Welcome to "In Defense Of"! Where I defend albums nobody seems to like but I have always appreciated.

First up is Test For Echo, Rush's 1996 attempt at grunge-prog. It's still an anomaly in the band's career that came at a weird time and has a sound they haven't tried before or since. It's a strange record that has earned the ire of many a Rush fan, and often ends up near the very bottom rankings of the group's discography. So what's worth defending here? From inukshuks and perseverance to old dogs and gangster boys, I think there's a lot to salvage here!

*Sounds and music courtesy of Soundtrap.

Today a discussion of Tiamat's Gothic prog masterpiece, Wildhoney. Often revered as a classic of gothic rock and metal, it also deserves a solid shoutout as a fantastic prog record due to its dark, dense atmosphere, cohesive yet experimental songwriting, and for being a 42-minute psychedelic odyssey into nature and the cosmos.

*Sounds and Music Courtesy of Soundtrap.

Welcome to the world of the Crimson King!

We begin our exploration into the work of Robert Fripp and co. with Larks' Tongues, one of the band's most revered and experimental efforts. Much of avant-garde and classic progressive music can be traced back to this record with its unique production, improvisational feel, and overall sinister, unsettling atmosphere.

*sounds and music courtesy of Soundtrap