Prog4You.com - Progressive Rock Review

: : Untune The Sky : :

Anyone who has read any of my CD reviews over the past couple of years, knows that my tastes tend toward the more melodic styles of music. I love straight ahead classic prog, almost all things neo-prog, prog metal and straight-ahead shredder metal, but none of the so-called Nu-metal.

As Trey Gunn has been a mainstay in King Crimson over the past few years, his music has never been very exciting to me. His Gordian Knot releases have been better, but often confusing, related to a musical style you could put your finger on. I know one or more of you are screaming “Blasphemy”, Gordian Knot Rawks!!!!

To each his own.

All this brings me to the purpose of this review; the new release by Trey Gunn “Untune The Sky”.

This promo for review is so new even the InsideOut web site does not have all the details as to who is playing on the CD, who produced the CD, or even when the songs were recorded.

As several of the songs listed above are noted as “alternate mix” or “previously unreleased”, one gets the feeling that most of these songs have seen the light of day on previous Trey Gunn releases.

Without question, the King Crimson link is so very obvious on almost all of these songs. So much so it appears some of the songs could have been written for Crimson, but just didn’t make it.

The one main difference is that there seems to be a bit more “funk” in these 13 tracks. Imagine if you can a George Clinton Funkadelic styled tune married to the more traditional late 90’s King Crimson sound.

Still, the CD just drones on and on. Nothing, at least to this reviewer, that makes me want to play it over and over again. Nothing that makes me slack jawed and in awe of the Warr guitar playing Trey Gunn is known for.

However, nothing that makes me wish I’d never heard this CD either. Each track is well recorded and many times I found myself tapping away with my kick bass foot or rolling riffs across my legs in my best air drum fashion.

All in all, this is a fine release by a seriously talented songwriter and performer. If you love the most recent King Crimson release, either of the Gordian Knot releases or probably anything Trey Gunn has ever done, then you will like this CD. If not, then I doubt if you will find anything in this release to hang your hat on.

Rating: 5.5 of 10
Reviewed By: Stephen Ellis

: : Visit the artist web site : :

: : Discography : :
Live Encounter
The Joy of Molybdenum
Raw Power - first of the "Surfacings Series"
The Third Star
One Thousand Years

: : Record Label : :