BILLY SHERWOOD – Citizen (2015)
To be released by Frontiers Music tomorrow, “Citizen” is the new album by multi-talented BILLY SHERWOOD, featuring a who’s-who of names from the world of prog, including Steve Morse, Alan Parsons, Steve Hackett, John Wetton, Geoff Downes, Jordan Rudess, Rick Wakeman, and a lot more, also representing the last every recording by the late, legendary Yes bassist Chris Squire.
“Citizen” is a concept album – which Sherwood himself describes as telling the story of “a lost soul reincarnated into various periods of history”, with the 11 songs describing the individual experiences of this ‘Citizen’ through his own eyes. It is a story which, to echo Sherwood’s words, is truly “written in the centuries”.
However, musically Sherwood maps out his songwriting to various degrees, from Yes to Genesis, but also projecting a sound that holds a vibe parallel with musician’s records including Level 42’s World Machine & Mr Mister’s Welcome to the Real World.
As the title track immediately rises with an overture of proggy proportions, it’s almost as if you get the notion as if you have gotten on the on ramp to some type of epical album; but that’s not the case.
Billy eludes to more melodic art rock innuendos with both ‘Empire’ which lets Mahavishnu man Jerry Goodman add his violin for flare, and the funky ‘Age of the Atom’ scoring a bigger grin for the album.
But even as his knack for the technical edge is imposed, Sherwood doesn’t keep the rock&pop / AOR manifesto secluded as the hooks and arena rock gusto are back-to-back throughout, particularly rearing head on ballads ‘Just Galileo and Me’ & ‘The Great Depression’.
Between the harmonies, the songwriting, various musical approaches and his personal touch, nothing gets lost in the shuffle, nor does anything sound desperate.
With pedigree as a Yes man plus his past endeavors with World Trade, Conspiracy and Logic, Billy Sherwood is the inconspicuous link between AOR and progressive rock, remaining one of the few worthy of standing as a one-man band; he’s not out to hype himself as some project.
Being an extension of his personality, “Citizen” defines the man as the musician he is. Sure it’s a no brainer that the album traverses through the gateways of Yes’ 90125 & Big Generator pop/rock bliss; but what else laid the foundation for rock&pop and intricacy to collide.
Highly Recommended.
01 – The Citizen
02 – Man And The Machine
03 – Just Galileo And Me
04 – No Man’s Land
05 – The Great Depression
06 – Empire
07 – Age Of The Atom
08 – Trail Of Tears
09 – Escape Velocity
10 – A Theory All It’s Own
11 – Written In The Centuries
Billy Sherwood (Yes, Circa) – Drums, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
with:
Rick Wakeman (Yes) – Keyboards (5)
Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater) – Keyboards (9)
Tony Kaye (Yes, Circa:) – Keyboards, Hammond (1)
Geoff Downes (Yes, Asia, Dba) – Keyboards (7)
Chris Squire (Yes, Squackett) – Bass (1)
Steve Hackett (Genesis, Squackett) – Guitar Solo (2)
Jerry Goodman (The Mahavishnu Orchestra) – Violin (6)
Steve Morse (Deep Purple, Flying Colors) – Guitar (4)
Patrick Moraz (Yes, The Moody Blues) – Keyboards (8)
John Wesley (Porcupine Tree) – Guitar (10)
Colin Moulding (Xtc) – Vocals (3)
Alan Parsons – Vocals (6)
Jon Davison (Yes, Glass Hammer) – Vocals (11)
PRE ORDER:
www.amazon.com/Citizen-Billy-Sherwood/dp/B014I062JU
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