Therese Spencer

Reviews and other content aren't verified by Google

It's my third listen to The Underfall Yard by Big Big Train, and I'm exhilarated and exhausted at the same time. Whew! Progressive rock really doesn't get much better than this masterpiece! I'm reminded of the best Peter Gabriel-era Genesis with touches of 1970's King Crimson and Yes. But it's not at all a knock-off of these classics, it stands on it's own original merits. It similar to the idea that the movie "Galaxy Quest" is the best Star Trek episode. The talent is astounding all around, particularly the lead singer's vocals. That isn't meant to slight any of the other musicians, being that voice is honestly what I was drawn to first. The lead guitar is so intricate and melodic, it's like the vocals. Both pack emotional impact that moved me almost to tears at times. This album is a symphony, a detailed and luscious soundscape, which is so rare to discover in my later years. I could go on expounding the praises of this album, but let me at least say that one importance of this piece is the subject matter: the lives of working men in the early Industrial Age of England are remembered as worthy of such a tribute. They, and those since, built our modern world where we can live in comfort and enjoy listening to great music like this.

I love good science fiction because it explores current topics using what-if techniques. What if young women developed a natural power that gave them a more equal status with the male dominated world? That's a great question, and the series takes a look at the question from different points of view, and it's effective. The immediate discounting of the development as a hoax, with a quick pivot to isolating the possible threat is really credible. Some nations crack down and ban it even up to penalties including death. I particularly appreciate that individual men don't just have one stereotypical reaction to the power. Nor do the young women. I look forward to seeing the rest of the series as I just finished episode 4. The possibilities of fear and hate vs goodwill are in play.