Spock's Beard

Despite an obvious aural allusion to the stale periods of prog giants like Yes and ELP, Spock's Beard escape the veils of pretension (or is it boredom?) that usually suffocates such acts. Their membership consists mainly of high-profile session musicians, and their lyrical wit delicately balances with a wit that at times echoes the keenness of Supertramp. Don't Try This At Home is a live recording that is sprinkled with the evenness of a Grateful Dead performance. These gentlemen are definitely talented, but the only complaint is their usage of low-res '80s synths that immediately castrate a potential fan base of 20-somethings. Instead, they come off as college radio music for middle-aged alumni.