Jango-Closer To Home (2000)

The second release from Californian band Jango is "Closer To Home", another exquisite example of the finest smooth jazz. Often dismissed as a modernized Steely Dan imitation, one could say that "Jango interprets Steely Dan as perfectly as Steely Dan themselves". Beyond this apt observation, the truth is that Jango managed to create a refined and versatile sound in their first two albums, brimming with funk influences, sophisticated synthesizer sounds, rich vocal harmonies, and rhythm and blues rhythms, all delivered with a vibrant and incredibly addictive style. The tenor voice of singer Steve Nieves, along with his delicate touch on saxophone and other wind instruments, the rich contribution of keyboardist Steve Le Gassick, and the brilliant work of guitarist Nick Kirgo, offer great instrumental versatility. In "Closer To Home", this American quintet once again showcases their exquisite musical taste with a repertoire of easy-listening songs at their finest. Tracks like the Steely Dan-esque "Joyful Caravan", the engaging funk jazz "Diamond Drive", the refined "Nightside Express", the consistent "Soul Casserole", the jazz fusion "The Beard" or the bittersweet "Pink Flamingos", make up a work that is as captivating as it is rewarding.

Black Bonzo-Lady of the Light (2004)

Throughout much of the 1990s and 2000s, a wide variety of bands emerged, offering an exciting new sound based on the rock of the 1960s and 70s, encompassing its many stylistic variations, including progressive rock, hard rock, and folk rock. These so-called retro rock bands revived these styles and introduced them to millions of new fans drawn to the sounds of rock's golden age. One such band was the Swedish group Black Bonzo, who focused on the progressive hard rock of iconic bands like Deep Purple, Atomic Rooster, Uriah Heep, Black Widow, Quatermass, Titanic, and Lucifer's Friend, among many others that dominated the scene in the 1970s. The musical style of these Swedes could be more specifically described as a fusion of early Uriah Heep and Deep Purple from their golden era, specifically the Mark II lineup. Founded in 2003, they released their first album a year later, subsequently releasing several more projects focused on a consistent musical style. The band consists of Joakim Karlsson (guitars and vocals), Nicklas Ahlund (organ, vocals, and Mellotron), Patrick Leandersson (bass and vocals), and Mike Israel (drums). On their debut album, this formidable band presents majestic soundscapes of powerful heavy rock interwoven with 70s prog rock, where fiery guitars, the potent sounds of the Hammond organ and Mellotron, rich vocal harmonies, and dynamic instrumentation permeate every groove of this first album. Heavy tracks like "Freedom", "Jailbait", and "Lady of the Light" coexist with others of a distinctly progressive heavy nature, such as "Brave Young Soldier" and "Where the River Meets the Sea".

Kevin Gilbert-The Shaming of the True (2000)

This is one of the best progressive rock albums of the modern era. Everything about this album is absolutely perfect and brilliant, from the lyrics and vocals to the musicianship, the tight production, and the incredible melodies. Much like Pink Floyd's "The Wall", released almost two decades earlier, this is a concept album about the dramatic rise and fall of a rock star. This album represented multi-instrumentalist Kevin Gilbert's lifelong dream: to record a rock opera. Working closely with Nick D'Virgilio, Kevin dedicated himself wholeheartedly to this project. Unfortunately, he never got to see his dream realized. Kevin Gilbert died on May 17, 1996, from accidental asphyxiation, leaving the project unfinished. After his death, Jon Rubin and Nick D'Virgilio worked on the album for years, picking up where Kevin left off, and finished it with a vast array of collaborating musicians in late 1999. It was officially released in 2000. The album itself is a complete work, from the dissonant and haunting keyboard notes that open and close it. It features 14 flawless songs, most of them of a high compositional and instrumental standard, where there is room for introspection and serenity; "From There to Here", with its bitterness and sarcasm directed at the music industry; "Certifiable #1 Smash"; the charmingly conventional pop-rock of "Imagemaker" and "The Best Laid Plains"; the symphonic pop of "Water Under the Bridge"; and even a cappella pieces like "Suit Fugue (Dance of the A&R Men)".

Wobbler-From Silence to Somewhere (2017)

Influenced by the sonic textures of Gentle Giant, the avant-garde of King Crimson, and the baroque sound of Genesis's more pastoral work, the Norwegian band Wobbler is another leading light of modern progressive rock. Founded in the late 20th century in the town of Hønefoss, its mentor and leader is keyboardist Lars Fredrik Frøislie, who, along with Kristian Karl Hultgren (bass), Martin Nordrum Kneppen (drums), Morten Andreas Eriksen (guitars), and Tony Johannessen (vocals), released their first album in the early 2000s with the promising "Hinterland" (2005). After several more releases where they evolved and solidified their rich and original style, they released their magnum opus, "From Silence to Somewhere", in 2017. However, by this point, the lineup had undergone several changes; guitarist Morten Eriksen and vocalist Tony Johannessen were no longer present, replaced by multi-instrumentalist Andreas Wettergreen Strømman and guitarist Marius Halleland. After 18 years in the business, Wobbler was already considered one of the best and most veteran bands on the European progressive scene, and with this release, they perfectly demonstrate that recognition, delivering a work that skillfully fuses Norwegian folk with medieval sounds, psychedelia, and symphonic rock. From their first track "From Silence to Somewhere", a brilliant journey through their diverse roots influences, with enormous instrumental dynamism, to the extensive "Foxlight", where they show different moods ranging from noisy and grandiose rhythms to dreamy acoustic sections, passing through the strident "Fermented Hours", Wobbler managed to create another of the masterpieces of modern progressive rock of the 21st century.