#2 - Top of 2017

Toehider - Good (Bird's Robe Records)

One step before the best album of 2017,  "Good" by Toehider s good evidence that you can have good prog music in 2017 (i) without sounding retro, (ii) while having fun making it and (iii) by further evolving from previous material. The album kicks off with the short interlude musings of the acoustic title track ("Good")  and then the second track "(funnythings)" a speedy chaotic track which sets the pace for the album. The next track draws from more commercial sources and it ("The Conversation is over") successfully combines catchy pop with grandiose elements and an infectious tune to boot. "Millions of Musketeers" again is more proggy with a more complex structure with riffing almost reminiscent of progressive metal! The prog metal feeling continues to be featured heavily in the epic "How do Ghosts work?" which combines personal experiences, nonsensical ponderings and excellent riffing with almost a hint of the Devin Townsend Project in terms of musical flow.  "DAN vs EGG" is a "joke" song which acts as an acoustic interluding after the beating from the two previous tracks and acts as a segway to the proggy semi-acoustic  "I've Been So Happy Living Down Here in the Water". The album closes out unconventionally (as if Toehider would have it any other way) with "It's so Fikkis!" blending prog rock and AOR and even latin hints and closes out another fucking great release by the band. Hats off!


98/100

Below are the music videos for "This Conversation is over", "How do Ghosts work?" and the "unofficial video" for "DAN vs EGG".