Album Review of
They're Here with Us...

Written by Robert Silverstein
April 9, 2021 - 2:39pm EDT
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The progressive rock band Cloud Over Jupiter is making waves with the late 2020 CD release of They’re Here With Us, which follows the band’s 2019 CD release of Short Stories For Tall Aliens. With its ominous album cover art, the 11-cut They’re Here With Us successfully fuses rock and progressive rock with a kind of experimental instrumental sound. A number of well-regarded artists assist the core COJ band of Chad Wardwell (synths), Jerry King (electric guitars, bass) and Michele King (vocals, lyrics). Guest artists include members of the mid-to-late 1970s legendary prog band The Muffins (anyone remember them?), including Dave Newhouse (horns, keys, co-composing) and Paul Sears (drums). Also on hand is Vintage Guitar magazine editor Pete Prown (guitars, mellotron) as well as Walter Whitney (keys) of the 1980s art-rock band Delay Tactics. And that’s just the tip of the sonic iceberg so to speak. Sometimes the Cloud Over Jupiter sound is very rock based and other times it’s ethereal and instrumental. On the vocal tracks Michele King’s singing and lyrics are excellent while the overall recorded sound quality is fine. If well-played prog-rock, both vocal and instrumental, turns you on, then Cloud Over Jupiter will impress your ears.