My River Flows

IZZ | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 6, 2005)
• Original Release Date: December 6, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Doone Records, Inc.
• ASIN: B000C1ZTNA
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,651 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

Hailing from just outside Manhattan, IZZ is a talented young band that first made a name for themselves through heavy gigging and a diverse and unique debut CD, 1999’s Sliver of a Sun. Living proof that progressive rock need not be stuck in the 70s, IZZ’s take on the style is one that marries the influences of the “classic” bands with a fearlessly modern sound. Celtic, classical, funk, fusion, jazz and Latin styles are interwoven with their accessible yet forward-thinking rock, always retaining a keen sense of melody and an overall appreciation for the song as a cohesive whole. The compositions may take the listener in unexpected directions, but the way back is always marked with a great hook or melody. The band released its second CD, I Move, in 2002. I Move solidified IZZ as a major player in the field of melodic progressive rock. In 2004 IZZ released its third offering entitled Ampersand, Volume 1, a collection of previously unreleased studio and live tracks that span virtually the band’s entire career. IZZ’s musicians are talented multi-instrumentalists and adept at multi-part vocal harmonies. Lead vocals are shared between the Galgano brothers (Tom and John), while the percussion duties are split in a decidedly unique way: Greg DiMiceli plays an acoustic kit while Brian Coralian uses his various acoustic and electronic percussives to accent and enhance the rhythmic structure of IZZ’s tunes. The result is a fascinating palette of sounds and a bold statement in a genre where fans and musicians too often cringe at the thought of any kind of electronic percussion. Guitarist Paul Bremner brings his own emotional, virtuosic guitar work into the mix and along with John on bass, Tom on keyboards round out the instrumentation. The stunning voices of Anmarie Byrnes and Laura Meade on lead and backing vocals complete the unique IZZ sound. IZZ is currently set to release the all-new studio album, My River Flows, on Dec. 6th, 2005.

Product Description

As the successor to I Move, My River Flows continues to raise the musical bar. From the explosive opening title track to the 21-minute closer, “Deafening Silence”, My River Flows is an emotionally charged listening experience. “We’re very proud of My River Flows and very excited to share our new music,” said keyboardist/vocalist/producer Tom Galgano. “We’ve put a lot of ourselves into this album and I think that really shines through.”

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST IZZ release yet!, December 23, 2005

By 

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

This review is from: My River Flows (Audio CD)

After an agonizing year long wait, IZZ finally brings forth the goods. Some of these tunes have been honed at Cal-Prog and other concerts over the past couple of years, I remember hearing "Crossfire" at Cal-Prog '04. I was immediately stunned at the production quality of MRF, I could FEEL the bass and kick drum, powerful stuff!

There is a lot of growth on this record, as in a more cohesive band, thoughtful lyrical content, individual instrumental prowess and shared duties. Anmarie, Laura and John Galgano share more lead vocal time then on previous albums. John Galgano's voice has improved tremendously and his bass playing is superb, getting a lot of presence to his fills and runs. Greg Dimiceli and Brian Coralian absolutely meld into a single eight limbed octo-drummer, locked in synchronistic harmony. Tom Galgano is in fine voice and, as a lead soloist, plays for the song and doesn't get "over the top." The biggest standout, though, is Paul Bremner. Brems really makes the most of every moment. His tone graces each tune with alternating power chords, deft flurries of razor sharp notes, ebow driven legato and sweet linear runs. Fabulous.

The tunes: Beatlesque melodies appear on Anything I Can Dream and Rose Colored Glasses. Muscular workouts, like Late Night Salvation and My River Flows. An epic showcase of musical twists and turns, choir-like passages, spiritual redemption and the kitchen sink on Deafening Silence. A sweet lullaby, Abby's Song. Social commentary on Deception. The band covers a lot of territory on this release, something for everyone.

I find myself skipping the title track and the finale. Why? For some reason, My River Flows doesn't click between the vocal melody and the chord structure. I felt the same way at Cal-Prog when they opened the show with this song. I can't put my finger on it, but something just doesn't fit. Deafening Silence is a huge tune, very hard to make it through in one sitting. I think it may be a case of a band trying to write an epic, rather than a song that demands it. I could hear DS broken down into three shorter pieces that would have worked much better. Rather than writing their Close to the Edge, they came up with a Tales from the Topographic moment. Too much padding, trying too hard? I don't know. Still, some fantastic interludes.

Why should you own this album? Late Night Salvation may be THE best prog tune of 2005. It is an awesome tune on every level; musically, lyrically, vocally and production quality. I remember the first time I heard Roundabout when I was a kid. I was shocked. LNS gave me that same feeling. Even with the small short-comings, My River Flows is an excellent addition to any prog collection. Cheers Greg!

IZZ rocks!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Progressive-Pop, January 4, 2006

By 

WillieB - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My River Flows (Audio CD)

There is quite a smorgasbord of music on this disc... the rocking "My River Flows", or intricate "Late Night Salvation" (the highlight of the disc) with a brief drum solo, the Beatles influenced "Crossfire" and "Anything I Can Dream", or the atmospheric "Deafening Silence" showcasing some nice female vocals. Izz blends prog with pop and they do it well. The dual drummers never get in each other's way and gel perfectly to provide the foundation for a beefy rhythm section. Also notable is the very tasty electric guitar work throughout the entire disc.

I prefer "I Move" to this disc because it is more rock orientated while this release seems to favor pop, but there is enough variety for all to enjoy.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More Like A Creek., February 14, 2007

By 

G. C. McPhail "progfellow" (West Jordan, UT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My River Flows (Audio CD)

Izz is one of those "little" bands that you have to pull for and wish they could find a wider audience. They really have quite a unique sound and I have a difficult time coming up with some names of other bands they sound like. At least on their fourth installment, "My River Flows", they occasionally sound to me like the Beatles if the Beatles had hung around and done some Prog.

Izz use some ingredients that make them an interesting and satisfying listen. The band employs a couple of percussionists and they include some female voices in some of their pieces which are very refreshing. They are solid songwriters and good musicians.

I really like their guitarist - Paul "Brems" Bremner. The guy is a major talent. (He pulled off a nice Steve Howe impression on "Close To The Edge" at last year's appearance at CalProg.). I am not sure what he was doing before Izz but I will continue to watch for him in the years to come beyond Izz.

If the world of Prog is divided into Dark and Light, Izz is on the "Lite" side. Sort of a Kino-lite. This may be what keep them from scaling the heights of Prog. They will never be mentioned by "serious" Proggers in the same breath as the Flower Kings, Neal Morse, et al. This is Prog my 23-year-old daughter appreciates (to a certain extent).

That said, there should be a place in your CD collection for Izz. They write solid, smart, beautiful music. They are a nice diversion. And then there is always "Brems".

Tracks:

My River Flows - Begins the proceedings in an almost headbanging fashion. Some nice chunky guitar work by Brems. The song sounds a little disjointed at first but grows on you over time.

Late Night Salvation - This song seems to be getting the most attention even over the album's epic - Deafening Silence. A mini epic itself, one almost hears echoes of Liquid Tension Experiment on the front end.

Rose Colored Lenses - My least favorite tune on the album.
Deception - This is really a satisfying piece. It has a very atmospheric, symphonic feel to it. Includes some nice acoustic guitar work and female voices. Starts soft and subtle and crescendos nicely at the end. Good vocal work by keyboardist Tom Galgano.

Crossfire - An OK song. This is where I hear shades of Abbey Road-era Beatles. Tasteful piano by Tom.

Anything I Can Dream - Again, a little Beatle-esque. Almost a throw away. Sort of like Starlight Man on TFK's "Adam and Eve" but I love it (and I love Starlight Man, too!). OK, I am a sucker for a good hook. John does a good job on vocals and Brems throws in some cool fuzzy guitar lines.

Abby's Song - A little acoustic ditty. This is weird, but I hear Captain Beyond's "Sufficiently Breathless" only this is not quite as good.

Deafening Silence - This is the Cd's epic. It received a standing ovation at CalProg. I liked it then and I like it now. So it sounds more like Starcastle than Yes. It is still very entertaining.

All in all, I think I like 2002's "I Move" better, but there is still a lot to like about "My River Flows".