Reviews

...The epic length The Seven Gentle Spirits allows the band to stretch out and include some reflective moments with Frazier demonstrating his vocal dexterity to the maximum. Lyrical piano dominates the first half eclipsed by organ and synth soling in the latter part. A change of key introduces the majestic ending with guitar and vocals providing a firm nod in the direction of Fish era Marillion. The otherwise unassuming Harold Cain is given a lift by some excellent four-part harmonies and spot on guitar and organ playing. The albums centrepiece The Past Has Just Begun includes everything that is good about this band or indeed prog for that matter. A lengthy and complex instrumental intro gives way to a melodic section with an impassioned vocal set against a backdrop of classical guitar and piano. The organ solo that follows is excellent as is the soaring weeping guitar line that has Alex Lifeson written all over it. Ogburn follows through with a commanding solo before Grimes takes over with a mesmerising display of rich Rick Wakeman flavoured synth work. With the end in sight the sound becomes ballsier with Mack’s full on drumming leading the way to a bombastic conclusion...
www.dprp.net/reviews/200728.php#puppet

When people start compiling their lists of the “best of 2007,” I'll bet this disc will make a lot of them. These guys have produced a killer album. The vocals are evocative and captivating and music is stellar. Puppet Show merges neo-prog and classic styles in a way that I don't think I've heard anyone else accomplish. You'll hear echoes of Yes, Genesis, Marillion and others here, but the end result is a musical tapestry that is all their own. I particularly like they way they break up the disc by alternating between ten-minute plus epics and short tracks. This serves to make a very listenable experience. The epic “The Past Has Just Begun” is in my view the centerpiece of the album. It can hold its own with similar epics from any of the prog greats. Whether your particular taste in progressive rock runs to the classic era or neo-prog, it's a safe bet that you'll really enjoy this disc. I'd consider it a “must have” for any prog rock fan...
www.musicstreetjournal.com/puppetshowcd.htm

...All around, they were clever, and I liked the last song by a hair over the earlier highlight. In this, the guitarist shredded and seemed like he almost had a seizure. As if sprinting for the ticker tape, they had a very strong finish even if they did not have an Olympian's kick. This made up for most (if not all) of their deficiencies. The singer’s voice warmed up throughout the set and was crispy at the end. Unsure of the score, they hurried up and played the encore fast. After further review, I liked this one best. In two minutes or less they delivered a knockout blow. The sound, vocals, and musicianship were finally precise before the giant finish. This was a band where a longer encore was encouraged, but didn’t happen. It was probably best to leave fans wanting more rather than snoring.
www.musicstreetjournal.com/puppetshowconcertjt.htm

...The cornerstone of a progressive band begins with a tight and solid rhythm section while framing virtuoso keyboards and lead guitar leads around them. Craig Polson and Chris Mack on bass and drums, respectively, were tight and precise even for the early morning pole position. The power and energy of Chris Ogburn on guitar and the progressive keyboard riffs of Mike Grimes were filled with pleasant surprises throughout most of their 90 minute set. Lead vocalist, Sean Frazier, sang with strong conviction and was intensely expressive. I’m a huge progressive Genesis fan, a loyal Yes listener, an ELP faithful and a Crimson lover. Why have I never heard of this band before? No sense in crying over it, they just need to be added to the collection.
www.musicstreetjournal.com/puppetshowcalprog07.htm

...The album holds six tracks, but three of them clock over 10 minutes, two of them even around 15! And each and every one of them conveys a lot of passion and power. Puppet Show offers a lot variety in play. Mr. Grimes plays an important part in the sound, as the keyboards are very up top, but also Mr. Ogburn [guitar] claims his share in the music. The result is a dynamic mix between melodic rock, solid progressive rock and a few hints of hard rock. Yes, there us a strong Genesis vibe, but I also hear hints of IQ and Arena. And in "The Seven Gentle Spirits," I even hear a small reference to Brian May (Queen) at the time of Queen II...
www.progressiveworld.net/html/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=2481

... The vocals rarely arouse associations, but when they do, I am reminded of both Peter Gabriel and Steve Walsh (Kansas). Each of the epics begin with a rather long instrumental intro, which is in both cases followed by a smooth theme with only vocals, piano and acoustic guitar in the arrangement. It's hardly possible to describe all the subsequent events in detail, so I'll just mention that later on, most of the music evolves firmly in an orthodox sympho-prog mode, combining fervent energy with transparence and fragility. The arrangements now rush like mountain waterfalls, now move slowly like a plains river, but always passionately, the melodic component being kept safe throughout, although the tunes' modal structures transform very frequently. Especially ambitious are the long instrumental interludes that are to be found on each, some of those on The Past Has Just Begun being just breathtakingly intricate, due to their genuinely large-scaled nature. Indeed, both compositions are academically expressive so to speak, approaching some of the best examples of '70s Art-Rock...
www.progressor.net/review/puppet_show_2007.html

Interview with the band
www.metalperspective.com/interviews/thepuppetshow.php

...The production - done by the band, mixed by the legendary Terry Brown - is stellar, which means all those subtleties I mentioned "…Spirits" can easily be heard. However, this is not perfect album, the first track being the main impediment. Nevertheless, the rest of the material -- which hits all the right prog spots -- is very good and I've no reservations about recommending this one.
www.progressiveworld.net/html/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=2838

Italian review
www.arlequins.it/pagine/articoli/alfa/corpo.asp?iniz=P&fine=Q&ch=3653

...Surely the song-writing approach is keyboard based and the guitars are underestimated. This is evident also in the final mix by the renowned Terry Brown. But, apart from the fact that this work was concluded after a long period of preparation and I am very positive that this was done purposively, it shows an aimed decision. Take for example the astounding instrumental "God's Angry Man", which has nothing to do with the usual instrumental showing-off tracks. This is a track that really reproduces feelings and states of mind of a man trapped in contemporary urban environments and technology-dominated ecologies (Mike Grimes really fooled me with his Nokia tune replica; I really started looking around for my mobile). Finally listen to the last track, "On Second Thought", which by far is the best song in "A Tale of Woe" with its dramatic spirit. I guess that with a production that would give the proper significance to the guitars, songs like this would sound massive and grandiose...
www.metalperspective.com/reviews/thepuppetshow.php

...soft, fast, slow, busy, pastoral it’s here in spades and in many cases it all shows up in each composition. We have 6 tracks and most of them are long: two are around four-minutes then we have one almost nine-minutes, another almost twelve-minutes and the two longest fourteen and sixteen. So as you might expect there is a lot going on here. The music goes from being busy and complex to more melodic passages with only a little dissonance thrown in. Track two, “The Seven Gentle Spirits” has a real early Genesis feel to it not least in the musical approach but in the vocal styles as well. It has that quirky Gabrielesque manner written all over it...
www.dvdivas.net/ProgVoices/P/puppetshow-tale.html

Spanish review
manticornio.com/rock-progresivo/P/PUPPET-SHOW/tale-of-woe.html

...Being the new best kept secret (but maybe not for long though), Puppet Show executes your technical and melodic skills in massly profound compositions that adhere to the extended musical approach with your tracks stay to the structuring of your intros, then guitar solo, then synth solo, then metallic grind, then verse, then mellow passage, then…..you get the picture, the “Close to the Edge/Tarkus” syndrome. Nevertheless, the tracks here aren’t necessarily big conceptual pieces, but epical numbers, particularly with “The Seven Gentile Spirits” a mellower tune, which builds up into it’s chaotic jam session, “The Past Has Just Begun” which goes back and forth from upbeat to laid back without any jitteriness, and both “On Second Thought” and “Seasons” which remain more consistent prog rock ditties that flow a little more easily with all the technicalities involved. Shorter cuts like the jumpy “Harold Cain” sounds like a late seventies Genesis number while “God’s Angry Man” offers segue way between the longer tracks. In the end these guys knew how to make a ‘record.’..
www.ytsejam.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=1155

French review
www.progressivewaves.com/frmChronique.aspx?ALB_ID=2164

...They may be a few years older, but Puppet Show can still dish out the goods. Kicking off with the excellent "Seasons", the band throw plenty of catchy vocal melodies courtesy of Sean Frazier and loads of guitar & keyboard at the listener. Chris Ogburn is not afraid to let it rip on the guitar, as at times his playing has a hint of hard rock & metal to it, while Mike Grimes reminds us all of how great the 70's were with no shortage of vintage keyboard sounds. "The Seven Gentle Spirits" is a 14+ minute epic filled with insightful lyrics and complex musical interplay. New drummer Chris Mack and bassist Craig Polson stabilize the arrangement with intricate rhythms while Ogburn churns out beefy riffs and searing solos, even getting into a daring unison passage with Grimes and his synth. On "Harold Cain" the band go for a Genesis meets Gentle Giant touch, an upbeat and hilariously crafted number lyrically, complete with quirky arrangements and melodic vocals. You'll again be reminded of Genesis as well as Arena on the near 17-minute "The Past Has Just Begun", a song that is dripping with tasty guitar & keyboard work, as well as Polson's velvety smooth bass lines. The pastoral middle section sees Frazier's emotional vocals meet up with lush acoustic guitars from Ogburn and gentle piano from Grimes, but don't get too lulled into a tranquil state, as the band blasts back in with plenty of prog bombast before it's all said and done. "God's Angry Man" is an instrumental, and easily the CD's heaviest piece, littered with crunchy guitar riffs, acrobatic drums, and noisy synth passages. The closing "On Second Thought" is a very symphonic number, and a real showcase for Grimes and his layers of Mellotron, Moog, and Hammond sounds. With plenty of room for all the players to showcase their talents, this song is a real winner all around, and should be highlight of their live set...
www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=4991

French review
www.musicinbelgium.net/pl/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=1945