BEN CRAVEN – MONSTER FROM THE ID (PROG ROCK): Ben Craven is the best one-person band this side on Lindsey Buckingham. Sure, he’s an excellent composer and an effective singer, but he also knows how to make records. All his albums seem greater than the sum of their parts, and Monsters From the Id is no exception. Craven goes old school, with two epic compositions comprising one side of the album each. “Die Before You Wake” and “Amnis Flows Aeternum” could have easily been on a Pink Floyd album, given their soaring guitars, pounding bass, and expansive vocals. Caven spent an equal amount of effort on his lyrics, creating a dark and foreboding world to accompany his driving melodies. No details are overlooked, and there are edited versions of both songs, which provide a more radio-friendly feel. Available now on Bandcamp, I highly recommend the CD/DVD version so that you can be fully immersed in the sonic wonder.
