The deadline countdown had begun at this magazine, and we were behind, too; but the new Galactic Cowboys album arrived, and this was not the kind of album to just let sit for the next issue, and I just had to hear it. After all, this is one of the best bands in the universe! There's 16 (count `em) songs on this CD, so it almost never ends; and the only reason you might want it to finish is to track through it all over again. Two things that pop out at me right away were the "Machine Fish Suite" collection / segregation of seven songs right in the middle of the record; and two, it finally hit home for me how far and divergent this band has gone from its musical kinship with King's X. The pop song cowboys' style that was probably first most evident on "I Do What I Do" (Space in Your Face), has its direction fulfilled and developed on the previous two albums. It has finally just dawned on me how far those two bands, who once were so close musically, have now become so different. The former connection between the two bands seems to be the indirect lyrical focus of "The Machine Fish Suite." Just what was that old producer's name? Regardless of who the songs are about, all seven of them seem to tell a story and spill a lot of disillusionment, anger, and relief (that it's over). A few lyrics from the first two albums show up as well, like, "Yeah, I'm a bit confused / but I'm not amused," and "How could I've been so blind?" Musically, these last three albums could collectively be called The Machine Fish Collection, since the overall direction has been pretty consistent since that album's release. One song in particular here, "Where Do I Sign?," actually sounds a lot like a tune from the last album "Media Slant." But any song here could have fit nicely on either of the previous two. I miss the aural masterpieces of Galactic Cowboys and Space In Your Face that the first two art metal releases were, but I can't deny the greatness of this newer sound, either. Almost a different band, but cranking out another brilliant musical formula.