▄█████▄ ░█████▄ ▄████▄░█▄ ░█▄ ▄█████▄ ███▄██ ▄██ ▄█▄ ▄██████ ▄█▄ ▄███ ░████░██▀████▓ ▀██ ▄██░▀█████ ████ ███▓ ██████▓██ ▓███████ ███▓░▀█▀████ ███▓ ███▓ ▓███░ ██ ██▄ ▄██▓██ ▓███▓██░ ▓███░███░███████████▄ ███░███░ ███░ ▄███ ███ ▄█▀░ ████████░██ █████████▄ ▓██░███ ███▓█████████ ███████ ███ ███░ ███████ ███▓ ░██ ██ ██████▓ ░██ ▀██ ███░███▓██████ ███▓███ ███ ███ ████████░███░ ███ ██▄ ██▓███░ ██▄ ██░██▓ ███ ▀▀████ ███░███ ███ ███ ███▓░███████░ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███▓██▓██░ ███ ▓████ ███ ███ ▓██▓ ███ ███░ ▓██████ ███ ▓████ ▓██▄ ▓████████ ███ ▓███ ███ ███ ███░███ ███ ░██████ ███ ░████ ░███ ███▓███▓ ███ ░███ ███ ███ ██▓███ ███ ███▓██ ███ ███ ▓██▄ ███░███░ ███ ███ ███ ███ ░█████ ███ ██▓░██▄ ███ ▓█▀ ▓██▄ ███ ██░ ███ ██▓ ███ ███ ░███▀ ░█▀ ██░ ██ ░█▀ ░███▄ ▀ ▀ ▓█▀ ███░ ░█▀ ██▀ ██░ ▄██▀ ░█▄ ▄███▀ ░██ ░ ██ ▓░ ▓░ ██░ ▓█░ ░█▀ ▀█░ ░█▓ ░ ██ ██ Artist: 3RDegree ██ ██ ▓ █░░ ■█ Album: Ones & Zeros: Volume 0 █■ ░░█ ■ █▓▀ █ Year: 2018 █ ▀▓█ ░ █ ▓ Rel. Date: 2018-12-30 ▓ █ ▒ ▒ Genre: Progressive Rock ▒ ▒ █▄ ░ Label: self-released ░ ▄█ ░ █▄ ░ Source: CD ░ ▄█ ░ █▓ Type: Album ▓█ ░ ▓ █ Quality: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo █ ░ ▓ ▓ █ █ ░ ▓ ▄ ■ ■ ▓ ■ ░█ █░ ▀ █ These are the things on the mind of 3RDegree that █ █ make up its sixth album ONES & ZEROS: vol. 0 and █ █ the bookend to 2015Æs ONES & ZEROS: vol. 1-their █ █ first concept album(s)-now complete. All songs █ █ offer a unique take on the issues and ethics █ █ associated with the rapid progress of technology. █ █ Ray Kurzweil & others have been discussing █ █ futurism and transhumanism since the 1970s but █ █ only now are we seeing it impact our daily lives. █ █ Spearheaded by 1990Æs-era members California █ █ guitarist Patrick Kliesch & New Jersey lead █ █ vocalist/keyboardist George Dobbs, the rest of the █ █ band shortly pitched in different songs-all █ █ closely associated with the overall theme. As with █ █ previous albums, both fully-fledged and skeletal █ █ ideas were created and passed between band members █ █ via the Internet and worked on in the flesh soon █ █ after. █ █ 3RDegree circa 2017 continues to embody the █ █ musical direction envisioned by ôpower trioö █ █ Robert James Pashman, Patrick Kliesch & Robert █ █ Durham in 1991: to create interesting and engaging █ █ music that mixes accessible melodies and catchy █ █ hooks with the intelligence and complexity of █ █ Progressive Rock. Releasing a debut album (on █ █ cassette!) with THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE in 1993 █ █ (w/Pashman on lead vocals), 3RDegree decided to █ █ step up their game in 1995, adding a world-class █ █ lead vocalist in George Dobbs and releasing their █ █ second album, 1996Æs HUMAN INTEREST STORY, which █ █ was re-released in 2013, remastered. After playing █ █ many live shows in the New York City area gaining █ █ little traction, the band hung it up, leaving much █ █ material sitting on the proverbial cutting room █ █ floor. █ █ Dobbs would continue musical endeavors including █ █ solo albums, Pashman and Kliesch would work on █ █ projects together and a solo album each apartàbut █ █ talk of 3RDegree was couched in the past tense █ █ until Pashman would make a video collection in █ █ 2005, putting together all the bandÆs music videos █ █ and performances onto DVD and basement tapes onto █ █ CDs. Discussion of the songs left behind bubbled █ █ under throughout that year until the original trio █ █ met at a NYC bar where it was agreed upon that the █ █ band would record again and later, play reunion █ █ concerts at NJ Proghouse in 2007 with original █ █ drummer Rob Durham and long time collaborator, █ █ guitarist Eric Pseja. 2008 saw the release of █ █ NARROW-CASTER (which included the aforementioned █ █ songs along with brand new ones) making a big █ █ splash in small progressive rock ponds worldwide █ █ with the Dutch Progressive Rock Page (DPRP.net) █ █ reveling: ôItÆs not often an album as refreshing █ █ as this comes along, and we should treasure it █ █ when it does...an album that demands repeated █ █ spins, and rewards every listen with some new █ █ revelationö. In 2009, new drummer Aaron Nobel █ █ joined and the band played shows in Brooklyn █ █ (w/Phideaux) & North CarolinaÆs ProgDay (w/Ozric █ █ Tentacles) later finding themselves working on █ █ some tracks with two different themes but with █ █ election year coming in 2012, the band decided █ █ that their political crop of songs would be █ █ particularly timely. █ █ THE LONG DIVISION would be released ahead of █ █ election day followed by many 2013 mid-year shows █ █ culminating in a return visit to ProgDay Æ13Æs █ █ pre-show-all with new lead guitarist Bryan █ █ Zeigler. The albumÆs single ôYouÆre Fooling █ █ Yourselvesö made the Top 10 Songs Of The Year at █ █ DPRPÆs yearly poll alongside many, much more █ █ ôestablishedö bands. In early 2014, the band made █ █ an appearance at Quebec CityÆs Terra Incognita █ █ Festival (w/Glass Hammer) playing to an █ █ enthusiastic audience-3RDegreeÆs first show █ █ outside the USA. █ █ In August 2015, 3RDegree released a new album-ONES █ █ & ZEROS: vol. 1-on 10T Records (their last █ █ release) and performed live on their first world █ █ tour that not only hit the American northeast, but █ █ also France (Paris), Germany (Frankfurt), The █ █ Netherlands (Rotterdam), & U.K. (London, █ █ Leicester, Southampton & Wales) ending at The █ █ SummerÆs End Festival (w/Pallas). Shows continued █ █ into 2016 (with original drummer Robert Durham █ █ back in tow) including an appearance at RoSfest in █ █ Gettysburg, PA (w/SpockÆs Beard). The band █ █ continued writing songs related to the ôones & █ █ zeros themeö throughout 2016 with the goal of an █ █ equally compelling collection to accompany their █ █ career pinnacle. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ George Dobbs: lead & backing vocals, keyboards, █ █ percussion, violin █ █ Robert James Pashman: bass guitar, keyboards, █ █ backing vocals █ █ Patrick Kliesch: acoustic & electric guitars, █ █ keyboards, backing vocals █ █ Robert Durham: drums, percussion █ █ Eric Pseja: electric guitar, backing vocals █ █ Bryan Zeigler: electric guitar, backing vocals █ █ █ █ Produced by George Dobbs, Robert James Pashman & █ █ Patrick Kliesch █ █ Mixed & Mastered by Angelo Panetta █ █ Drums recorded at Panetta Studios & assisted by █ █ Dan D'Elia █ █ Drums on "Logical Conclusion" & drum arrangement █ █ ideas on "The Future Doesn't Need You" & █ █ "Olympia": Aaron Nobel █ █ Tech support: Ed Baumann █ █ Theremin on "Olympia": Sheuh-Li Ong █ █ Co-lead vocal on "Unintended Consequence": Moorea █ █ Dickason █ █ Additional violin on "Click Farm": Jay Friedman █ █ Spoken voice on "Perfect Babies": Ava Penelope █ █ Pashman █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ New Jersey's gift to intellectually stimulating █ █ eclectic and crossover prog is back with the █ █ follow-up (or predecessor?!) to 2015's wonderful █ █ Ones & Zeroes, Vol. 1. █ █ 1. "ReInstall_Overture" (3:57) fast, brash, and █ █ poppy, this one let's me know that we're in for a █ █ more rock operetta- like adventure here. I'm █ █ reminded here of XTC or some of the poppier KING █ █ CRIMSON or ASIA music from the 1980s. It's very █ █ nice, but not great. (8.75/10) █ █ 2. "Connecting" (4:53) bleeds over from the █ █ opening overture, quickly adding singing to the █ █ mix. There's a cool intensity to this one while █ █ the vocals are going on, but then it gets weird █ █ between. "You are the [&*!#] tonight" is an odd █ █ lyric to throw in there before going back to █ █ stronger intensity. The intricate weave is pretty █ █ cool in the next section. This is almost feeling █ █ like a visual song, a vehicle for a story to be █ █ told on stage. (9/10) █ █ 3. "Olympia" (5:15) again bleeding over from the █ █ previous song, I like the flow of this section of █ █ the album. Great melody line for the first verse █ █ followed by a nice little instrumental and decent █ █ call-and-response chorus. The story is again █ █ feeling as if it's being delivered (or should be █ █ delivered) on a stage. And a good story it is with █ █ Olympia being some kind of AI servant/slave (who █ █ goes off like the OS in the film Her). (9/10) █ █ 4. "The Future Doesn't Need You" (5:50) continues █ █ the story in a much more delicate, emotional way, █ █ with the album's best music, best melodies and █ █ powerful lyric. (10/10) █ █ 5. "Unintended Consequence" (3:35) Broadway, █ █ anyone? (8/10) █ █ 6. "Perfect Babies" (4:43) Despite continuing the █ █ clever tongue-in-cheek story, despite getting █ █ stronger as the song goes along, this one just █ █ misses. (7.5/10) █ █ 7. "Logical Conclusion" (6:40) despite two awesome █ █ instrumental sections (from the end of the second █ █ minute to 3:18, and 3:55 to 5:15) and a great █ █ choral section near the end, this song fails to █ █ "hook" me with any melodic or lyrical lines. █ █ (8.5/10) █ █ 8. "Click Away!" (15:28) an epic that opens with a █ █ sound very familiar to those who have luxuriated █ █ in the sonic magic of THE FLAMING LIPS' 2002 █ █ masterpiece, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. The █ █ lyrics (referring to modern humankind's obsession █ █ with quick-access information and entertainment) █ █ are great but the melody and song dynamics fall a █ █ little flat. Despite several shifts and nice █ █ injections from chords, riffs, arpeggi, and █ █ interesting instruments/sounds, the song never █ █ really rises to a level deserving of superlatives. █ █ Great sound and melody in the chorus at 3:50. As a █ █ matter of fact, it's the "Thank you Click Farm" █ █ choruses throughout that are the most engaging █ █ highlights of the song. (8/10) █ █ 9. "Ones & Zeroes" (7:07) reminding me of a lot of █ █ some music by the CARS, this one gets into my █ █ brain enough to bring me back for more. For the █ █ finale of the story line, I'm not quite sure what █ █ the point has been: "It's always been binary █ █ code," means ... what exactly? (8.5/10) █ █ I think the failing of this album is in the band's █ █ decision to try to be cleverer and quirkier than █ █ they needed to be-- especially with vocal melody █ █ lines; just too busy! The best song has the most █ █ stable and simple melodies. █ █ Four stars; an excellent addition to the prog █ █ lexicon--especially to the necessary conversations █ █ regarding the values and priorities of "civilized" █ █ society. Too bad the album doesn't maintain the █ █ high and engaging standard that is sets forth with █ █ the first four songs. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ Listening to this, the new and hotly anticipated █ █ 3RDegree album, my first thoughts centered around █ █ "Connecting": the band, more aggressive than ever, █ █ sings of trolls emerging, not in the high fantasy █ █ sense you'd expect from most prog but in the █ █ contemporary sense of malicious online hordes more █ █ fearsome than the forces of Mordor. Mostly, where █ █ Vol. 1 was focused on a parodic, Kafkaesque near █ █ future Internet of Things, Vol. 0 - appropriately █ █ enough for numerically taking a step back - is a █ █ record of the present, of our current █ █ technological issues, and from here looking █ █ forwards. The lyricism becomes dead serious, but █ █ the lyrics, concept, and songs still fail to █ █ glitch. And even on this very in-the-now release, █ █ the band still finds time for "Olympia", an █ █ interesting exploration of relationships with █ █ artificial intelligence and the group's █ █ fascinating idea of a love song. █ █ Of even greater note are the instrumentals. As █ █ mentioned earlier, the band comes charging out of █ █ the gate; "Re1nstall_0verture" and "Connecting" █ █ form a double whammy of some of their hardest █ █ edged material yet, proving quite exhilarating as █ █ their sound fleshes out. The tracks, especially █ █ the aforementioned three and the suite "Click █ █ Away!", prove their best yet. The guitars and keys █ █ here are used to their maximum potential, weaving █ █ vivid electronic soundscapes, beautiful prog-pop, █ █ and driving rock. As the binary switches, 3RDegree █ █ has gone into overdrive, crafting another winner. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ Some of you may recall seeing in the #5 position █ █ of the 2015 PA Top 100 an album called "Ones & █ █ Zeroes - Volume 1" by a band named 3rdegree. I █ █ noticed it, and in early 2016 I ordered a copy and █ █ was sufficiently impressed to go ahead and order █ █ the previous three albums, all of which have their █ █ share of rewards. However, this top-ranking album █ █ really stood apart from the others for me. More █ █ than a collection of songs, it was a concept album █ █ about life extension and ultimately becoming █ █ trans-human, i.e. becoming integrated with the Net █ █ as an entity, leaving your biological human form █ █ behind. █ █ Now with any "volume 1" there can be expected a █ █ second volume, and after a long wait, 3rdegree █ █ finally released "Ones & Zeroes: vol. 0". Perfect! █ █ The duology is now complete! █ █ There was some trepidation on behalf of the band. █ █ Would the second part live up to the expectations █ █ of listeners who rated volume 1 so highly? From █ █ the get go, any doubts just fly out the window. █ █ Just plug into the opening track, an instrumental █ █ entitled "Re1install_0verture". If that isn't a █ █ solid welcome back that'll pull you out of your █ █ seat then I don't know what. It's a brilliant █ █ start to the album which includes musical themes █ █ from both Vol. 1 and Vol. 0. █ █ Now just let that album play and get into it. We █ █ are done with the topic of extending one's █ █ existence and so we've also said goodbye to █ █ Valhalla Biotech, which I felt added charm and █ █ atmosphere to volume 1. But our future modern █ █ world is dissected further with the topics of █ █ synthetic companions, genetic manipulation of the █ █ unborn, click farms, and other technological █ █ wonders we are enjoying or on the cusp of █ █ benefitting from. █ █ I say this with intended irony because that it how █ █ 3rdegree wants you to understand their views of █ █ these technological developments. As with the █ █ lyrics of any of their albums I know, there is a █ █ cynicism masquerading in naive optimism. Which █ █ brings me round to the opinion that each song has █ █ lyrics intended to provoke thought and possibly a █ █ little alarm or concern as well. Add to that the █ █ unique and skillful vocal delivery of George Dobbs █ █ and you have songs that beckon your attention. █ █ Although it would be easy enough for me to write █ █ complimentary words for every track, the big █ █ number has to be "Click Away!", a track over 15 █ █ minutes long and broken into parts, though it runs █ █ without breaks and shifts seemlessly from one part █ █ to the next. The song's lyrics are not included █ █ inside the digipak and you need to visit their web █ █ site where the lyrics appear with links to other █ █ web sites appear in the lyrics. 3rdegree have made █ █ the theme of "click away" a reality! █ █ 3RDegree have no problem coming up with engaging █ █ music, but at times you might not really pick up █ █ on the prog aspect. Their music older music █ █ previously struck me as 1990's alternative college █ █ radio intellectual tunage that was fed and raised █ █ on seventies prog. But with "Ones and Zeros" there █ █ seems to be much more going on. Wait! Was that a █ █ bit of Supertramp I heard closing off the album? █ █ Maybe it's just my imagination. Is there a █ █ suggestion of Styx? Or Queen? Well, you get the █ █ point. But anyway, 3rdegree's music is like a █ █ complex architectural structure that does its job. █ █ No blazing cascades of notes. No overt brandishing █ █ of time signatures in your face. No forced stops █ █ and starts. Just music that sounds cool and offers █ █ more nutrition for the soul than your typical █ █ mainstream alternative band. And yet I can't help █ █ feel that the band have really stretched █ █ themselves out this time, creating an album that █ █ is perhaps more "proggy" than their earlier works, █ █ but still managing to get some great melodies in █ █ the songs. █ █ What else can I say but congratulations to █ █ 3RDegree for an album well worth the wait! Now I █ █ really want to hear volumes 1 and 0 back to back! █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ The new album 'Ones & Zeros - volume 0' is the █ █ prequel to 2015's volume 1 and another ambitious █ █ concept album from 3RD DEGREE that draws on themes █ █ of trans-humanism and the unintended consequences █ █ of being technologically connected with binary █ █ codes taking over our existence. █ █ Re1nstall_0verture opens the album in a maelstrom █ █ of spacey keyboards from Dobbs, from paradiddles █ █ and jagged guitar riffs. It is glorious to enter █ █ an album with such a glowing atmosphere. The lead █ █ guitar work of Kliesch, Ziegler and Pseja shines █ █ brightly alongside the complex bass lines of █ █ Pashman. The ominous symphonic strings coalesce █ █ with squealing guitars embellished by the █ █ relentless drum patterns of Durham. Overall this █ █ is a brilliant instrumental. █ █ Connecting opens with haunting piano motifs and an █ █ odd meter with estranged vocals. The effect is █ █ astonishing and makes this a very engaging █ █ composition. █ █ Olympia is replete with lead guitars and keyboards █ █ with gorgeous harmonies and the theremin thrown in █ █ for good measure. █ █ The Future Doesn't Need You has a soft opening and █ █ builds with quirky time changes and meters that █ █ would keep any respectable metronome swinging █ █ wildly. There are cool guitars and reflective █ █ lyrics to ponder over. █ █ Unintended Consequences has a bouncy rhythmic █ █ layer and a striking harmonised vocal treatment on █ █ the high and low register that works well with the █ █ Dickason and Dobbs Duet. It is a very quirky song █ █ in passages but it engages the ear for some █ █ compelling listening. █ █ Perfect Babies is really a low point of the album █ █ in terms of structure but I liked the Nietzsche █ █ quote by the child at the very end. █ █ Logical Conclusion brings the album back to a high █ █ standard with the pristine vocals of Dobbs. It is █ █ a wondrous keyboard journey with meandering █ █ guitars that are simply outstanding. █ █ Click Away! is the mini epic of over 15 minutes in █ █ length. It is a genuine multi movement suite that █ █ begins with airy piano and pondering lyrics. Here █ █ the atmosphere feels like something from the █ █ Beatles back catalogue from the White Album to █ █ Abbey Road era. Again the words echo the █ █ sentiments of the album that rejection is just one █ █ click away and there is a genuine anti social █ █ media theme permeating through out. The epic █ █ features glistening keyboards and marching drums █ █ with psychedelic harmonies. There are glorious █ █ guitar slides with impeccable fingerwork █ █ up-and-down the frets like a nervous spider. The █ █ lyrics have an emotional impact along with the █ █ beautiful acoustic picking and Beatlesque strings. █ █ It moves into early Gabriel Genesis structure, █ █ building slowly and inevitably to strong pounding █ █ orchestral rhythm. The offkilter percussion is █ █ jarring and urgent as it speaks of clicking on █ █ social media, and Facebook sites becoming a click █ █ farm for the consumer in this technological jungle █ █ we inhabit. The grinding organ and fuzzed guitar █ █ locks in and a more aggressive vocal as things █ █ heat up speaking of viral posts, spreading like █ █ wildfire projecting the ideal human. It is a █ █ wonderful track and the definitive highlight of █ █ the album. █ █ Ones & Zeros concludes the album with jaunty █ █ rhythms, pounding syncopated drums and raspy █ █ vocals asking the question are you a one or are █ █ you a zero, stuck in a binary code much like the █ █ nude on the cover being enveloped by digitised █ █ creatures. The track has some very progressive █ █ sections with unusual time sigs and extended █ █ instrumentals. The theme of trans humanism is █ █ prominent; what are we becoming, is the technology █ █ engulfing humanity to the point of assimilation █ █ and what are we doing about it? █ █ This new release is a dynamic album from 3RD █ █ DEGREE and a worthy successor to the previous █ █ releases. It comes highly recommended to lovers of █ █ concept prog with a quirky innovative central █ █ core. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ So the band continues with the suite of their █ █ concept album "Ones & Zeros vol.1" with their take █ █ on the issues associated with the evolution of █ █ technology. The story could apply to their own █ █ music! The music of 3rdegree has a foot in the █ █ retro prog and another one in the new prog. You █ █ can hear some past influences like Genesis, but █ █ they have their unique style. The band has done █ █ another great job with the vocals of George Dobbs █ █ who still have a unique voice which is quite █ █ enjoyable enhancing every song. The songs are well █ █ crafted with a Pop sensibility mix with some █ █ beautiful synthesizers arrangements, humouristic █ █ lyrics bringing a captivating atmosphere. The █ █ guitar is never taking the spot but is well █ █ balanced with the rest of the instruments. I █ █ really enjoy the sound old and futurist of the █ █ keyboards. The band is also using some well-dosed █ █ classical arrangements, but it never gives more █ █ emotion than the multi-part vocals arrangements. █ █ If I had some reservations about the music of the █ █ band in the past, I think that this time, all this █ █ has vanished with this album. I needed my █ █ headphones to discover this album... █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ What would I think of the two albums working █ █ together? The albums are designed to be viewed as █ █ a pair, from the artwork and layout through the █ █ music and ideas. While I smiled when I noticed █ █ that this was called 'Volume 0', part of me would █ █ rather it had been called 'Volume 10', which of █ █ course is 2 expressed in binary code, but that █ █ really is nit-picking (yes, I'm a geek ' been █ █ working in I.T. for more than 20 years, but it's █ █ not my fault). █ █ Lyrically it is the perfect follow-on from the █ █ debut, so much so that it feels that it could █ █ become part of a permanent loop, so much so that █ █ the question becomes 'which came first, 1 or 0?'. █ █ Musically it does feel very much of a second half █ █ of a piece of work, possibly slightly more █ █ acoustic? The musical themes and styling of the █ █ debut are carried into this, with the same █ █ influences very much in play, so much so that one █ █ actually finds it quite hard to realise that there █ █ was break between the recording of the two albums █ █ as opposed to being recorded at the same time. And █ █ if anyone doubts the City Boy analogy just listen █ █ to George at 5:20 on 'The Future Doesn't Need You' █ █ and see what I mean. █ █ It is also definitely worth mentioning that all █ █ the lyrics are in the pack, apart from one, and █ █ the only way to get that is to go the Valhalla █ █ Biotech site. Once there the lyrics can be seen, █ █ but also there are various links, for example '5 █ █ Things That You Need To Know' (which takes you to █ █ a blog about becoming more involved in the local █ █ music scene) or 'Become A Shareholder' (which of █ █ course takes you to their store). As I write this, █ █ I see that the album is #2 on the PA charts █ █ (interestingly I gave maximum scores to #1, #3 and █ █ #5 ' haven't heard #4). It is a totally different █ █ album to the latest by Roz Vitalis, the current █ █ incumbent of the top slot: that is very much a █ █ progressive album, from the RIO scene, while this █ █ is progressive pop that is fully Crossover. In █ █ terms of sheer pleasure and repeated playing this █ █ wins hands down, as it just makes me smile each █ █ and everytime I play it. And isn't that something █ █ that music should be about? The two 'Ones & Zeros' █ █ albums perfect complement each other, and all that █ █ can be done is buy both and listen to them back to █ █ back. █ █ █ █ --- █ █ █ █ Never a band to do the obvious, 3rdegree followed █ █ up "Ones & Zeroes - Volume 1" a futuristic tale of █ █ the digitization of a human mind that ends badly █ █ with "Ones & Zeroes - Volume 0", a futuristic tale █ █ of a man who purchases a human companion that ends █ █ badly. █ █ Despite my tongue in cheek description of these █ █ album, I happen to love them both. 3rdegree have █ █ continued to produced albums of clever art rock, █ █ or crossover prog as we call it here at PA, █ █ fronted by exceptional vocals using lush harmonies █ █ and some deep intelligent lyrics. █ █ The album as a whole brings me back to the days of █ █ 10cc and Supertramp, two other bands that excelled █ █ at playing catchy, compelling and thought █ █ provoking music for the discerning listener. █ █ I find that this album draws me in even more than █ █ the previous album, and has become a staple in my █ █ car stereo this hot summer. █ █ I'm especially hooked on the three middle tracks, █ █ "The Future Doesn't Need You", "Unintended █ █ Consequence" and "Perfect Babies". And of course █ █ the 15 minute epic "Click Away!" is a joy. █ █ I'm not sure yet is this album has replaced "Human █ █ Interest Story" as my favorite 3rdegree album, but █ █ it's close. █ ▓ ▓ ▒ ▒ ░ 1. Re1nstall_Overture 3:56 ░ ░ 2. Connecting 4:53 ░ ░ 3. Olympia 5:15 ░ ░ 4. The Future Doesn't Need You 5:49 ░ ░ 5. Unintended Consequence 3:35 ░ ░ 6. Perfect Babies 4:42 ░ ░ 7. Logical Conclusion 6:40 ░ ░ 8. Click Away! 15:27 ░ ░ 9. Ones & Zeros 7:07 ░ ░ 57:24 ░ ░ ▒ ▒ ▓ █ ░ ▓ ░ ■ █▄ ░ ██ ▀█▄░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ▓ ░ ▄▄▄▄▄ ░▄██░ ░ ▀████▓█▄▄█████████▓░ ███ ███▓░ █████████▄▄██████▀ ▓ ▓▀▓ ▒███████▀▀ ▀████████▒ ░████████▀ ▀▀███████░▓▀▓ ■ ░ ▄█░█▀▀▄████▄▓ ▀█▀ █▓░ ▒▓█ ▀█▀ ▄████▄ ▀███▄░ ▄█▀░ ░███▀▀▀███▄ ▀█▒ ██▓ ██ ▓█▀ ▄███▀▀▀███░ ▀█░ █▀ ▓██▓ ▄███ ▀█▓ ████ ▒█▀ ▓███▄ ▓██▓ ▀█▓ █▀ ▓██░ ▒██████▓ ▀█ █▓ █▀ ▓██████▒ ░██▓ ▀█ ▒ ▄██ ░███ ▓███▓ ▀░██░▀ ▓███░ ███ ██▄ ▒ ░█▀ ███ ▄▀ ███▄ ▓████▒ ▄███▀▄ ███ ▀█░ ▓█▀ ▄██▄█▀ ░ ██████████████ ▀█▄ ██▄ ▀█▓ █▀ ████▀█▄▓░▄█ ▀██████▀ █▄▓░▄█▀█▄██ ▀█▓ ░ ▄ ██▀ ▀████▀ ▀█▓▀██ ▀████▀ ▀███ ▄ ▒ █░█▓ ██░ █░ █ ░██ ▀██▒█ ███░ ▒█░ ▄ ▓ ▒ ░█▒ ▓███ ░ ▓██ ░ ██▓ ██░ ░██ █▒ ░ ░█ ▀█ █▀ ▓ ░ ░