PANACHE MAGAZINE (U.S.A.) no. 14 (April 18, 2002), 42

[Note from Ed Macan:� As soon as I saw this review in a local (Humboldt County) rag, I knew I had to include it.� For those of you who think I have exaggerated the degree of hegemony exerted by Lester Bangs, Dave Marsh, and their ilk during the seventies on rock historiography, read on.� This reviewer is probably young enough to be a child of the above-named reviewers, may not even know who they are, probably never listened to an ELP album, but this review could have run 25 years ago in Creem . . .]

Concept albums are wasted on stupid people such as myself.� In a perfect world, music reviewers would be required to a hold a Ph.D. in all areas of education.� Unfortunately, this is no perfect world.� This is an album based on the writings and stylings of novelist J.K. Huysmans (1848-1907).� Apparently he was ahead of his time, revolutionary even, and these eight tracks are influenced by a few of his writings.� At least, that�s what I figured from the liner notes.� The music is a sort of modern day, dramatic baroque explosion.� It invokes images of medieval battles, vanquished enemies, towering castles, and horses galloping at full speed through a foggy forest of gnarled trees.� There�s a �suite� on the album, a Micromoog., a 10-string lyre, and a bunch of other stuff.� Interesting, talented, well produced . . . not my bag.� Did I ever admit to you that I like Everclear, the band?�������������������������� Pinky Royale