Now Playing Thread

[Steve Jones]

Van Halen - OU812.

I'm really not enjoying this one

[Nicky007]

Is there anything by Van Halen that you enjoy, Jonesy ?

I'm wonderin whether I should get an album by'm or whether it would be a waste of my meager finances 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Van Halen - OU812.

I'm really not enjoying this one

Wow, that's an oldie. 
I haven't played it in a million years. 

NP> Blind Ego

What else? 

[Steve Jones]

Is there anything by Van Halen that you enjoy, Jonesy ?

All of the David Lee Roth albums, plus 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' from the Hagar era.  I don't dislike Sammy Hagar, by the way, as a solo performer or in Montrose he entertains me as much as I could ever wish.  I'm just not keen on the musical style VH moved into in later years.  Clearly hundreds of thousands of fans wedged into the world's stadia would disagree with me though!

[maddox]

 Clearly hundreds of thousands of fans wedged into the world's stadia would disagree with me though!

Yep. 

[maddox]

Now for something completely different:

OSI III ~ Blood

[Steve Jones]

Roger Waters - Amused to Death

[Manatee]

Interesting, Greenie 

Which album would you recom to me ?


NP  Rush:  Moving Pictures  

Nicky.

I saw'm. I actually have Ocean Machine, and I'v listened to it some five times. At this point I enjoy it, but not to any sorta Nevermore or Opeth degree, with whom I think one can compare it 

But of course one should remain open. Devin is definitely a musician to reckon with. I'd like to hear some of his other stuff .....

I think Devin's unique.  I can't think of anyone I'd describe as similar, so it's a matter of what style 'speaks' to you.  'Both' is certainly a valid answer.  I like Opeth (and recently acquired a second CD of theirs), but other than them both having obvious metal elements and impressive instrumental skills, I don't think they're comparable.  Obviously I'm in a Devin mood more often than most other humans, but I certainly think he's something you could find interest in if you value heavy, complex music (which I know you do).

As to recommendations (I guess 'all of them' isn't the response you're looking for  ):  Perhaps Terria if you've already got Ocean Machine.   It's got heaviness in it, but it also has some pretty parts as well as moments of humor.  If I had to pick my personal favorite, that would be it (by a narrow margin).   Physicist is probably the most direct and head-banging of them (closest to SYL but not as extreme) and still has some melodic bits, which I'm not sure SYL does (not having heard more than a handful of individual SYL songs), but it's probably not as interesting musically as some of the others.  I play that one when I want LOUD.   Synchestra, which I know Paco likes, is probably the 'prettiest' album, although, Devin being Devin, it's still pretty heavy overall.  One thing I will say about him is, although I find his lyrics interesting and often funny as well, I'd describe most of his stuff as 'instruments forward', so if you're looking to the lyrics first and foremost, he's probably not going to get top marks from you.  A final observation is: he is certainly a serious musician, but he definitely doesn't take himself completely seriously all the time, and that's reflected in his music.  That's part of what I love about his stuff, but it isn't everyone's cup of lightly perfumed water.

At the moment, I want loud.

NP: Devin Townsend - Physicist   

[Manatee]

Is there anything by Van Halen that you enjoy, Jonesy ?

I'm wonderin whether I should get an album by'm or whether it would be a waste of my meager finances 

All of the David Lee Roth albums, plus 'For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge' from the Hagar era.  I don't dislike Sammy Hagar, by the way, as a solo performer or in Montrose he entertains me as much as I could ever wish.  I'm just not keen on the musical style VH moved into in later years.  Clearly hundreds of thousands of fans wedged into the world's stadia would disagree with me though!

I'm pretty much in agreement with Mr. Jones here.  I've enjoyed individual Hagar-era songs, but when I think Van Halen, I think of the David Lee Roth era albums.  None of those are bad, IMO, and I think the first album (just called Van Halen) is as good a choice as any.  They are definitely not prog.  What they are is a great era-defining hard rock/metal band.  I saw a show on TV a while back, where some folks from the metal world were being interviewed.  One English guy said Van Halen made such an impression on him in part because they were so profoundly un-British.  Nobody'd ever heard anything like it before.  Now, of course, they're "classic rock."

NP:  I think I'll see if I can find that Mastodon MySpace page too and see what they're like.

[Manatee]

NP:  I think I'll see if I can find that Mastodon MySpace page too and see what they're like.

Holy crap!  Sounds a bit like Black Sabbath turned prog metal.   Impressive.   Based on the sample songs, I think I'll try Crack the Skye first.

[The Butterfly Man]

Holy crap!  Sounds a bit like Black Sabbath turned prog metal.   Impressive.   Based on the sample songs, I think I'll try Crack the Skye first.

Clever move...

NP: Blind Ego - Numb

Tom

[Steve Jones]

Holy crap!

See, I knew you spent your nights fighting crime in Gotham city!


Steve Hillage - For To Next And Not Or.
Yes, I know it's not classic Hillage, but it has a certain charm of it's own.

[Manatee]

See, I knew you spent your nights fighting crime in Gotham city!

Well, perhaps Batman has grown a trifle more profane in his dotage.

Steve Hillage - For To Next And Not Or.
Yes, I know it's not classic Hillage, but it has a certain charm of it's own.

Believe it or not, my only exposure to Hillage is his playing with Bill Bruford, and I just recently added a Bruford album to my 'to buy' list.  I've heard him spoken of in reverent tones for years, but I've somehow managed to avoid hearing him for the most part.

NP: Gazpacho - Night

Shockingly, this is my first run through Gazpacho today.  Nicky's inquiry about Devin lured me down the Devin path, and then I checked out Mastodon.

[Steve Jones]

Believe it or not, my only exposure to Hillage is his playing with Bill Bruford

I must catch up on Bruford's solo stuff.  I was into it back in vinyl days, but only have the 'Master Strokes' compilation on CD.  For starters, I'd really like to have 'Gradually Going Tornado' once again, which contains the legendary 'Joe Frazier' track

[Manatee]

I must catch up on Bruford's solo stuff.  I was into it back in vinyl days, but only have the 'Master Strokes' compilation on CD.  For starters, I'd really like to have 'Gradually Going Tornado' once again, which contains the legendary 'Joe Frazier' track

My friend who introduced me to Genesis had that album, but I haven't heard it since the dawn of time and don't remember it well.  I also just noticed that I was mistaken about Hillage playing with Bruford.  It was Allan Holdsworth.  I've heard a few songs on Pandora from the live album, The Bruford Tapes, and based on my web research, I have One of a Kind penciled in to purchase.  I guess that still leaves me with some Hillage homework to do.   

[Steve Jones]

One of a Kind is also on my shortlist.  Hillage-wise, Motivation Radio, Green or L are obvious and typical examples to start off with.  Or possibly Live Herald if you want a live introduction to the man. If you get L make sure it's the recent (2006) remaster as the original suffers from dreadful distortion.  It should never have been released, IMHO.

[Manatee]

One of a Kind is also on my shortlist.  Hillage-wise, Motivation Radio, Green or L are obvious and typical examples to start off with.  Or possibly Live Herald if you want a live introduction to the man. If you get L make sure it's the recent (2006) remaster as the original suffers from dreadful distortion.  It should never have been released, IMHO.

Duly noted.  This humble padawan thanks you.

NP: Lacuna Coil - Karmacode

I've missed Cristina.   

[Steve Jones]

Steve Hillage - Live Herald.

The force is strong in this one

[Manatee]

NP: Opeth - Watershed

Not at all like Devin Townsend, yet excellent anyway.   

[Steve Jones]

Sylvan - Posthumous Silence

[maddox]

Hmmm let's see.

I can either play Blind Ego's Numb or i can stick with Gazpacho's Tick Tock. 

What shall it be?

Ah, i got it!!! 




Dream Theater ~ Score

[PH]

After surfing a bit on the MySpace network, I ended up on this: http://www.myspace.com/au4

When listening to this the following bands came in my thoughts: Porcupine Tree (the quiet bits), Frost*, Gazpacho, Pure Reason Revolution.
It's very calm music, but it's filled with all kinds of beautiful things.


You can listen to the entire album when you stream it from http://www.au4-audio.com/
This goes right on my shopping list!

HIGLY recommended!

[Bupie]

NP - Blind Guardian - Live

Bombastic and melodic speed metal but the extremly poor sound of my PC doesn't give it justice. I'll play it louder later on a better stereo.

I am surprised that nobody has ever mentioned Blind Guardian in the Room since Helloween, Kamelot or Vandenplas appear from time to time ...

[maddox]

After surfing a bit on the MySpace network, I ended up on this: http://www.myspace.com/au4

When listening to this the following bands came in my thoughts: Porcupine Tree (the quiet bits), Frost*, Gazpacho, Pure Reason Revolution.
It's very calm music, but it's filled with all kinds of beautiful things.


You can listen to the entire album when you stream it from http://www.au4-audio.com/
This goes right on my shopping list!

HIGLY recommended!

Thanks for that, Paco.
I just listened to the song and indeed: very Porcupine Tree-ish. I can hear/feel Steven Wilson's touch in all four songs.
I can't really say that it also has influences of NIN, though i only have the two best albums they've ever made (The Fragile and Year Zero).
As for Massive Attack: I can't really hear it. Maybe if i listen more thoroughly.
This again proves it: There are so many good musicians in this world who you don't hear everyday.

[Nicky007]

I am surprised that nobody has ever mentioned Blind Guardian in the Room since Helloween, Kamelot or Vandenplas appear from time to time ...

Blind Guardian don't at all grip me, Helloween somewhat (at least Gambling With The Devil), and Kamelot and Vanden Plas are among my fave bands.

Bups, these bands are very different (also Kamelot and VP from each other) 

If you havent heard Ghost Opera, you're missing something BIG, and I think you'l like it, as it's slow heavy and very melodic, and Khan rules 


NP  Rush:  Snakes And Arrows

Terrific lyrics and music. Geddy still sends shivers thru me 

An excellent place to start your Rush adventure (if ya havent yet) 

Nicky.