“A terrific live set from Germany and L.A. California, recorded September of 1997. A good cross-selection of tunes from both studio albums are presented, although stuff from Brutal Architecture (the more progressive of the two) is slightly favored... Another pleasant suprise was the inclusion of labelmate Lana Lane on a couple tracks... Her voice is in perfect form. In fact all the vocals (mostly Mark McCrite's) on these performances sound great. Although Erik Norlander’s keyboard playing is amazing and all over this disc, the other band members hold their own and they pull off really outstanding performances. This is all the more impressive when you consider that this was the first time the Rocket Scientists had ever played live! Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable 73+ minutes. Recommended as a good introduction to RS for newcomers. Essential for established RS fans!” [Prog-Net (Joe Carrozzi)]

“They were already the winners of last year’s German Progressive Rock Festival... Rocket Scientists succeeds in combining brilliantly unusual, ear-friendly melodies with progressive arrangements. There are the four excellent musicians on keyboards, guitar, Chapman Stick and drums... they skillfully merge AOR and progressive rock of American coinage into a very homogeneous unit... In summary, it is the perfect mixture of moderate complexity, bombastic and symphonic moments, and fantastically beautiful melodies. The balance between progressive material and solid rock structures succeeds absolutely and makes Rocket Scientists suitable for the masses (if one in the Prog world can speak to a mass at all!) and surely worth listening to.” [Progressive Newsletter (translated from German)]

“The amazing keyboard player Erik Norlander and guitarist Mark McCrite are the brightest shining stars in the band. They are also responsible for all the songwriting in this live set. I’m also happy to hear that Lana Lane is singing on two of the albums eleven tracks. Her singing is as always very good, and so are Mark McCrite’s vocals... The album contains many memorable songs: Wake Me Up with a great Moog solo; the outstanding and most progressive track Prog Medley; the sad and beautiful Mariner with great Mellotron strings. Next up is the wet dream for every lover of keyboard-based progressive rock á la ELP and Rick Wakeman, Threshold Medley. Halfway through the next track, The Fall Of Icarus, the virtuoso Erik Norlander is once again showing his skills, galloping away on the keys in an amazingly tempo... Lana Lane shows up for the next track, Avalon. Lana’s voice sends shivers down your spine on this track, as well as in the next track Stardust. The last track Calm Before The Storm has a thunderous Hammond solo. The complex music of Rocket Scientists is a mix between The Beatles, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Genesis, King Crimson, Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, UK and Yes, AOR combined with symphonic and neo-progressive rock with good memorable melodies. In summary, you get a lot for the money. This is 74 minutes of high quality progressive rock. I only wished I'd been there. Recommended!” [Prog-Reviews (Greger Rönnqvist)]

“...Their last opus of three years ago had frankly filled us with enthusiasm and it is thus with real pleasure that [Earth Below and Sky Above] is reviewed here... Rocket Scientists skillfully mix symphonism, virtuosity on the keyboards, and melody line (the first opus of the group leaned more toward FM radio than the following album). But the live performances of these songs are a little more muscular than in the studio. There is a drummer leading the way, accompanied by a bass player with Chapman Stick, but it is undoubtedly the keyboards which create the framework of the music. The virtuosity of Norlander makes one think of Emerson, Wakeman, and their consorts. And the guitar? Playing lead or in support, it mixes subtly into the duel: the epic combat finds its zenith in the Prog Medley, which is an instrumental collection from Brutal Architecture. On the Threshold Medley, Norlander reminds us that he has (at least) ten fingers and that he intends to use them. With singer Lana Lane, the music takes on a sophistication mixed with melodic rock, which then sets out again towards the usual symphonic realms. Another good disc I recommend, which allows one to discover the multiple facets of the group,  is Brutal Architecture.” [Prog-résiste (translated from French)]

“The American quartet Rocket Scientists, lead by the magnificent keyboardist and occasional vocalist Erik Norlander, Chapman Stick player Don Schiff, the guitarist and singer Mark McCrite, and drummer Tommy Amato, present their eleven best pieces to us  interpreted in different concerts from their European and American tour. Their style you already know: direct and vibrant neo-progressive music that contains stimulating moments, acrobatic phrases of complexity, and rhythmic changes reminiscent of the classic sounds of the 70’s, with a clear Emerson influence in the keyboards of Norlander and some sonorities of Genesis and King Crimson distributed here and there... One of the great progressive bands of the present time that we have perhaps underestimated in the past.” [Margen (translated from Spanish)]

“The Rocket Scientists are one of these prog bands of the 1990’s that decided to keep the flame of symphonic prog (a la Yes or ELP) alive, while giving a definitive 90’s touch to their songs... an accessible brand of prog, with lots of twists and turns and some Beatlesque references where well-thought lyrics accompany rich melodies, all this delivered with great musicianship. Here we must note the strength of the rhythm section. Tommy Amato on drums and Don Schiff on the Chapman Stick play like a two-headed, four-handed monster with dangerous technical abilities. We must also point out the work of keyboardist Erik Norlander, a synth wizard, a true son of Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman. Mark McCrite's vocals and guitar complete the quartet... Fans of well done and strongly felt symphonic prog will be happy with this one. The Rocket Scientists offer a lot more than most so-called neo-prog bands of the 90’s.” [The Delire Musical Monthly Report]

“...Myself, I’d never heard them before this live album... I was aware that they were supposed to be quite good, perhaps even one of the best recent bands of prog... Oh boy! ...lend me their studio albums quick! This is splendid! Real prog, with long, very long tracks, full of furious guitars and enchanting keyboards... Yes, UK, this sort of prog! Oh boy...” [Acid Dragon]

“Rocket Scientists make music in the style of the British school (Yes, Genesis & ELP) and deserve a wider audience... the band did an excellent job and I really loved all the material.” [Background]