Zen Rock and Roll: The Birthright Circle

On his second album, composer and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Saunders — performing under the name Zen Rock and Roll — evokes elements of old-school (mainly British) progressive rock, world music and even 19th and 20th century art music. Featuring only four songs (three of them shorter than any track that appeared on Zen Rock and Roll's 2002 debut, End of the Age), The Birthright Circle runs the gamut from majestic symphonic rock on opener "Thanatos" to melancholy exploration a la classic Genesis and Yes on the 23-minute closing epic "Circle." In between, there are the lyrically sad yet musically bright-and-bouncy "Richard," based at least in part on the poem "Richard Cory" by Edwin Arlington Robinson, and the vintage-Kansas-tinged ballad "Anthem," which despite its agnostic tone is easily the closest Zen Rock and Roll comes to a traditionally structured song. The Birthright Circle boasts demanding material that challenges listeners. But then again, isn't that what progressive rock is all about?

Track Listing:
1) Thanatos (7:16)
2) Anthem (5:48)
3) Richard (9:14)
4) Circle (23:06)
Total Time: 45:23

Added: November 27th 2004
Reviewer: Michael Popke
Score:
Related Link: ProgRock Records
Hits: 4553
Language: english

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