Metaphor - Starfooted


Year of Release: 1999
Label: Galileo Records
Catalog Number: 0002
Format: CD
Total Time: 73:49:00

The ad copy on the Galileo Records Web site states "You have not heard a band like Metaphor before." Well...er...actually, you have -- a little band known as Genesis. That Metaphor should sound so much like Genesis is no surprise considering that they honed their chops in San Francisco as a Genesis tribute band for two years. That said, if you're looking for wildly original music, Metaphor won't do it for you -- but if you like Gabriel-era Genesis, you need this CD.

Much like Genesis's own The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, Starfooted is a concept album. In this case, the story is the Gnostic view of creation and the universe. This view is, to put it diplomatically, on the controversial side, and the band is careful to point out on their own Web site that "We are not Gnostics. In fact, a lot of what Gnosticism teaches is really, really icky." Still, it all makes for a fascinating mythology, which the band has explored on this very listenable work.

Starfooted exudes Genesis from virtually every note. You can hear it in the "Supper's Ready"-like mythos to the Hackett-style guitar parts to the complex instrumental sections. Thankfully, the vocalist, John Mabry, resists (for the most part) the temptation to mimic Peter Gabriel, although the influence is more than obvious.

While I'm a big fan of originality and understand that pushing boundaries is what drives music into new frontiers, I also find no problem with well done derivative works. And for fans of Genesis, this is one of the best I've heard.


Tracklisting:
Ladder From The Sky (6:53) / Chaos With A Crown Of Gold (5:58) / Starfooted In The Garden Of Cans (15:04) / The Illusion Of Flesh (2:07) / In The Cave (9:13) / Seed (10:09) / The Bridal Chamber (2:42) / Don't Sleep (9:00) / Battle Of The Archons (10:24) / Assumption (2:19)

Musicians:
Bob Koehler - drums, percussion
John Mabry - vocals, acoustic guitar
Jim Post - bass, bass pedals
Malcolm Smith - electric and acoustic guitar
Marc Spooner - bells and whistles

Discography:
Starfooted (1999)
Entertaining Thanatos (2004)
The Sparrow (2007)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin US

Added: January 1st 2001
Reviewer: Clayton Walnum

Artist website: www.metaphor.org
Hits: 1848
Language: english

  

[ Back to Reviews Index | Post Comment ]