My review: Cathedral - Stained Glass Stories (1978)

[klothos]

My review of Cathedral's 1978 album "Stained Glass Stories":

Wow!

[Sputnik]

Yeah, awesome album. Not my favorite AmeriPorg album, which is Mirthrandir. But right up there with Yezda Urfa and a few others Just a small click behind that as my favorite.

I feel fortunate to have seen Cathedral play live down on Long Island a few years ago, right as they were releasing The Bridge. They did a gig in a nice little theater for mostly friends and family, I have no memory how I heard about it, but we did a few days in NYC then drove out to Long Island for the show. It was incredible to hear music from SGS played live by 4/5ths of the original lineup. The only mistake the made to my ears was using electronic drums, but it was still a fine show.

Bil

[aith01]

Oddly enough, I've never gotten around to this one (or Mirthrandir, for that matter). I'm gonna check it out now though.

Thanks!

[rickawakeman]

One of my first mail order discs back in pre-net days iirc.

[Kanukisbrave]

The Bridge was excellent too!

[Gizmotron]

A fine record. I enjoy it. Great bassist.

[Scrotum Scissor]

Yes, I still like it. Apart from the vocalist/singer (no pun).

But I have to say that even today I find the album to drop quite a bit after that first lengthy song.

[miamiscot]

Big fan of 70's American Prog and Cathedral is near the top of the list - along with Happy The Man, Ethos, Mirthrandir, Starcastle, Lift, Easter Island, Pentwater, Hands, Yezda Urfa, The Load and Quill.

A great, great album that actually sounds, at times, like the template for much of what Anglagard would later produce.

Brilliant.

[Koreabruce]

Anglagard did in fact use Cathedral, as well as SFF, as partial templates for their sound and have said as much.

I got used to the singer in Cathedral after 5 or so spins. I think this is a great album that completely oozes atmosphere but definitely does not suffer in the chops department. I especially love the through-composed first track...no real repetition at all in there to speak of! Some very creative use of mellotron throughout courtesy of Tom Doncourt, with whom I corresponded briefly a few years back. I also enjoyed the Bridge.