Echolyn - Cowboy Poems Free (2000)

After a five-year hiatus, Echolyn returned with its unique blend of progressive rock. The group's previous effort, As the World, established Echolyn as one of the premier American progressive rock bands on the basis of intelligent lyrics and unrivaled musicianship. While the same holds true here, their approach is more introspective and straightforward. They still explore complex rhythmic patterns and Gentle Giant-type harmonies, but most of the selections follow traditional song structures. "Texas Dust" is a memorable opener, but the remainder of the recording turns out to be rather mundane. Die-hard fans will surely find enough here to be satisfied, but casual fans should stick with As the World.