PapaJ's Top 10 for 2010

1. Kaipa Website Audio Sample	In The Wake of Evolution	CREDITS Hans Lundin acoustic & virtual keyboards, vocals Per Nilsson electric guitars Morgan Ågren drums Jonas Reingold electric basses Patrik Lundström vocals Aleena Gibson vocas
The last time these guys did an album it topped my list. They are just great compositionally, and the musicianship and vocals are stellar. But I can't stop thinking "we need to see this stuff performed live!" I contacted them this year and found out that they haven't played out in like 10 years and they have no intention to. I can't help but being reminded of a quote attributed to Mike Portnoy. And even though its out of context and probably misquoted here it is: "If they don't play live, they aren't a real band". So with that reservation, this is my favorite CD from 2010.

2 . Jeavestone Website Audio Sample	1 + 1 = OK	CREDITS Jim Goldworth vocals, guitar Mickey Maniac guitar, vocals Tommy Glorioso bass Angelina Galactique flute, keys,vocals Kingo drums
I have to thank Jeavestone for making me aware of the importance of shiny ankles. I now get schwankled regularly! They are some wacky Fins with lighthearted but heavy musiked songs and I find it quite endearing. Off the beaten trail but not TOO far, my number 2 CD comes from this band that was recently announced as part of the NearFest 2011 lineup. I may just have to go to see them. They're that much fun.

3 . District 97 Website Audio Sample	Hybrid Child	CREDITS Jim Tashjian guitars Rob Clearfield keyboards Patrick Mulcahy bass Jonathan Schang drums, tambourine Leslie Hunt vocals Katinka Kleijn cello
This is a band that has members way below the standard age curve for prog, and it gives me hope for the future. Members include an American Idol finalist and a cellist from the Chicago symphony orchestra and their sound correspondingly is quite fresh and appealing. They made a slew of fans at their maiden festival appearance last year (CalProg) and they are booked at ROSfest 2011. I see nothing but blue skies ahead for this talented and entertaining band. If you haven't already, check them out!

4 . MoeTar Website Audio Sample	From These Small Seeds	CREDITS Moorea Dickason Vocals Tarik Ragab Compositions, Bass Matt Lebofsky keyboards, Compositions Matthew Charles Heulitt Guitar David M Flores Drums
You know how most times when you hear a new band for the very first time your mind tries hard to classify them and you find yourself thinking "they sound like ___" or "they remind me of ____" or "I hear a little ____ in them"? When I listened to MoeTar for the first time, all I could think was "well this is different." Yes, as strange as it is, sounding original is not very common, but these guys do. Moe has a strong but sexy, well controlled voice that I find rather pleasing. And the music is a kind of jazz/fusion/prog/pop hybrid, but in doses that leave the music accessible enough to be catchy. Some of the songs stray a bit too far into the abstract jazz arena for my likings, but the ones that don't are just killer. And I was surprised to find out that Matt Lebofsky (keyboards/composition) plays bass with the band miRthkon. There's something in the water up in Oakland, as a very interesting set of artists seem to be emerging from there. Anyways, please enjoy MoeTar, I sure do!

5 . Hasse Froberg and the Musical Companion Website Audio Sample	Future Past	CREDITS Hasse Fröberg vocals, guitar Anton Lindsjö leadguitar Ola Strandberg drums Kjell Haraldsson keyboards Thomas Thomsson bass
When the hair-thrashing power singer from The Flower Kings struck out on his own, I wasn't sure what to expect. Often such solo projects are kind of one-dimensional, even if they are entertaining. And maybe because of the name (...and the Musical Companion) I had images before hearing them that it would be a lot of ballads and folksy music. But man was I wrong. Not only did Hasse bring his A game, the musicians in the band are top notch and the songs proggy as hell. Every song on this one is satisfying. What a great accomplishment for yet another Swede that I call friend.

6 . Spock's Beard Website Audio Sample	X	CREDITS Ryo Okumoto Hammond organ, Keyboards, mellotron Dave Meros bass, vocals, keyboards Alan Morse guitars, vocals Nick D'Virgilio drums, percussion, vocals
Spock's Beard is back! These veterans have been around for a long time and they play a very special part in my prog journey. It broke my heart when Neal Morse left the band after "Snow", and they struggled for the next few albums to find their way, but with "X" they finally have. There is a confidence and identity in this record that had been spotty since the departure of Morse. But they are firing on all four cylinders now, and this one rocks hard but still retains the complexity we expect from good prog. And they retain the sometimes whimsical lyrics and delivery that is the hallmark of the Beard. As Alan Morse would say: Raaawwwkkkkk! dude.

7 . Moon Safari Website Audio Sample	Lover's End	CREDITS Simon Åkesson Vocals, piano, organ, moog, mellotron, keys Petter Sandström Vocals, acoustic guitar & harmonica Pontus Åkesson Vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitar Johan Westerlund Vocals, bass guitar Tobias Lundgren Vocals, drums, percussion.
Another Swedish band (what's in their water???) I can think of no band that has had a more polarizing effect on listeners at PapaJ's Matinee than Moon Safari. Their trademark is their lush and intricate 4 and 5 part harmonies. Some compare them to the Beach Boys, others to Manhattan Transfer or the Harry Connick Singers. But to me they bring to mind the harmonies of the Carpenters. Personally I love their music having been a life long devotee of multi-part vocals, having been a member of church choirs, jazz choirs, and even SPEBSQA (look it up). But I also understand the critics who complain the music is too saccharine and "happy". That is there to be sure, and too much can induce an aural diabetic coma. But all that considered, I love their singing and nobody out there is doing what these guys do. This record would be higher on this list if they swapped out some of the folksy feel for a more complex prog musical foundation and maybe varied their dynamics a bit. But hey, I still like these guys an awful lot!

8 . Agents of Mercy Website Audio Sample	Dramarama	CREDITS Nad Sylvan Vocal, Keyboards Roine Stolt Guitars Jonas Reingold Bass Lalle Larsson Keyboards Mikael Wahlgren "Walle" drums
The second outing for Agents of Mercy features the distinctive vocal style of Nad Sylvan and the tasty and soulful guitar licks of Roine Stolt. And even though at CalProg '09 we learned of the keyboard wizardry of Lalle Larsson, his board parts in AOM are reserved and mostly play a supporting role. And of course Jonas is one of the tastiest bass players in music today. This feels more like a band than the first record did, and the writing somehow seems to have matured and become more focused. The album plays well on many fronts with "Dramarama" being a somehow appropriate title.

9 . Helmet of Gnats Website Audio Sample	High Street	CREDITS Chris Fox Guitars Matt Bocchino Keyboards Wayne Zito Basses Mark Conese Drums, Percussion
This Connecticut based quartet mixes up equal parts jazz, fusion, prog and rock to make a mellow and satisfying musical stew. Never harsh or gnarly, but always smooth and satisfying, when I'm in the mood for instrumental music that doesn't assault my senses no one brings it better than HOG. If you like exceptional musicianship that doesn't beat you over the head with chops, this is for you.

10. The Tea Club Website Audio Sample	Rabbit	CREDITS Patrick McGowan Vocals, Guitar Dan McGowan Guitar, Vocals Becky Osenenko Bass Jim Berger Guitar Tom Brislin Keyboards Kyle Minnick Drums
This band from the eastern US first came to my attention early this year with an album released in 2009 entitled "General Winter's Secret Museum". If I had heard about it sooner it definitely would have made the list last year. Having been referred to me by Brett Kull (echolyn) they certainly had good references, and their music was hard edged but melodic and had instant appeal. This year they followed up with "Rabbit". Even though I didn't like it quite as much as their first, there's still a lot here to like, including my dear friend Tom Brislin guesting on keyboards. With a little promotion I think they are bound for wide recognition in the prog community.