Now Playing Thread

[Nicky007]

It's supposed to sound like guitar stuff from the 50's/60's. It's from a video game "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater" which takes place in early 1960's.

Well, that's good, so Universal Harmony has been re-established 

It is very subtle indeed. It's nice, but it doesn't make me want to run to the shops to buy some of his albums...

Got ya a step further, kiddo 

You gotta consider the times. It was still basic blues, and pop just beginning to sound like rock. And then this piece turns up 

Now playing: Nothing at the moment. A little bit of silence once in a while is ok too.

Hey, you got a lotta work to do - my whole LP for one 


NP  Stones:  Let It Bleed

Different from the usual Room stuff. Rocks pretty good 

Iggy, you must have listened to this 

Here, guys, try out Gimmie Shelter, a great song from the album:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb-JZPmiEOI

Get into the lyrics too 

A bonus (-ers) for you guys:

Stones:  Angie   www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5_EBAzIPJM

- Nicky

[Nicky007]

NP  Opeth:  The Drapery Falls  (on Blackwater & repeat)

Sublime 

I'm in an Opeth mood 

- Nicky

[PH]

Well, that's good, so Universal Harmony has been re-established 

Universal Harmony?

"Universal Harmony advocates a Oneness philosophy. Through self empowerment, you get in touch with your inner divine."
- http://www.universal-harmony.com/

Something like that? And what has "Metal Gear Solid" to do with it?

Got ya a step further, kiddo 

And a few years back.

You gotta consider the times. It was still basic blues, and pop just beginning to sound like rock. And then this piece turns up 

Yeah... Whatever happened in the 80's and 90's? Now most people are listening to either rap/hiphop or mindless pop music...

Hey, you got a lotta work to do - my whole LP for one 

Not before you listen to mine!

I'm in an Opeth mood 

I'll join you!

NP: Opeth - "Ghost Reveries"
The Baying Of The Hounds

[PH]

Now playing:
Morow.com internet radio.
Steve Hackett - Fire On The Moon (from "Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth")

[bellanova]

Dream Theater- Dream Theater

The Enemy Inside

I'm loving this album. Yet another great release from a great band.

[Bupie]

Dream Theater- Dream Theater

The Enemy Inside

I'm loving this album. Yet another great release from a great band.

I agree

NP Rush - Vapor Trails

Tiring ... Will further listens change this feeling ?

[PH]

NP Rush - Vapor Trails

Tiring ... Will further listens change this feeling ?

That album is reissued as a new remix. Perhaps that helps a bit. When an album is badly mixed or produced it can take away a lot of the pleasure. But I don't know the album at all, so actually I shouldn't say anything.

Today I played several songs of Neal Morse. Particularly the long songs, and particularly live versions. Which is odd for me, because I enjoy the studio versions a lot more. But it's really cool to see that Neal & Co can pull it off live.


NP:
Marillion - "Happiness Is The Road"

A very laid back album. But I like it very much.

[Bupie]

That album is reissued as a new remix. Perhaps that helps a bit. When an album is badly mixed or produced it can take away a lot of the pleasure. But I don't know the album at all, so actually I shouldn't say anything.

I read about a possible reissue but I did not know that it has been done by now. I won't buy it though since I am not enough of a Rush fan to collect their ... let's say so average (IMHO) albums.

NP Unitopia - Artificial

[PH]

I read about a possible reissue but I did not know that it has been done by now. I won't buy it though since I am not enough of a Rush fan to collect their ... let's say so average (IMHO) albums.

I'm not a real Rush fan either. Not that I don't like them, I just haven't heard that many albums by them.
I've heard "Snakes And Arrows" and thought it was really good! I saw it for sale on a Dutch website, for only 9,99 euros, but after a while when I decided to buy it, they changed it to 20,99 euros. So I bought something else then. Later on, it was 9,99 again, but other albums had more priority, and now it's back to 20,99 again... So, I'm just waiting for it to become 9,99 again.

And I also saw a box set with Rush's last seven studio albums ("Clockwork Angels" not included) for 30 euros or something like that. Though it doesn't include "Clockwork Angels" it does in fact have the remixed "Vapor Trails" album. It seems like a nice way to get to know Rush a bit better.

NP Unitopia - Artificial

I've seen this name quite a few times. What's it like?

[Bupie]

And I also saw a box set with Rush's last seven studio albums ("Clockwork Angels" not included) for 30 euros or something like that. Though it doesn't include "Clockwork Angels" it does in fact have the remixed "Vapor Trails" album. It seems like a nice way to get to know Rush a bit better.

Well, I don't think that it is their best period, although I really like Roll The Bones (and consider the album cover as one of the best I have ever seen) and part of Test For Echo. I would go further back in time, from Permanent Waves to Roll The Bones but once again I am not a specialist. I can only tell you that my fave Rush album is -by far- Hold Your Fire.

I've seen this name quite a few times. What's it like?

It's hard to define. It's rather eclectic but I would classify it as (mainly) symphonic prog with hints of jazz (Tesla's Bridge  ) and classic rock. I fell in love instantly with the track What Kind Of World ... which is just a bonus on the special edition (!) but the rest of the album took me more time to get into. Now I love it. As a fan of Neal Morse and Transatlantic, I think you should appreciate it but who knows ... 

[erik]

Hi Paco,

Good you're taking an interest in Rush, I have all their albums except the first three so thought I'd drop a line 
Having heard the Chronicles collection and 2112, I really got into Rush with the three disc live set Different Stages, my first Rush purchase that got me hooked. My favourite albums would be Moving Pictures, Signals and Grace Under Pressure I guess.

Rush has an extensive back catalogue and went through many different phases/styles. There are sort of 'four album cycles' rounded off by a live album, but stylistically I'd divide their periods slightly differently:

1. Finding their way: Rush, Fly By Night, Caress Of Steel: the ones I don't have, the first two heavy rock/garage rock with Led Zep influences, the third their first go at prog rock but still missing the mark a bit.

2. The classic prog period: 2112, A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres. This is their big prog trilogy and classic stuff.

3. Streamlining their sound and adopting new influences: Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals. Also classic stuff and highly recommended. Signals is sort of the transition album to the next period.

4. Synth/new wave period: Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire. This period divided their fans, I love it. After Hold Their Fire they had enough and the guitars/rock gradually returned.

5. Back to basics: Presto, Roll The Bones, Counterparts. Their ''pop-rock period' for lack of a better word, lots to enjoy, Counterparts marks a slightly harder edge and the transition to the next period - and has my very favourite Rush track Animate.

6. Not acting their age: Test For Echo, Vapor Trails, Snakes&Arrows, Clockwork Angels. Rush sounding heavier than ever, especially on VP (their comeback album after the hiatus that followed Neal Pearts personal tragedies, just listen to the blazing energy on the intro of the first track) and Clockwork Angels that deliberately nods to their past.

Enjoy!!

[erik]

ps forgot to mention what I am playing which is of course the topic of this thread: Dream Theater - Dream Theater 

[Bupie]

Hi Paco,

Good you're taking an interest in Rush, I have all their albums except the first three so thought I'd drop a line 
Having heard the Chronicles collection and 2112, I really got into Rush with the three disc live set Different Stages, my first Rush purchase that got me hooked. My favourite albums would be Moving Pictures, Signals and Grace Under Pressure I guess.

Rush has an extensive back catalogue and went through many different phases/styles. There are sort of 'four album cycles' rounded off by a live album, but stylistically I'd divide their periods slightly differently:

1. Finding their way: Rush, Fly By Night, Caress Of Steel: the ones I don't have, the first two heavy rock/garage rock with Led Zep influences, the third their first go at prog rock but still missing the mark a bit.

2. The classic prog period: 2112, A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres. This is their big prog trilogy and classic stuff.

3. Streamlining their sound and adopting new influences: Permanent Waves, Moving Pictures, Signals. Also classic stuff and highly recommended. Signals is sort of the transition album to the next period.

4. Synth/new wave period: Grace Under Pressure, Power Windows, Hold Your Fire. This period divided their fans, I love it. After Hold Their Fire they had enough and the guitars/rock gradually returned.

5. Back to basics: Presto, Roll The Bones, Counterparts. Their ''pop-rock period' for lack of a better word, lots to enjoy, Counterparts marks a slightly harder edge and the transition to the next period - and has my very favourite Rush track Animate.

6. Not acting their age: Test For Echo, Vapor Trails, Snakes&Arrows, Clockwork Angels. Rush sounding heavier than ever, especially on VP (their comeback album after the hiatus that followed Neal Pearts personal tragedies, just listen to the blazing energy on the intro of the first track) and Clockwork Angels that deliberately nods to their past.

Enjoy!!

Thanks for this crystal clear overview  I would just add that, when it comes to lyrics, Rush are ahead of most of their competitors.

NP Rush - Counterparts

[erik]

You're right Bupie, Peart is not just the most amazing drummer but also a great lyricist!

NP Arena - Contagious and Contagium

Now why would I be playing that

Keep those pre-orders coming at www.verglas.com , we really need them!! 

[PH]

Erik, thanks for your in depth reply. I'll certainly keep it in mind when I want to make a decision on a few Rush albums!



NP
Dream Theater - "Dream Theater"

Yeah, I like it. Not surprising, it's Dream Theater! But still, I think I'm on Portnoy's side in this case. I also think Dream Theater could benefit from a small break.
As much as I really love this band, I think instead of the last three albums, they could have made one really good album! Every album from 2009 till now has a few brilliant ideas and really good songs, but unfortunately also filler... The term 'auto pilot' comes to mind.

Anyway, a Dream Theater auto pilot is still better than your regular flying man.

As I see it, the album is split in three parts. 1) The first four songs. 2) the next four songs. 3) the epic.
The first four tracks are nice. I know them quite well now and I know that The Looking Glass is my favourite of these four. The Enemy Inside is not bad either, but it reminds me of earlier songs. It's a typical Dream Theater single. Enigma Machine is... well... not bad, but there are instrumental bits in many of their songs that are much better than this. In my opinion it just pales in comparison with Stream Of Consciousness on "Train Of Thought".

After the first four songs I tend to get a bit bored with the next four... Because of this, I never properly get into these songs. They do have their moments, but there's a lot of cliche in either the musical and/or lyrical department. Surrender To Reason seems to stand out, positively. Along For The Ride is really nice too, although the Rudess' solo reminds me of the one on Beneath The Surface of the previous album.

Then there's the epic. No Octavarium I'm afraid. (Or Moviedrome, which I think is one of the best examples of how a cohesive epic should be.) These feel like a bunch of songs linked together. Some are pretty cool and I guess it would've been better if these were just seperate tracks. I think the 4-minute ambient middle section is a bad move. It bored me to death... Didn't like that at all. Well, I think it's better to talk about this one later, you know, when I listened to it a bit more.

Yeah, I'm a bit disappointed, but like I said: this is far from a bad album. It's actually a good album! I just think it's below par for a Dream Theater album.

[PH]

Just played:
Spock's Beard - "Spock's Beard"

Here's a self titled album that really means something. This album is really good and one of my favourites of Spock's Beard.
Most bands start their career with a self titled album. Think albums like Yes, Rush, Camel, Gentle Giant, and recently Liquid Tension Experiment, Neal Morse (his first solo album), Blackfield, Flying Colors. It seems more logical to make your debut a self titled. When bands put out a self titled album long after their debut (in Dream Theater's case LOOOOOOONG after their debut) it's mostly got to do with making a statement. With "Dream Theater" they really felt to prove that Dream Theater still stands strong without Mike Portnoy. They can say what they want, I really think this is the reason behind it.

Spock's Beard also felt the need of proving worthy of the Spock's Beard name. And they are. They were searching for their identity on "Feel Euphoria" and "Octane" and they found it here on "Spock's Beard". Love it.


NP:
Spock's Beard - "X"
I missed the boat when it initially came out. Bought it last year or so. But this one is very nice too!

[PH]

Porcupine Tree - "The Incident"

Very pleasant. And I've got to say, when I'm really in the mood for this album (which oddly doesn't happen very often) I'm really getting a lot out of it.
And, as always when listening to Porcupine Tree, I'm air drumming a lot. I'll gladly trade both my keyboard and guitar for a drum kit and just 20% of Gavin's talent.

[Bupie]

Yeah, I'm a bit disappointed, but like I said: this is far from a bad album. It's actually a good album! I just think it's below par for a Dream Theater album.

I think it will grow on you if you don't give up on it. The Bigger Picture, for instance, is a track I really love by now !

NP Rush - Different Stages Live

As I already wrote, I am not a big Rush fan and I am not a big fan of live albums neither but this one is as cool as its cover. It just rocks. Big time 

[PH]

I think it will grow on you if you don't give up on it. The Bigger Picture, for instance, is a track I really love by now !

Perhaps you're right. I'm not giving up!

Edenbridge - "Solitaire"

Pretty decent Symphonic Metal. Catchy tunes, nice choirs and orchestra, Threshold-ish guitars, very nice choruses. I was also very much positively surprised with "MyEarthDream". There's also a new album called "The Bonding". I think I'll need to have that one!
Anyone here who likes Edenbridge? Or is female fronted Symphonic Metal a taboo here? The title track on the "Shine" album is beautiful, check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JaksDAK6R4

[Peter]

H-Blockx - [Fly Eyes #01] Fly

loud, in ya face. good. didn't know, that bands were making metal hard rock thingies that crazy back in 1998. and these are Germans-....^^

[Peter]

Perhaps you're right. I'm not giving up!

Edenbridge - "Solitaire"

Pretty decent Symphonic Metal. Catchy tunes, nice choirs and orchestra, Threshold-ish guitars, very nice choruses. I was also very much positively surprised with "MyEarthDream". There's also a new album called "The Bonding". I think I'll need to have that one!
Anyone here who likes Edenbridge? Or is female fronted Symphonic Metal a taboo here? The title track on the "Shine" album is beautiful, check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JaksDAK6R4

They do quite well what they're doing. But hey, is this cheesy. Teenager-Metal, I'd say, without wanting to step on anyone's foot. I'm not a music maker myself, but I know there's a mechanism is song writing that's called "transpose". They're definitely overusing this. Just my 2cents. Again. Sorry.

And no, female fronted Symphonic metal is not taboo here. I once was a bit into Nightwish, but only a few song choices survived. And Stream of Passion (once an Arjen project) are also very good, methinks. Have their albums.

[Peter]

H-Blockx - [Fly Eyes #01] Fly

loud, in ya face. good. didn't know, that bands were making metal hard rock thingies that crazy back in 1998. and these are Germans-....^^

anyone know similar stuff? this is on repeat, just too good.

[PH]

They do quite well what they're doing. But hey, is this cheesy. Teenager-Metal, I'd say, without wanting to step on anyone's foot. I'm not a music maker myself, but I know there's a mechanism is song writing that's called "transpose". They're definitely overusing this. Just my 2cents. Again. Sorry.

Hmm this never occurred to me. Well, I like a bit of cheese every now and then. To me it just sounds like extremely catchy sing-along-metal.


NP
Big Big Train - "English Electric, Part Two"
No cheese involved. This is very nice music. More of their albums are coming my way as we speak.

[Bupie]

JF Rush - Test For Echo Great title track, great artwork and ... well, the rest is less memorable IMHO.

NP Dream Theater - Dream Theater 

@ PH : I have nothing against female fronted bands, quite the opposite : Nightwish, Magenta, Touchstone and tons of non prog/non metal bands/artists : Morcheeba, Pat Benatar, Kate Bush. Love them all. Music is one of the domains where sex equality can prevail (well, maybe not at the drummer spot ?  )

[Nicky007]

My Mum's not doing well, so I'v spent last week in her country home taking care of her. My brother took over this weekend. Tomorrow I'm goin back 

She has the radio on the whole day, which is good, cuz then I can hear that she's up in the morning, and it gives her some pit-a-pat 

Me otoh, man, I go nuts with all that pop and hiphop. Occasionally in the evening, they can play a Queen or Bowie, but Dream Theater, forget it. And it's an even further shot to:

NP  Outworld I

Mmmmmm, what a pleasure 

Not before you listen to mine!

It reminds me of the childhood "If you show me yours, I'l show you mine 

And what has "Metal Gear Solid" to do with it?

Well, you'r Paxi, which is peace and harmony, and the Room is Universal, so ... 

And you can hopefully get metal solid 

Whatever happened in the 80's and 90's? Now most people are listening to either rap/hiphop or mindless pop music...

Well, as far as common taste is concerned, it's very much the same. The difference is that in the 80's even progressive artists went disco. Sparks lost it entirely, and compare Jethro Tull's mediocre Under Wraps from the 80's with their sublime Benefit from the 70's. Nowadays we fortunately have many great artists who care hoots about the commercial market, they just do their great stuff, like Arena and DT.

I'll join you!

NP: Opeth - "Ghost Reveries"

Paxi

- Nicky