7/10
There are albums that entertain, albums that comfort, and then there are albums that challenge the very moment they arrive in. 'Where Did The Music Go' belongs firmly in that final category as it delivers a daring, sprawling statement from JT Curtis that feels like a manifesto dressed in melody and myth.
From its opening moments featuring Vinny Vinesauce playing the role of an AI agent on 'Exo', the album announces itself as a grand narrative voyage. Curtis constructs a future world where algorithms dictate taste, rhythms are programmed, and spontaneity has been quietly erased. Yet rather than wallowing in despair, the project becomes an act of rebellion.
Musically, the artist leans lovingly into the tradition of ambitious 70s-era rock storytelling without ever slipping into pastiche. Long-form compositions unfold with patience and intention, allowing motifs to evolve, dissolve, and reemerge like memories fighting to survive. Guitars shimmer and snarl in equal measure, keyboards drift between cosmic and intimate, and drums anchor everything with a pulse that feels defiantly organic.
But what makes 'Where Did The Music Go' so compelling is its emotional clarity beneath the sci-fi veneer. At its core, this is a love letter to collaboration, imperfection, and connection. The underground community at the heart of the story becomes a metaphor for every artist who refuses to surrender their voice to convenience.
In an era obsessed with speed and shortcuts, 'Where Did The Music Go' stands as a radical act of patience. JT Curtis has crafted a progressive rock epic that feels urgently modern while fiercely protective of the past.