Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#700 in the Series) is Genesis, Foxtrot One thing that we do here at Cool Album of the Day is endeavor to bring you something special for our milestone numbered posts. As you’ve just read, this piece represents entry number 700. So today we bring you an album that more than arguably could be considered the best progressive-rock album of all time. It contains a song that could also potentially be considered the best progressive rock song of all time.  You already know the album is Foxtrot, and the song of course that I’m referring to is “Supper’s Ready.” Some  may say that Genesis’ magnum opus should be considered The Lamb lies...

  Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#689 in the Series) is The Roches, Keep on Doing. I recently heard a song by The Roches on the radio and then it hit me, man I hadn’t thought about them for a long time (Sorry ladies if you’re reading this. I’ll make it up to you!), What a shame, I really like their music.  It’s been too long! What did I like about them? I think it was the melting of sounds that intrigued me when I first had this album thirty years ago. That and the sense of humor that is clearly visible in these songs. The Roches were a New York band that began in the late ’70....

  Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#681 in the Series) is King Crimson, In The Court of the Crimson King My father used to be a member of this old time Italian club when I was a child.  I always thought it was pretty cool. The club was called The Roseland Operetta Club. No, they didn’t sing, or promote Operas by this time but that was indeed how it was formed.  The club had some nice grounds that included picnic areas and some killer bocce courts. The front door was always locked, but all members had the key.  I really thought it was neat how you had to unlock it to get in. Heck, I was just a...

    Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#673 in the Series) is the debut from Flying Colors  This is the first record from a five some of talented veteran musicians who have mad skills at playing and combining rock, pop, fusion and even a touch of metal. Mike Portnoy is the founder and now ex-member of Dream Theater and even if he is not your favorite drummer, you would have to admit he is one of the best. Bass player David LaRue is a longtime member of Dixie Dregs, who, if you have never heard of them, I can tell you it aint country (though they do a great rock/hillbilly instrumental piece called “Where’s Dixie?). His fellow band...

  Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#667 in the Series) is Centric Jones, The Antikythera Method Centric Jones is a duo of experimental musicians Chris Fournier and Tobe London, and this is their second release. The temptation to label certain music is hard to resist, but this music truly does challenge the mind when it comes to figuring out who it is you may have heard of that they sound like. I guess you could say Tangerine Dream or any of the synthesizer instrumental bands from a time long ago, but it’s less than a fair comparison. You will likely not hear this band talked about on “That Metal Show”, even if they are generally lumped in with...

  Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#666 in the Series) is Aphrodite’s Child, 666 Well you knew we’d have to come up with something special for entry #666 didn’t you? Ok, you my friend are correct. I remember always looking at this album when I’d walk past it at good ol’ Hegewisch Records.  For some odd reason, it always seemed to be in front of the bin, staring at you, challenging you to pick it up and look at it.  The bright scarlet red cover with those giant black outlined 666 letters just jumped out at you. It was kind of spooky actually.  Then when you finally did pick it up you were surprised. It was darn heavy!...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#645 in the Series) is Yes,Close To The Edge A  friend once told me a story about this record that I would have a hard time verifying as he has been to hell and back, but the story was that he took a class at UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago) at which the syllabus for the semester covered only the meaning and interpretation  of the epic and classic title track of one of the best, if not the best ever record by this band of immensely talented musicians that were either ahead of their time, before their time, or most likely in a time that few would ever understand. This is likely...

  Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#620 in the Series) is David Gilmour, On an Island I have never been one to think you had to choose between Roger Waters and David Gilmour. They were both part of the prime of cool bands and though it ended not as either wished, I recently saw a documentary that said they were both at peace about it. Gilmour said there were three versions of the band, one with Syd, one after Syd, and one after Roger. If I am forced to choose whose solo career I enjoy more, I choose Gilmour and it is largely due to this record. Waters of course has been much more prodigious, but my favorite...

  Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#612 in the Series) is Rush, Caress of Steel Rush really started making a name for themselves with the 1976 release of their classic album 2112. That really started things going for them and it progressed another huge step forward a year later with the live release of All the World’s a Stage. Before that however they have three albums that laid the groundwork for what was to come, you had to get stuff for the live album from somewhere. The first album was simply called Rush. What’s that album know for? Quite simply, it’s known for being the album that didn’t include Neil Peart as a band member.  “Finding My Way”...

Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#580 in the Series) is FM, Black Noise. FM was a Canadian pro-rock band from the 70s. They were lead by guitar and mandolin player called ‘Nash The Slash.’ This was the second album cover for Black Noise. Here was the original. Unfortunetly, Black Noise did not chart. Success would find FM a little later in their career with the Surveillance album. Nash the Slash was quite the interesting guy. In 1979 he took the stage with hospital bandages on this face that were dipped in phosphorous paint.  It was in reference to the Three Mile Island disaster.  It caught on and became his trade mark to this day. If you’ve have not...