Earthrise - s/t. 1977 USA

Earthrise were (are) an interesting band from New Jersey, who mix complex progressive rock and fusion seamlessly. In that way, they remind me of Minnesota's This Oneness. So the vocal sections do have this kind of "Midwest styled AOR progressive" sound that I've documented elsewhere on this site, and I find highly appealing. Earthrise doesn't qualify for the list simply due to the geography from which they hail. Instrumentally speaking, the compositions are very interesting, and many of their ideas are kinetic and creative (the organ and Moog progressions on top of complex rhythms specifically).

The new CD on the band's own ArcEden imprint shows considerable improvement in the sound department. It will never win any production awards, but it isn't as bad as the band's prior CD-R release. It's been too long since I heard the original LP to compare, but I suspect it's no better than the the CD-R.

Personal collection
CD: 2018 ArcEden
LP: 1978 Arceden

Other than the sound - which isn't great really, but OK - the CD has to be considered a disappointment. It comes with a single tray card and no information whatsoever. What a lost opportunity to tell their story and provide some unique photos while at it! And the fact they charge top $ for it is shameful - and they refuse to wholesale it to reputable dealers. One wonders why they even bothered really. Seems they did it to appease collectors like us, and at the same time a certain hidden punishment for asking for a professionally pressed CD, instead of the even more crappy CD-R. Fine. Let the historical record state that this is nothing more than an unprofessional, sloppy job. Hope you are proud of yourselves as I'm not a happy customer right now.

Original LPs have always been extremely scarce and expensive. This is due of course to what I would call "controlled supply". Via that supply channel, I had obtained 2 sealed ones back in my wheeling-dealing days of the mid 1990s, and promptly traded them off for albums I wanted more at the time. No regrets, as what I received in return is awesome, and I still own to this day. But I do wish I had an original all the same.