...And Then There Were 3

Now that I, The "Real" Dan, have recovered from the massive article I wrote about Pain of Salvation's "Be," I can finally muster up the energy to let you know about an incredible band from Woodstock, NY that's been rocking my world for weeks. They're called "3" (aka Three,) and they've recently released the studio album "The End is Begun." I would describe them as the more progressive version of Coheed & Cambria (a band they actually toured with... and 3's old drummer Josh Eppard actually played with Coheed at one point.) But they're not "proggy" in the way you might expect (I assume you'd usually expect some combination of Rush, Dream Theater, Symphony X, etc.) Think Coheed meets the Mars Volta meets Zeppelin meets the Beatles meets Primus... and the list could go on. The point is that they've drawn from an array of influences and come up with their own unique sound. Joey Eppard, composer and frontman of 3, rocks audiences with his rapid flamenco-inspired slap-guitar playing, Middle-Eastern vocal techniques, and incredible energy. He's simply a natural.

Although I really feel that every song on their latest album could be considered a highlight, here are just a few of my favorites:

Diamond in the Crush - frontman Joey Eppard sounds like the Middle Eastern version of Michael Jackson, and it's awesome. Very fun song to listen to.

Been to the Future - eerie, great; kind of reminds me of Eleanor Rigby for some reason, even though the two songs are musically very different.

My Divided Falling - reminds me of the Mars Volta, another great band. The track kicks off with a funky, high-energy slap-guitar riff. The band moves together as a whole through odd rhythms and double-kick sections with precision.

These Iron Bones - one of the heavier tracks. A fine example of Eppard's clever songwriting. Lyrics and vocal melodies that refer to a common children's playtime tune (when Eppard softly sings, "We're gonna get you no matter where you turn") creates an eerie contrast with the heavier "These Iron Bones" sections.

Amaze Disgrace - this isn't even off the newest album-- actually from the album Wake Pig, this aong is by far my favorite. The title (and the lyrics that relate to it) is a musical and lyrical reference to "Amazing Grace." Maybe I'm partial to it because it's over 16 minutes long. The whole piece, including the Moby Dick-esque drum solo almost 11 minutes into the track, showcases the band's talent so well-- not just musically, but also creatively.

Update - Here's the video for "All That Remains," the single from 3's new album:



Also, look out for 3 at the Progressive Nation tour in North America this spring. They'll be playing with prog legends Dream Theater and Opeth. Check out 3's MySpace here: http://www.myspace.com/3