CONSPIRACY: The Unknown CD PROMO 2003. Yes bassist Chris Squire, Billy Sherwood (World Trade, Yes) Etc. PROGRESSIVE ROCK Check audio

Description

The distinctive instrumental voice of Yes bassist Chris Squire and his long time musical compadre, Billy Sherwood (World Trade, Yes) team up with drummer Jay Schellen and keyboardist Michael Sherwood to bring forth this brilliant new project. The Unknown is their second album as Conspiracy, an album both accessible and challenging featuring infectious vocals and melodies played both heartfelt and blazing.

Label: Inside Out Music – IOMCD 128 PROMO
Format: CD, Album, PROMO
Country: Europe
Released: 2003
Genre: Prog Rock

Songs / Tracks Listing
1. Conspiracy (5:05)
2. Confess (4:37)
3. New World (7:22)
4. 1/2 A World Away (5:47)
5. There Is No End (5:14)
6. The Wheel (5:26)
7. Premonitions (4:10)
8. The Unknown (11:30)
9. I Could (4:21)

Total Time: 53:32

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5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent follow up to the first Billy Sherwood and Chris Squire collaboration. The title track is excellent and also Chris’s singing on Half A World Away is the best I’ve heard him do solo. The production is also a lot better than the last album making it smoother and more commercial.
If you enjoy Squire’s other projects and need a fix of Yes type music until their new album then this is for you.

Here’s to the 3rd one.

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5.0 out of 5 stars
I am surprised at the first reviewer who said that it is all Billy. Chris Squire is all over this album. If not in the singing and the bass playing, then certainly in the song writing. I would know it was him just by listening. An excellent album, very easy to get into and well worth the entry price. And it grows on you. Anyone who likes the Chris Squire tracks on any Yes album will love this.

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I find it ironic that the title of this album ended up being “”The Unknown””. Everything about this music has to do with a “”known”” commodity by the name of Chris Squire, bass player extraordinary for YES. He is the only Yes member that has remained with the group through its various incarnations, and that is a tribute to his magnitude and constancy over the years as the model band member and musician. His partner in crime is guitarist Billy Sherwood (WORLD TRADE, YES). Together they make one implausible album. Although all the credit goes to the dynamic duo, a wink and a nod must go to drummer Jay Schellen for holding down the backbeat of this band. The bass and drummer is the spine of the musical body, so I think giving credit where it is due is very important.
Squire sounds like that other lead singer in the other band he usually gigs with in some ways, and the music itself is more than just an “”offshoot,”” as they call it, of Yes, it is in close proximity to what Yes music has sounded like in the past. For me that was not a disappointment, but a welcome mat for my ears to wrap around. Oh yeah, by the way . I love YES.

I may sound like a rhyming fool here, but there is a story that falls together as the album progresses, so here it goes . The very first song sets the pace as the boys put together their “”Conspiracy”” to start a “”New World.”” “”There Is No End”” to their creativity in each of these tracks, as Squire is in good voice and his bass powerfully sweeps and thumps its way through each piece as Sherwood’s guitar answers the call of the veteran Squire’s melodic persistence and clear hook filled vocals. Their tour de force prog-rocker is the title track, it clocks in at 11:21, and it is quite a showstopper. It is a most proper way to wrap up this session for all of the diehard prog-rock enthusiast (and YES faithful). On this advance copy, I was lucky enough to receive the one with the bonus track; it usually does not work that way so I was happy.

Those of you that have enjoyed the artsy prog-pop rock of ASIA, John Wetton, and sometimes YES (I emphasize the word “”sometimes””), will be very appreciative of this CD, others may look upon this disdainfully as a Yes rip off. I loved this album without exception and could not stop listening to it. Whatever your viewpoint is, you are entitled to it, just remember one thing . these gents are two world-class musicians making some of the best rock music that you will find today. There now, I have told what you will get and now it is up to you to decide whether or not if you want it.

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Billy Sherwood and Chris Squire team up again to deliver something fresh and interesting. Admittedly, the music contained on this album is tame and at times pop-oriented, but the vocals are strong and the compositions tight. It’s a great album with some exceptional musicianship on the part of the duo, and it remains almost consistent throughout.
“”Conspiracy”” The record does begin with one of the weaker tracks, however. It’s full of energy and impressive vocal work, but it is a far cry from the rest of what’s here. While not bad, it sounds too much like something off of Yes’s Open Your Eyes. The “”rapped”” chorus gets old fast, and the guitar soloing is uninspired and unnecessarily long.

“”Confess”” Relying on acoustic guitar and rapid drumming, this song has a good melody and a strong chorus. Strangely enough, this song makes think of Collective Soul, as it’s easy to imagine Ed Roland singing lead vocals.

“”New World”” Chris Squire delivers powerful bass work on this uplifting track. The vocal arrangements are likewise good, since the listener can hear both Squire and Sherwood individually even though they sing together. The chorus lingers a tad too long, but doesn’t overstay its welcome. The final part of the song, which reminds me of “”Leave It”” from Yes’s 90125, doesn’t quite fit the rest of the song and should have been cut.

“”1/2 A World Away”” One of the few Squire sings lead vocals on, it ventures from lovely sentimentality to adventurous rock. Sherwood does an excellent job singing his part also, and the effects used on various parts of the refrain add more variety. The short guitar solo is a perfect fit, and moves back into the verse. This song actually has a special place in my mind since before we were married, my wife and I lived hundreds of miles away (even though the context of the song is likely much different given the bridge).

“”There is No End”” Kicking off with a funky, Country & Western-like guitar lick and some slide work, here we have a song that’s all right. The lyrics aren’t bad, but are a trifle campy.

“”The Wheel”” Decidedly the most solid song here, “”The Wheel”” is full of intriguing layers and musical textures. For once, the band is not playing as though they must get through the piece as soon as possible. The song has atmospheric keyboards and a warbling synthesizer in the introduction. The lyrics and vocal melody are excellent, and Squire does an outstanding job harmonizing. Furthermore, his bass really fills out the sound, making it thick and rich (instead of serving as more of a lead instrument). Sherwood’s guitar work is prime stuff (with a striking tone), particularly that leading up to the end, which comes down to galactic sounds and some clean guitar.

“”Premonitions”” An above-average track, this one has a funky acoustic guitar riff and some springy clean electric guitar. The vocals throughout the verse are rich and lovely, but the chorus is what makes this song a bit cringe-inducing; quite frankly, it’s goofy sounding, as is much of the instrumentation throughout.

“”The Unknown”” The longest track by far begins with strange vocal work and a little mandolin played over some guitar in the background. Initially, the singing is over acoustic guitar, drums, and various sounds. Joining the mandolin is a sitar, adding to the musical tapestry. Yes, the song is over eleven minutes long, but it’s loaded with lyrics, lyrics about the September 11th, 2001 US terrorist attacks: “”Towers of life and dreams brought down.”” The words undeniably show a strong feeling of vengeance, one perhaps even espousing the 2003 declaration of war in the Middle East (“”Waking giant cannot be denied,”” “”You can run away, but now we’ve got you dead in our sights,”” and “”We’re bringing our toys, coming over to play””). The song is also above-average, but does run on much longer than it should.

“”I Could”” This song is an edgier and altogether different version of “”Finally”” from Yes’s The Ladder, which Sherwood and Squire both collaborated on. It starts off with a heavily distorted guitar, and like most of what came before, is played at an upbeat tempo. Sherwood uses another countrified guitar tone for his solos between verses. Not as good as or as colorful as “”Finally,”” but not at all bad either.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Conspiracy – The Unknown,
An excellent follow up to the first Billy Sherwood and Chris Squire collaboration. The title track is excellent and also Chris’s singing on Half A World Away is the best I’ve heard him do solo. The production is also a lot better than the last album making it smoother and more commercial.
If you enjoy Squire’s other projects and need a fix of Yes type music until their new album then this is for you.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Unknown by Conspiracy (Chris Squire/Billy Sherwood)
I am surprised at the first reviewer who said that it is all Billy. Chris Squire is all over this album. If not in the singing and the bass playing, then certainly in the song writing. I would know it was him just by listening. An excellent album, very easy to get into and well worth the entry price. And it grows on you. Anyone who likes the Chris Squire tracks on any Yes album will love this.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Feel good, uplifting music,
Squire and Sherwood have done it again, surpassing their first album with an awesome collection of tunes. There’s no doubt that their vocal and song writing styles go together like strawberries and cream and make for an uplifting listening experience. The lyrics are typically optimistic and leave you with a sense of wonder and feeling good. Only on the title track (about 9/11) do the lyrics get a little hard to handle – but this is no place for a political debate so please decide for yourselves.
Fans of the previous album and Yes songs such as “”The More We Live”” and the better tracks from “”Open Your Eyes”” will love this album.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Great recording.
Oft listened to. Similar to OYE era Yes (obvious reasons).
Most reviewers all over the internet have dubbed “”The Unknown”” (song) horribly raw and basal gross patriotic.
Couldn’t be further from the truth. You’ve missed the point.
Group Title: Conspiracy
Album/Song: The Unknown
With song lyric, just as in poetry, word usage economy and appropriateness are of high import; one is painting word pictures, often, however Impressionist it might be.
“”The Unkown”” – twice. Album AND Song. Just like “”think again”” sung twice – RETHINK what you “”know”” about all this,
they seem to be saying to me.

Just whom do you think they’re “”coming to get””? – no one anywhere near the Middle East.

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5.0 out of 5 stars The “”unknown”” deserves to be known
Chris Squire and Billy Sherwoods release is a significant improvement upon “”Conspiracy””. Quality writing, lush production, not too much padding and perhaps more importantly, most tracks are immediately accessible and demand a wider audience. Throughout the album I picked up a number of yes bass cues but they were well controlled and left this album with it’s own unique identity. If you admire Squire and enjoy Yes, order this CD now, because, if it remains “”unknown””, you may not find a copy in future.