Sunblind Lion-Observer (1976)

Sunblind Lion was an American band from Wisconsin that blended progressive rock with FM-oriented rock. They were probably more oriented towards the former, but in an attempt to be more commercially viable, they incorporated the latter for both club gigs and the possibility of immediate success. Their self-produced debut album sold quite well both locally and nationally. The band remained active until the early 1980s, releasing another studio album in 1978 (''Above & Beyond'') and a live album in 1980, slowly moving away from their progressive roots. While they occasionally resurfaced over the years, in 2014 they made an unexpected comeback with their first album in over 30 years, titled ''The Sanatorium''. Their debut album, "Observer", was released in November 1976, garnering significant airplay throughout Wisconsin and even receiving critical acclaim in Billboard magazine. This album contains the genuine ingredients of American roots music fused with progressive elements, such as the opening track, "Ride the Wind", a song reminiscent of the Kansas sound, with powerful guitar riffs, heavy synthesizers, and a haunting organ. This is followed by the boogie-rock track "Cat Eyes" and the commercial "Jamaican Holiday", two songs that depart from their initial avant-garde approach. In the complex "(Make It) Another Day", the band showcases its versatility with a fusion of Southern rock and progressive rock, while "Spring Essence" is the album's most purist and avant-garde track. The AOR vein returns with "Games Of The Lonely", to end with the homonymous track, a magnificent epic with which they close a masterful album of the best progressive rock from the deep America.