I received my copy of PG on monday after 10 anxious weeks of waiting. I played it about 6 times on my mobile player now and I must say:
THIS IS GREAT!
I thought it would be absolutely hard to make a follow-up to Contagion that would fulfill the expectations, and the guys have done it again.
Man, do I love this album! All the instruments are played with great mastery and the vocals are fantastic. I hear something new every time I give it a spin.
The only thing I can complain about is the duration :) Hey, sadly the CD stops after 52 gorgeous minutes and I am left to beg for more....
Hey, peter, It's not yet available in the shops, is it? Or are you a reviewer for some magazine and have received a promo, you lucky guy
Quote from: GeoffD on Sat, 2005-01-15, 13:56:19
Hey, peter, It's not yet available in the shops, is it? Or are you a reviewer for some magazine and have received a promo, you lucky guy
No, I ordered it though the Verglas shop as soon as it was listed there :) back at the beginning of December.
Hi Peter,
I am ashamed to admit it, but I had no chance so far to listen to the new album. Bad, I know.....
So tell me, what's the difference to "Contagion", what are the songs like ?....
Quote from: Draddi on Tue, 2005-01-18, 18:14:10
Hi Peter,
I am ashamed to admit it, but I had no chance so far to listen to the new album. Bad, I know.....
So tell me, what's the difference to "Contagion", what are the songs like ?....
Well, first of all, the album is not a concept album, it's 7 songs of their own. Pepper's Ghost is recognizable as an Arena album from the very start. You could say tt's not as 'hard' as Contagion, but then again Contagion had its soft moments, too. I always find it quite hard to describe music with words, like all the reviewers do; just buy a copy and you'll know :)
Hey guys, I have heard bits and pieces of the album and what I heard sounds awesome! Arena has once again proven to have grown..man, where will this end ;D
Unfortunately I did not receive a promo copy, so no scheduled review from me. Although I hope to get my copy someday soon.
Sorry for the plug, but the album is also available at my webstore :-X
Cheerzzz,
Marcel
I must say...the first time the notes i have heard from PG was Its HARD. After several times of listening it IS Arena and it ISNT Arena....but after 10 times of playing IT IS ARENA The boys dit it again. Its not like Contagion (great album) but its like PG. All my new stuff I recieved from Arena I must grow in it, but Conatgion was after one time playing my own. With PG I need a little bit more time to make it my own. It ROCKS man......it ROCKS very good....Yes....... where will this ends....every time the boys getting better.
I just have to say... Pepper's Ghost is truly *amazing*! You can really see (hear!) how much the band has grown and matured so to speak, since their first album. :-) Wow! :-)
From the first few notes I heard when I got the cd, I was completely blown away - this has to be the best album I've ever heard. Opera Fanatica is an absolute masterpiece - everything about this song is just brilliant. I love when I close my eyes, listen to a song and when it's just right, it feels like it's part of me. It's hard to explain and I hope I don't sound completely looney... *lol* Anyway, this one, Opera Fanatica, it's so powerful and overwhelming that for a few short minutes there, it's like I'm living inside the song, as if it had it's own little universe. It's hard to find the right words to express this right -- it's like this is the music I've always been waiting for, like cinderella waited for her prince charming.
I won't say how many times I've played it, for fear of looking completely insane, but let's just say I haven't listened to anything else since I got it. Everything else I own now seems incredibly pale in comparison... I'm not sure I even want to remember what else I've got on my iPod. *lol*
I think I'll go play it one last time before I go to bed. ;-)
Hi All,
Well I bought the new one as soon as it was available, and yes like announced it is a bit different from the other albums but it still is Arena.
Good songs, good music, only thing that is a littel bit not so good is the fact that at several parts you can hardly hear the singer, not because the music has turned into metal but simply because the soundlevel seems a little not like it should be.
Every new album after the one and only best one for me (The Visitor), they have managed to create new beauteful and exciting music and with PG it is no different.
The album is worth it's money.
Regards,
Ron
I also ordered my copy of Pepper's Ghost, after a few times listening
the album I find it a great album. The organ on Opera Fanatica reminds
me at the old ELP albums. I hope Arena will continue with these master-
pieces of music. I am loving symfonic rock or symfo for more than
35 years. 8)
Greetings from Johan Peter Lems of the Netherlands
Well, I've given it quite a few spins now and am suitably impressed. For me, it's a return to form as "Contagion" didn't really hit the spot, don't know why, but I couldn't get into it at all (maybe the forthcoming 2CD fan version will help ;) ).
Pepper's Ghost though is excellent, especially the mix which somehow manages to showcase the vocals AND each separate instrument..!!
The only point I'd mention (and I usually have at least one..!!) is that I'm not overly keen on the 'spoken' passage half way through "Bedlam Fayre", I feel that the track loses momentum and fizzles out after a really strong opening - dare say it'll grow on me though.
Overall, a great album.
Pepper's Ghost is in my MP3 player since I got the CD from the store (Verglas)... and I can't put it down !!! It's deffinitely a very, very, very good album, though my preference is still on some aspects with the Contagion album. But Pepper's Ghost has definitely something magic, and I especially appreciate the drums sound, which was so far (exception maybe with Contagion) a little bit weak. The double bass-drum pedal is simply adding an incredible power to these songs !!! Thanx Mick Pointer ! ;)
Hope to see you all visiting us again in Switzerland !
Bye !
Got the album today. Thank you Clive!
After two spins I must say that I'm REALLY impressed. Probably the best album since The Visitor... I need to give it more time until I can say for sure, cause Contagion and Immortal are pretty damn fine discs too :)
PG is an Arena masterpiece. It grabbed me by the unmentionables the very first time i heard it, something Contagion failed to do for some reason. For me its the best Arena album since The Visitor, and is wearing my CD player out. Thanks Clive, Mick, Rob, John and Ian for a brilliant album.........Now when is the follow up coming out. ;) ;D
I'm still waiting for the funds to purchase the album. Still unemployd after my study :( But everything I heard about the album is that it's really a masterpiece!
Yes, a great work, indeed! Second best to me....in their 10 year history ;D
Finally got my copy yesterday, and must say I'm very impressed. At the moment Bedlam Fayre and Purgatory Road are the two standouts for me. I quite enjoyed Contagion, but feel this has really raised the bar once again. Well done chaps! 8)
It seems as if this band will grow straight into heaven. Every album has been better than the one preceding it, and now it sounds like "Pepper's ghost" is about to give "Contagion" a good hiding! -Something I didn't think possible. But then I never expected "Contagion" to be better than "Immortal?" either. -An album that impressed me much by being better than "The visitor". -Which took me by surprise, the way it topped my favourite "Pride" (The first album I heard, so I've never actually thought of "Songs..." as their best album, even though it was their only for a while... :o :-\ ::) ;D)
'Best Album' - Domino :)
Hello guys, i'm new here :)
Pepper's Ghost is a really good album, although The Visitor and Pride are still on top of my personal list :). The music on PG is, in general, heavier and more dynamic than on previous albums (maybe excluding Contagion). Bedlam Fayre and Purgatory Road (my favourite two) are great songs for live-playing, especially the end of Purgatory Road with its amazing choirs (achh, it's greaat), they will be a great addition to Crying For Help :). Hope to see Arena here in Poland once again - last gig was (Contagion Tour) was superb. Keep up the good work, Arena :)
I really liked the more heavier part on Moviedrome near the end of the song ( 'So we're standing in the moviedrome...'). Therefor I reaheahealy liked Contagion with it's more powerfull songs like 'Witchhunt', but when I had listened to PG, I missed the more quiet parts. So to me PG is Arena's second best album and Contagion still #1 becauce of it's mix between heavy and calm parts.
Still... I can't stop listening ;D
Hi
I couldn't wait, I bought it on the date of release!!! ;)
And I'm so happy with it... LaraMoon... yeah you can say it, you're not insane, if so, I'm insane too: the CD is in my car since 17th january, and I didn't listen to anything else 'till then! ;D Sometimes, at home my boyfriends put something else but... rarely :D
I'm just in love with PG :-* :D All songs... What I really like in Arena's music is that each album is different, and it seems to me that it better each time...
Now I just have to wait for the date of the gigs in Spirit of 66 in Belgium! Please make it soon!
N.B.: sorry if my english is not at the top :-[
Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee just got PG and cant stop playing it. My Favourite song is Opera Fantacia. i have to say with all the talk of a new sound I was a little worried, but never has an album clicked with me so quickly.
I cant wait to this these songs played live, providing the band comes to Australia or i win the lottery ;D
Hi to all Arena- and Progrockfans,
the new Album is a very great Rockalbum. Thank you for the fantastic music. The best song to my mind since The Hanging Tree is The Shattered Room (Play it loud!) with great guitars and keyboards and I hope so much, Arena would play it by the concert in Aschaffenburg in May 2005.
Many greetings to the Arena-Members.
Ralf from Siegen in Germany
Well ... that should be good news for you.... :)
We do plan to play 'Shattered Room' in May....
Quote from: Clive on Sun, 2005-02-13, 23:18:45
Well ... that should be good news for you.... :)
We do plan to play 'Shattered Room' in May....
Good choice, Clive. ;D
Looking forward eagerly....
Quote from: Peter on Mon, 2005-02-14, 07:42:42
Good choice, Clive. ;D
Looking forward eagerly....
Yeaaaah really like this one very much! ;D
Be sure to play Tantalus as well, Clive. That yearning and screaming guitar cuts so deep that it really hurts... You guys are really amazing.
I have to admit that it took many, many spins before I started to enjoy Pepper's Ghost, but now that I'm finally into it, it doesn't let go anymore (hail to the repeat-button!).
Too bad that those 'weird' little parts in Purgatory Road ('One day, I will lie down...') don't appear more often in that song - I think they're quite special.
At last..... at last......at last!!! I received my copy of Pepper's Ghost. ;D You all already know every second of it! From now I can participate in the discussions about PG, although everything has been said, about it, but whatever!!! :D I only played it once, but it sounds really good! A bit heavier than the previous albums, but not too heavy. Opera Fanatica sounds really impressive! :)
Very happy to know that you'll play "shattered room" in May. Cos i'll be there with friends...
for the 5th time, i'll see you guys !!!!
"I will always find you"
Great album, though it had to grow on me. But hey, this album made me buy three earlier ones (The Visitor, Contagion and The Cry), that says enough! The shattered room is my favorite one too. When I first heard Opera Fanatica I thought 'what is this?', but now I love it. You have to know the meaning of the song. Compliments! 8)
Some people's first impression obout PG was it is to "hard"...hehe...i don't think so. For me it's the best Arena Album ever!!!
Well...i listen a lot of Metal bands, not only the progressive ones... and the progressive fans who never listened to progressive metal bands are losing a big peace of the cake. PG is somewhere between progressive rock and progressive metal. That's why it's a great CD!!! Old Arena fan's don't be limited, metal is not only noise for some "crazy" people wearing black clothes! In this moment is the area of music with more creativity. Progressive rock and progressive Metal are two faces of the same coin. If you only see one of the faces you are not a really "prog" music fan! ;)
In my view, "Pepper's Ghost" is MUCH better than "Contagion". However it can't surpass their classics. I still prefer to listen to "The Visitor", "Immortal?" and "Songs From The Lion's Cage". :P
After these months with the album, I find it's the strongest collection of SONGS as such, from Arena. Thinking about the whole listening experience, I do think "Contagion" is still gonna stay on top. Especially now with all the songs in there. They had left out some pretty marvellous material! :)
Quote from: Deenfan on Fri, 2005-07-01, 23:52:21
After these months with the album, I find it's the strongest collection of SONGS as such, from Arena. Thinking about the whole listening experience, I do think "Contagion" is still gonna stay on top. Especially now with all the songs in there. They had left out some pretty marvellous material! :)
Totally agree! 'Contagion' stays my favorite, the order of songs, fantastic! Haven't heard 'Pepper's Ghost' for a month or so, my brother is borrowing it. I WANT IT BACK, NOWÂ ;).
Shall we hope he really likes it, or would it be better if you were able to get it back? ;D
Quote from: Deenfan on Sun, 2005-07-03, 14:46:05
Shall we hope he really likes it, or would it be better if you were able to get it back? ;D
Both mate, both. And that he's going to buy a copy of his own!
Quote from: Deenfan on Sun, 2005-07-03, 14:46:05
Shall we hope he really likes it, or would it be better if you were able to get it back? ;D
He likes it, I asked him. I'll make sure that I get it back Tuesday, looking forward to hear it once again!
I'm disappointed of Peppers Ghost. Good, there are some really fine instrumental parts on it but overall only few fragments of the tracks remain in memory. The change in the music style is a matter of taste but isn't my taste. I love all the older albums, especially "The Visitor", "The Cry", "Contagion". In my opion the change in music-style is to drastic.
Maybe you have to get used to it. Give it some time, it took me a few spins as well, after each spin it just got better and better. Now I love it!
For me, coming FROM melodic rock and appreciating prog over time, Pepper's Ghost was heaven sent from the beginning. I could not believe what I heard. The quality of the songwriting is staggering. As far as the music (playing?) I imagine it might be a bit straight forward or hard hitting for the average... Pendragon fan..? or something. You know what I mean. ;)
I really like it! During the organ and guitar bit in "Opera Fanatica", I kept thinking about Nolan/Wakeman's 'Hound...' album...
Must be a reason for that... ???
So Pepper's Ghost eh , good points and bad points as per your very own Funkster
Good points - the packaging is amazing and very original , Purgatory Road has a fantastic riff , smoke and mirrors could be my fave Arena track. Overall - bloody good album
Bad points - i keep singing the eyes of laura mars :-[ i know - i'm an idiot but wasnt it an old Tommy Lee Jones film or something
I think Opera Fanatica's my favourite track, one of the best endings to an album I've ever heard 8)
It's my favourite album and first Arena's work which I've heard.I like all songs.
I listened to this album again, for the first time in more than a year (I think), the other day, and I thought "Bloody hell". It is great!
Now, today, I put on the last track only, "Opera fanatica", really loud. After the last note faded out, the wife said "Fantastic music".
Yup.
Great track indeed *horns*