Rama 1

Andy West | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 24, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Magna Carta
• ASIN: B00006J3ZM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #251,377 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Ytsejam.com, August 2002

Andy West has created a heavy and eclectic progressive monster with elements of Jazz Fusion, Progressive Rock and Industrial Metal.

Product Description

2002 release from the former bass player for the Dixie Dregs. Artists featured are drummers Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Jonathan Mover and Rob Morgenstein (Dregs), Guitarist Toshi Iseda and Mike Keneally (Zappa), keyboardists T. Lavitz (Dregs) & Jens Johansson. Magna Carta.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous players + great songs = high energy disc!, April 27, 2006

By 

WillieB - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rama 1 (Audio CD)

Warning: this disc is intense and may take several listens before sinking in.

"Mad March" is an upbeat rocker with a repetitive dual guitar line that produces a very cool swirling effect that words can't explain. "Meetings" a vibrant tune has some great solo work. In parts, "Herd Instinct" sounds vaguely similar to a Dregs tune. "Bloomsday" starts heavy but thins out from too much repetition. "Old Meat Frame", the only vocal tune on the disc, is sort of a rappish alternative rock tune. "Memento Mori" another great tune is filled with intriguing changes. "Qubit" is strange. "Government" is another upbeat rock/jazz/prog blend of goodies. Finally, "Resonate" is a mid-tempo jazzy tune.

Recommend for Dregs and Keneally fans.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A successful and considered release, October 10, 2002

By 

R. Ellsworth (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rama 1 (Audio CD)

This is composed instrumental progressive rock with flair and swing. Well thought-out song structure and colorful arrangements. Soloists are used judiciously and with a sensitivity to their strengths. Andy has a long relationship with progressive rock and his history and thoughtful attention to all aspects of this release are evident. While one would expect no less from a musician of Andy's caliber it is always refreshing to hear a fulfilled promise. I am not particularly familiar with the Magna Carta label but I would think that any progressive-rock music label would have been proud to release this one.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Even the Least Bit Boring, January 10, 2003

By 

Curt Jones (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rama 1 (Audio CD)

Driving, thunderous bass lines with intelligently interwoven guitars and keyboards makes for a mouth-watering anticipation of Rama2. Mike Keneally and Rod Morgenstein bring their respective "A" games to this outstanding effort, and the contributing guitarists and guests help create a seamless hour or so of pleasantly in-your-face tunes. Andy West proves that he has become his own man (if he wasn't before), and he's still got the chops and the sound to deliver music welcomed by at least a few denizens of the third mellinnium. Call it prog-rock if you must, but that's not really doing it justice. I see many a movie-maker calling for soundtracks. The next Matrix is begging for this music. Great stuff!!