TEMPEST:  Prime Cuts

2009 (CD, 75.18; DVD, 120:00); Magna Carta MA-1014-2.

Style:  Progressive Celtic Folk-Rock

Sound: 4  Compositions: 4  Musicianship: 4 

Performance: 4 Total Rating: 16 (CD)

Sound: 2.5 Visuals: 2.5 Content: 4

Performance: 4 Total Rating: 13 (DVD)

The leading purveyor of progressive Celtic rock celebrates their 20th anniversary with this superb "best of" collection.  
Front man Lief Sorbye presents juicy offerings from all of the band's lineups on either the CD or the DVD.  
The DVD, entitled "Tempest Through the Ages," is a fascinating amalgamation of rare concert clips, television appearances, 
and rehearsal footage dating back to the beginning.  Video/sound quality varies but thatfs to be expected with vintage material.  
Yes, Lief looked very young at one time. 

Tempest's music conjures up memories of the Songs from the Wood-era Jethro Tull, and in fact Tempest pays tribute to Ian Anderson 
with a cover of "Locomotive Breath" (on both disks).  Anyone who likes Irish folk-rock, jigs, virtuoso fiddle playing, and 
music that inspires one to get up and dance a reel will enjoy this band immensely.  Prime Cuts is an excellent starter 
package for those unfamiliar with Tempest's catalog -- it's a splendid greatest hits anthology with all the right choices.  
The DVD is icing on the cake.  
--Raymond Benson