains me to write a less-than-gushing review of a cd on which he participated.

Mind you, this "reunion" cd of The Syn (really only Squire and Steve Nardelli from the original group) doesn't sound like a bad idea in theory. ("Let's see what the great Master Squire and company were doing before Yes!") But I'm afraid that classic Yes fans and true progressive rock followers will be disappointed. There's nothing really offensive here, but it's not going to satisfy the typical progger. This is more like medium-heavy pop rock with some progressive tendencies - e.g. melodic bass lines (of course), some keyboards, and longer songs. It's a little bit closer to Rabin-era Yes perhaps, but with the everyman vocals of an oftentimes tired-sounding Nardelli. Again, like the music, his vocals are not bad; they just don't do much for me.

What really had me skipping to the next song in places, though, were the lyrics. Too often they became repetitive, superficial and cliche. Maybe that's in the original spirit of the The Syn from 40 years ago, I don't know. (It doesn't work for me.) Despite my disappointment, there are some redeeming moments on this cd. I like the way it begins with the a cappella "Breaking Down Walls" (which is heard later on in the last track too); "Some Time, Some Way"; and some of the faster instrumental sections of "Cathedral of Love" and "The Promise".

If you like your prog a bit less virtuosic and challenging, you might find this cd enjoyable. (Many reviewers apparently already have!) But if you like 1971-77 Yes (or practically ANY prog group from that era, really), there is nothing here that you will miss. Non-essential for progressive music lovers.

So Chris, did you really use up ALL of your brilliant non-Yes-related ideas in 1975 on the incomparable "Fish Out Of Water"?...... Please, thrill me one more time!

I value interesting music that is played and recorded well. This cd's rating was based on:
Music quality = 6.9/10; Performance = 8/10; Production = 9/10; CD length = 8/10.
Overall score weighted on my proprietary scale = 7.6 ("3 stars")

Chris Squire & THE SYN create tuneful retro-prog with a positive message (2005).......2006-04-18

There seems to be a wierd trend in the world of progressive rock today - musicians getting back together with bands they played with in their 'pre-fame' days. In recent years we have seen Kerry Livgren (of Kansas) do this with Proto-Kaw, Keith Emerson (of ELP) with the Nice, and Martin Orford & Mike Holmes (of IQ) with The Lens...Now comes a newly-reformed version of THE SYN, a 60's-era rock/psychedelic outfit that featured future Yes-members Chris Squire & Peter Banks. Back in the day this band released a few popular singles, were well-loved in London club scene, and often served opening act duties for The Who, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, and The Move (an early version of E.L.O). As it turns out, Peter Banks is not part of this 2005 reunion CD, and seems quite bitter about that fact judging from a scathing 'open letter' printed on his website! (prior to "Syndestructible" there was apparently an aborted Syn line-up featuring Banks, with Landmarq's Steve Gee filling Squire's role.) The new Syn line-up, featured here, consists of Squire (bass guitar and harmony vocals), original founding member Stephen Nardelli (lead vocals), new keyboardist Gerard Johnson, and the sibling team of Jeremy Stacey (drums) and Paul Stacey (guitar). Perhaps not surprisingly, given their pedigree in the 60s music scene, the band's new music has a definite "retro" vibe to it. The production style, even down to the way that the drums and guitars are recorded, might lead one to believe that they are listening to a record made somewhere between 1967 and 1974. This might usually be something that would turn me off (as I tend to gravitate to more modern-sounding prog bands), but these guys pull the 'time warp' off so flawlessly (and so sincerely) that it's hard to find any fault. It's amazing to hear just how different this band sounds from the darker, more modern work of Conspiracy (Squire's other side project featuring Billy Sherwood & Jay Schellen.) It's almost is if these two bands bring out different sides of Squire's personality. Much of the songwriting on "Syndestructible" definitely has a strong flavor of 70's prog-rock, with the most obvious points of comparison being early-Yes (first 3 albums), early-Genesis, and maybe even a bit of Pink Floyd. Howeverk, I also noted some occassional nods to more mainstream 60s/70s acts like Manfred Mann, The Yardbirds, and Badfinger. The songs here are all melodic, well-structured, and arranged to display the skills of the whole band. Gerard Johnson is certainly a good find, giving some nice "retro" keyboard touches reminicent of Tony Kaye's work with Yes & Badger. Also impressive is Paul Stacey, who provides some blinding melodic runs and solid rhythm guitar. Allthough Squire, as would be expected, turns in plenty of dazzling bass work (as well as his trademark vocal harmonies), he always does so in the context of the song, never sacrificing melody or taking away space from the other players. Stephen Nardelli is a vocalist that, to be fair, may take some Yes/Jon Anderson die-hards a few listens to adjust to. His anaffected mid-range voice sounds like a hybrid of a British bluesman and laid-back coffeehouse folkie. Nardelli may not be the rangiest singer in the prog world, but regardless, I've come to appreciate the character & tone of his voice (Actually, it may be one of the very things that helps gives The Syn an identity that's distinct from Yes or Conspiracy.) I also like Nardelli's spiritual, positive lyrics, with all their playful imagery of angels, cathedrals, peace, and human empathy. Some of my favorite tracks are "Breaking Down Walls" (great acapella vocals!), "Some Time, Some Way" (a memorable chorus and solid harmonies on this one), "Cathedral of Love" (a true classic, with a stunning progressive arrangement, strong melodies, and even some cool electric sitar flavorings!), and "The Promise" (a complex, dramatic 13 minute epic that stands up proudly alongside some of Squire's best 'masterworks'.) All in all, this is definitely one that should not be missed if you are a fan of Squire's, or a fan of the formative days of progressive rock...I look forward to seeing what comes next from The Syn!

Excellent music.......2006-04-12

Do not even think to compare this to YES, just because Chris Squire is in the band. I just received this c.d. today, and couldn't be happier! I listened to it 3 times running, and loved it more every time. The vocals are great, the playing is great, the songs are great. Face it, folks, if you like prog-rock, you will love this album. I only hope they have more of this in the works. The previous reviews give enough details to help. I truly enjoyed the whole thing.

awfully good, yes-s-s!.......2006-03-18

This is more of a vent than an advice since neither the band nor the customers need one, it sounds so self-conscious and assured. In short, the old Yes member is "master-classing" here on how to be the ultimate Yes group and play ultimate art rock with particularly tuneful bass line. What others do (including back vocals) is just follow suit... or hunch. This bass is exactly opposing Tom Jones' idea on the instrument's role and the entire program prompts us that Wakeman wasn't no core for Yes. He is successfully champed by I don't even remember who on the lineup.

Average customer rating:

Syndestructible
Syn
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000ATJYMQ
Release Date: 2005-12-20

Tracks:

Breaking Down Walls
Some Time, Some Way
Reach Outro
Cathedral of Love
City of Dreams
Golden Age
Promise

Album Description

Before there was Yes, there was The Syn. Syndestructible is the new album from legendary pre-Yes prog-rock pioneers, The Syn, featuring Yes bassist Chris Squire and original vocalist Steve Nardelli joined by world renowned musicians Gerard Johnson, Paul Stacey and Jeremy Stacey. The result is an amazing album that will herald the prog Modernist movement and is receiving rave reviews across the world. The single from the album Cathedral of Love has been described as a masterpiece and is the most requested track on prog rock radio stations across America. Umbrello. 2005.

Rap Music:

Rap Music

rap music

Recommended Music:

Virus [Import]

Carl Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, Op. 29 "The Inextinguishable" / Symphony No. 5, Op. 50 - Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra / Michael Schonwandt

Garden of Eden

Music: Best of Chillout Hits, Vol. 1

David Forman [Import]

Diggin' the Crates, Vol. 2: For the West Coast Funk

Find Us Faithful

Candy Pt. 2 [CD-single]

Bossa Nova [Import]

Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3

Broadway Blues Ballads [Import] [Limited Edition]

Europeana-Jazzphony No.1 [Import]

Coopdvill Presents: Community Service [Explicit Lyrics]

Blood Inside