This week we check in on the latest from Lonely Robot; "Feeling Are Good." The album was released in July, the fourth in the Lonely Robot catalog. After completing the "Astronaut Trilogy," John took a different trajectory with his latest work. So let's travel the tangent road and listen to what awaits the eager ears...
The title cut opens the album much like a futuristic appeal to the senses, a la The Alan Parsons Project from the "I Robot" days. Switch gears as we flow seamlessly to "Into the Lo-Fi" and the tempo picks up immediately. This is a high energy band much like Mile Marker Zero and The Tangent. John Mitchell continues to pump energy through the headphones and send it pulsing through your veins.
Next up is "Army of One." Off on a different tack, this song starts with a quick shot of adrenaline that tamps itself down...only to thrust itself right back at you. Lonely Robot pelts you with feelings from every direction here; a man going to war with himself. Fighting an inner battle so many are familiar with yet a subject so often ignored or misunderstood...but feelings are good--right?
This song marches into "Grief is the Price of Love" so smoothly you almost fall into an abyss you never realized was there. The gentle vocals pull the heart strings with an acoustic guitar accompaniment that is as elegant as it is somber. So many emotions....
Liner Notes...Lonely Robot is the solo outlet for John Mitchell. As a member of Kino, Frost*, It Bites, and Arena, John has managed to keep himself occupied. Lonely Robot is the outlet John uses to release his inner spirit. The music is ornate, delicate, bold, introspective, and at times in-your-face. Yes, feelings are good...
Along with writing, recording producing, and mixing the album, John plays guitar, bass, and keyboards as well as laying down the vocal tracks. He did, however, have Craig Blundell behind the drum kit.
Learn more about John Mitchell and Lonely Robot and purchase the music at johnmitchell and
Another song from the playlist this week, "Keeping People as Pets" continues the trajectory into the emotional stratosphere this album has taken. The tempo runs high as John hits you with lyrics that crawl inside your head and sprawl out, making you ponder reality. One of the many things I like about Lonely Robot is every album is a concept unto itself and every song within that concept pulls on a thread and doesn't stop until it unravels the world you (previously) found comfort in.
There are times Lonely Robot comes off as loud and full throttle as Liquid Tension Experiment, and other times when the music is gentle and introspective as Tears For Fears. John delves into a lot on this album...his songs peeling back the layers as you take a journey through the mind. His lyrics have always been a strong suit; John paints a vivid picture with his words.
The ear candy to hook you this week is called "Spiders." The deliberate, slow, steady piano that opens the song accompanies lyrics that are themselves slow, dark, and calculated. Is that fear you sense or simply trepidation about what is behind the curtain separating you from the unknown? Feelings are good, yes--but they have a way of clouding the senses, don't they? The top notes of Frost* aren't coincidental; the influence crashes through here...
Place the headphones on...relax, reflect, repeat...
I hope this one struck a chord with you fellow progheads; Lonely Robot has shown indeed that "Feelings Are Good." John is able to do with lyrics what Robert Fripp is able to do with his guitar...perhaps they should join forces on an album in the future? For now I'm content with Lonely Robot finding new axes to grind and different lenses through which to view the landscape.
Let the search for all things prog carry on; until next time...
I picked up The Big Dream when it came out and I knew it was going to be good but was pleasantly surprised at even how much better it ended up being. Like this release it had fellow Froster Craig Blundell which just adds to the draw. I look forward to hearing this and thanks for the review.
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