Now Playing Thread

[Deenfan]

How strange...

Ah, it was a / at the end, that YouTube didn't like

[maddox]

This, then?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbxafO2Nja0

It's the same, but....?

Yep, that works!!! 

Watching it now. 

[Deenfan]

It's an oldie, from a less than stellarly produced album. Try to give the new single a chance or two. It is magnificent.

And it's here

[Nicky007]

NP  Praying Mantis  on  MySpace

Deenie, I played your links and went further to MySpace.

http://www.myspace.com/prayingmantisrock

Nice stuff, but doesnt really rise above the mass of melodic hard rock / metal that I'v heard by now - don't quite understand yer enthusiasm 

Honestly, I think Ten, Gary and Uncle Bob are more exciting and memorable 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

NP  Drugstore Fanatics

http://www.myspace.com/drugstorefanatics

OK, another L.A. band 

Much more to my taste ..... 

Another Tomthanx 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

NP  Eleven  on  MySpace

http://www.myspace.com/elevenesque



I have all their five albums 


From their MySpace page:  "Eleven have released 5 uncompromising albums, including "Awake In A Dream" (1991), "Eleven" (1993), "Thunk" (1995), "Avantgardedog" (2000), and now "Howling Book" (2003), their first release on their own label Pollen. Eleven possesses one of the richest musical histories in rock. Jack has manned the drums for Pearl Jam, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Joe Strummer and Neil Young. Alain and Natasha have become a sought after production team working on albums such as Chris Cornell's "Euphoria Morning" on which they also wrote, performed and toured, Live's "V", No Doubt's "Return Of Saturn", Steadman's "Revive", and "The Desert Sessions 7&8" and "9&10" with Josh Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age. Most of the recording takes place at 11AD their home studio and creative backdrop for Eleven's musical life. Natasha and Alain toured in Queens of the Stone Age in support of the Lullabies to Paralyze CD. Alain recorded and mixed their new album Era Vulgaris as well as playing on a few songs."

Nicky.

[Deenfan]

Nice stuff, but doesnt really rise above the mass of melodic hard rock / metal that I'v heard by now - don't quite understand yer enthusiasm 

Honestly, I think Ten, Gary and Uncle Bob are more exciting and memorable 

Well, we're in a difficult area of emotion here, but PM gives me a feeling of being real, while GH has sometimes a tendency of sounding manufactured. Nowhere near to the point where you will find all the Magnus Karlsson stuff (Allen/Lande, Starbreaker, Bob Catley, The Codex, etc.etc. - and everything sounding like vaguely different product from the same conveyor belt), which is all good, clever and well made. But perhaps without soul? Ah, I see I must hasten to stress that I will never accuse Gary Hughes of lacking soul, just so that is not mixed up here.

Praying Mantis to me is very basic, very standard, and that is the point of it. There is nothing sensational or groundbreaking about the music or arrangements. The twin guitars AND keyboards setup, as opposed to the usual setups of either twin guitars or keyboards, set them a bit apart, and makes for the signature sound. But 90% of the point is the quality of the songs, 9% the quality of the singer, and the last 1% everything else. In other words, the same split key that I am set up with from the hand of God.

Which is probably why I am so enthusiastic.

[Teunis]

Shadow Gallery - Digital Ghosts 

Really cool stuff  .

[Nicky007]

NP  Redemption:  The Origins Of Ruin

Definitely a pantheon group 

They'v carved out a very special niche for themselves, in part due to Ray's terrific singing 

Also the new bassist Sean Andrews is impressive

I OD'd a bit on Redemption a couple of years ago when they were my fave group and I went down to meet them at the Headway Festival in the marsh. By that time, I'd raved sufficiently bout their first two albums.

Ruin (their third) finds Nick in a more reflective mood, and the lyrics are far better than on the first two albums, where they were rather clichéd.

I'v read that both music and lyrics have progressed on Snowfall, so I'm lookin forward to hearin that one. Teunis, what's yer take on it ?

One thing that made me think a lot was when I chatted with Ray at Headway. We talked about a lotta things, and at one point I made the comment "You must have earned a lotta money singin in Fates Warning". And he told me that he had a car that was begining to fall apart, and that he couldnt afford to buy a new one. (Ray lives in L.A. where a car is a necessity.)

This was the great Ray Alder, and he couldnt even afford to buy a new car !!!

Did that make me think 

Probably many more serious musicians than we think, who create all this wonderful music for us, are struggling to make ends meet. And even so, they don't sell out 

Bear that in mind next time you'r about to download or copy for free, guys 

Hm, I have somethin with bears these days 

Nicky

[Nicky007]

But perhaps without soul? Ah, I see I must hasten to stress that I will never accuse Gary Hughes of lacking soul, just so that is not mixed up here.

How can you even think of it 

And you still havent listened to The Twilight Chronicles, which is surprisingly spiritual (talkin about God) 

The twin guitars AND keyboards setup, as opposed to the usual setups of either twin guitars or keyboards, set them a bit apart

Redemption actually have that setup on their new album Snowfall, and I'm wonderin how it works, particularly as they'r very sparing on the soloing.

But 90% of the point is the quality of the songs, 9% the quality of the singer, and the last 1% everything else.

I'd assign a larger percentage to creativity, but OK 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Redemption ~ Snowfall On Judgement Day

Awesome!!!

[Deenfan]

I'd assign a larger percentage to creativity, but OK 

Nicky.

I figured as much, and what ever makes you tick is ok. To me, creativity as such is a nice novelty, if the end result is likeable. On the other hand, what on earth is creativity? Maybe it has to be there for a song to be made at all. Of course, more apparent creativity, as put prominently on display by the inventors of prog back in the seventies, does have a tendency to alienate as well as inspire. I'd say some of their more creative moments came out as a school orchestra on acid. No two pupils even trying to play the same song...

I'm pleased now

[Ben-R]

The Butterfly Man link=topic=15.msg53981#msg53981 date=1256226465]
NP: Drugstore Fanatics - What's In The Basement

This band reminds me of Tool and A Perfect Circle, which is never a bad thing... What's even better is that you can download their entire 'What's In The Basement' album for free here: http://www.drugstorefanatics.com/album_albums.php

You're welcome guys!

Tom

Hey man, Thanks alot and I mean it!
D/loaded their album after reading your post and been listening to it non stop for the past 3 days.
Down right awesome!
have ya chked out their videos?

[Nicky007]

Welcome Ben-R 

Yeah, Drugstore Fanatics are great, aint they 

I'm beatin my tom-tom to the music 


NP  Tomorrow's Eve  on  MySpace

http://www.myspace.com/mirrorofcreation

Excellent 

I browse thru you guy's LP's once in a  while 

If I remember correctly, TE occurs in only one Roomie's LP - and he knows who he is (and it shouldnt be too hard for you others to guess which pork it is) 

German melodic progmetal band, with some interesting stories to tell. A bit like Circus Maximus and Seventh Sojourn (Tom  ), but definitely with their own identity 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

NP  Queensrÿche:  OM II

Whew is this good 

Greenie, you'l like this one 

Takes some time tho. Q are one of the slowest growers 

Nicky.

[The Butterfly Man]

Hey man, Thanks alot and I mean it!
D/loaded their album after reading your post and been listening to it non stop for the past 3 days.
Down right awesome!
have ya chked out their videos?

No thanks, I'm glad you like them! It's great to see such an enthusiastic response!

I haven't checked all their videos, but I saw their Hangman-video somewhere online and I liked the song (and the video itself - it looks very professional) instantly, which led me to their website where I spotted the free download!

Oh, and welcome by the way!

NP: Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory

It was released exactly 10 years ago today so let's celebrate!

Tom

[Ben-R]

No thanks, I'm glad you like them! It's great to see such an enthusiastic response!

I haven't checked all their videos, but I saw their Hangman-video somewhere online and I liked the song (and the video itself - it looks very professional) instantly, which led me to their website where I spotted the free download!

Oh, and welcome by the way!

NP: Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory

It was released exactly 10 years ago today so let's celebrate!

Oh hell yea, that album sure deserves a celebration. my fav DT album no doubt! ill bring the booze!

(BTW, heres the fanatics' youtube channel. sum pretty cool stuff really  www.youtube.com/drugstorefanatics)


B.

[Nicky007]

It was released exactly 10 years ago today so let's celebrate!

ill bring the booze!

Hey, you forgot me 




NP  Queensrÿche: OM II  (on repeat)

There's a looooot of depth to this album 

Nicky.

[Manatee]

For sure !!!  I really dig that combination of weirdness, melody, and beautiful singing 

There's somethin oddly L.A. about'm. Remind me a lot of Eleven. You guys should try out these too, one'o my pantheon groups 

NP  Phideaux  on  MySpace  (on repeat)


And here's Eleven's MySpace page

http://www.myspace.com/elevenesque

Nicky.

From what I've read, Phideaux himself actually does live in L.A. now, although they're all from suburban N.Y. originally and most of the band still lives in the area.

Just did the DL of Drugstore Fanatics.  Amusingly, their pulldown menu assumes that nobody over age 40 could possibly be downloading their album.   

Road Trip Playlist:

Anathema - A Natural Disaster    I'm really liking this.  An intriguing combination of influences that sound like they're ready to explode and do once or twice.
Blind Ego - Mirror   Haven't really fallen in love with the whole album, but I could play the second song, "Moon and Sun", all day and have sort of.
Gazpacho - Tick Tock
Phideaux - The Great Leap
Phideaux - Doomsday Afternoon (twice)
Phideaux - Number Seven

Last night: Built a desk chair, then played: Marillion - Marbles

NP: Eleven on MySpace

Natasha has a voice that can be really haunting and has a touch of Janis badass blues at the same time (had?     )

Nice stuff, Nicky!   I'm not sure I see the similarity to Phideaux, but then I've only heard the four MySpace songs.  In any case, well worth hearing.  Do you have a suggested first album of theirs to try?

[Nicky007]

Do you have a suggested first album of theirs to try?

Actually their best imo is Euphoria Morning, which is formally a CC soloalbum, but Natascha and Alain have "flavored" it in their very special way.

Else their two latest albums, and maybe last, as

"Natasha Shneider, musician extraordinaire, former actress, singer of the ground-breaking band Eleven, and one-time Queens Of The Stone Age keyboard player, died today [July 2, 2008] of cancer. She was a brilliant, beautiful, and ballsy woman who will be missed deeply by all those who knew her. Send your loving thoughts her way in the universe."  — Sweethead MySpace

Howling Book and Avantgardedog are great 

I havent listened sufficiently to their first three albums to have an opinion about'm, but I remember an Amazon reviewer who wrote that that their third album Thunk is lesser compared to the others.

Iac Eleven are a very unique band that have influenced many other serious musicians, and every serious proggy should be familiar with'm 

Natasha has a voice that can be really haunting and has a touch of Janis badass blues at the same time (had?     )

The "haunting" is very true and is one of the distinguishing marks of Eleven (also, tho less, of Euphoria Morning (better not use abbrevs with you, Greenie  )), but I never thought of Janis when hearing Natasha. Maybe it's cause the music is so different ?  But who knows, maybe I will in the future 

Iac I'l think of you, Greenie 

I'm not sure I see the similarity to Phideaux

It was mainly the combination of melody and weirdness, not so much the singing.

Nicky.

[Iggy]

NP Digital Ghosts - Shadow Gallery

[Deenfan]

 

But hey, I'm on my first ever spin of the new album from Europe, one of my favourite bands, that I still care a bit extra about. "Last look at Eden" is a fine album, it seems. A bit Led Z creeping into the sound this time. The title track is wicked as hell. Check it out.

[keyboardistmatt]

Simon and Garfunkel - "The Boxer"
from the album 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'

[Bupie]

Steve Vai - Passion and Warfare

[Manatee]

NP: Satellite - A Street Between Sunrise and Sunset