Discipline

[Rick and Roll]

I've been crowing about these guys for some time, here's the overview:

They're out of the Detroit area, and put out a neat CD called "Push and Profit" in 1993. There are some disturbing lyrics (see "The Nursery Year"), but the music is riveting. I saw them soon after at "Progscape" in Baltimore. When I saw them after their second release, I was completely blown away. Their lead singer, Matthew Parmenter, has a commanding stage presence.

I've seen them at progday in 100 degree heat - a magnificent set, at Orion (there's a fabulous live record from that show). You can hear us yelling between tunes. The liner notes for that are weird as hell. I've also seen them three other times. One time was at the Mask & Wig club at the Univ of Penn - Always Almost (the Echolyn offshoot) opened up for them - Matthew's face paint had melted in the heat (it was soooo hot in there), that when we spoke with him after the gig, he looked like Gabriel on the third record. It was surreal. The show I saw outside of DC was a double bill with Anekdoten on their Nucleus tour. WOW. their guitarist had to get back to Detroit for a job interview the next day - the ills of a non-commercial band.

The second (and unfortunately) last studio release in 1977 is unquestionably my favorite album since then. Each song is absolutely incredible. The versions on the Orion CD are almost as good. the first track (Canto IV-Limbo) is so powerful. The whole record is just balls-out incredible.

I am very loath to rate something prior to listening (either good or bad), but I can't help myself on this one.

Let me know what you all think.