One of the most unlikely reunions of the early 2000s was Happy the Man, a lesser-known '70s progressive rock outfit that provided only two albums before breaking up in 1979. Back then, Happy the Man wasn't nearly as well known as Yes, Pink Floyd, Genesis, King Crimson, Gentle Giant, Rush, Kansas or Emerson, Lake Palmer, but they did enjoy a small cult following -- and those who remember Happy the Man from that era will be glad to know that much of their late-'70s lineup is present on Muse Awakens. This reunion album of 2004 is quite faithful to the spirit of '70s progressive rock, but unlike a lot of prog rock releases, Muse Awakens is primarily an instrumental album. The only track that features guitarist Stanley Whitaker as a vocalist is the moody Shadowlites; everything else on this 56-minute CD is an instrumental, and that includes the playful Barking Spiders as well as the quirky Lunch at the Psychedelicatessen, the pensive Slipstream and the haunting Maui Sunset. Back in the '70s, a lot of people who fancied progressive rock were also into fusion; it wasn't uncommon to find an ELP or Yes fan who was also an admirer of Weather Report, electric Miles Davis, Caldera, Return to Forever or the Mahavishnu Orchestra -- and Happy the Man wanders into fusion territory on the melancholy Adrift. But Muse Awakens is, for the most part, an album of progressive rock -- not fusion. It's important to understand that while fusion is a form of jazz that incorporates rock and funk elements, progressive rock belongs in the rock bins instead of the jazz bins. And for prog rock enthusiasts, this enjoyable disc demonstrates that Happy the Man's reunion was a good idea. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi

1		Contemporary Insanity
2		The Muse Awakens
3		Stepping Through Time
4		Maui Sunset
5		Lunch at the Psychedelicatessen
6		Slipstream
7		Barking Spiders
8		Adrift
9		Shadowlites
10		Kindred Spirits
11		Il Quinto Mare