Keyholder

Kaipa | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Inside Out U.S.
• ASIN: B0000AKCIH
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,955 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed at first, then it grew on me - love it!, February 4, 2004

By 

Jamie Flournoy (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Keyholder (Audio CD)

After discovering Notes from the Past, with some disappointment regarding Patrik's vocals being not aggressive enough for the material, I was excited to get the new album. I got it, and at first I didn't like it. But, with music as complex as this, it typically takes 4-5 listens before one really gets hooked. That's definitely the case with this album.

Pros: stellar musicianship. Lots of guitar-keys-bass interplay, catchy rhythms, stops and starts, and lots of plain old rocking out to a wacky riff. Roine is really kicking ass on this one, more so than on the Flower Kings songs I've heard, and on a par with his work in Transatlantic. Hans is not afraid to use all sorts of different keyboard sounds, including a lead synth sound that makes me think of Derek Sherinian or Jens Johanssen. Morgan is tearing up the drumset as usual. Jonas is alternating between powerful but reserved bass parts, and a few moments of lead parts. Patrik is singing like he means it (as opposed to Notes from the Past, in which his vocals were just to clean and *nice*), and Aleena is great again, and this time I think the material is a bit better suited to her voice.

Cons: If you listen to too much prog (as I do), you'll start to hear echoes of other bands in this album. At times you'll hear bits that may make you think of Yes, Queen, Jethro Tull, and Dream Theater. Not even a tip of the hat is given, but just a keyboard tone here or two notes there, which will sorta remind you of these bands. This is not a bad thing, but it was a bit distracting for me to say "hmm that sounds kinda like Gates of Delirium", "hmm that sounds like Images and Words". A lot of this for me is coming from Jonas's tone & style, which are just too reminiscent of Chris Squire.

All that said, this is an excellent album and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes prog or The Flower Kings or liked Notes from the Past.

BTW, high quality MP3 samples from this album can be found on their web site at http://www.kaipa.info/.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential, March 3, 2005

By 

Brian A. Watson "brian" (Wakefield, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keyholder (Audio CD)

If more than a month goes by and I haven't listened to this, or,it has to be said, 'notes from the past', I get a little anxious, if you know what I mean. This is soaring, thoughful, inspiring, wonderful music, 'prog' if you want to call it that, but every time you listen to this, in your car, at home, on the bus I don't care where else you will smile, I absolutely positively guarantee it. Try it wearing noise reducing headphones. Enjoy.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Instrumental Prog, October 22, 2003

By 

Dan A. Bobrowski "boceephus" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Keyholder (Audio CD)

Great Instrumental Progressive Rock, only there's a problem. This isn't an instrumental CD. I would recommend this disc to every Prog head out there based on the music alone. The over emotive Freddie Mercury vocal treatment gets annoying. This would have been much better if Roine Stolt handle the vocal chores. The music is very good, moving, melodic and enough twists and turns to make for active listening. Aleena's vocals are strong and don't get in the way like Freddie Jr.