Now Playing Thread

[Teunis]

Gazpacho - Firebird
Sylvan - Posthumous Silence

Simply love both Queen and Muse, is that okay too?  We always take the Queen album 'Made in Heaven' with us on holidays .  And the last Muse album 'The Resistance' is sheer brilliance  .

[maddox]

The thing is, Mad, that Queen were groundbreaking back in the 70's, one of the most exciting bands at the time !

Particularly Sheer Heart Attack practically gave me one when I heard it first time. It overwhelmed me like very few other albums have.

You can't say "groundbreaking" about Muse. They'v mixed things in a new way, particularly drawing on classical music and rock, but that's it.

In fact, already Electric Light Orchestra back in the 70's combined classical and rock, and that was groundbreaking. Try to listen to A New World Record, Mad.

Of course Muse isn't groundbreaking in that sense. Almost everything has been done before, so nowadays you almost have to be a genius to impress people.
I'm sure Queen was groundbreaking during those years, I'm not a Queen expert so I trust your word on that but it's more a matter of acceptance.
Whether you like Queen or not.
It's no secret that I don't have any affinity with Queen, never had.

In fact, while many claim that Bohemian Rhapsody is the best song ever written, I for one think Innuendo and Who Wants To Live Forever? are way better.

Go figure.

Besides that, everyone knows that Stairway to Heaven is the best song ever written.

The thing is, that while I was never fond of Muse, I watched the DVD that goes along with the Haarp concert release and it just blew me away!
The intro and Knights of Cydonia (one of the best opening tracks to a concert I've ever heard, though it is the last song from the Black Holes and Revelations album) for instance. Map of the Problematic. Hurricanes and Butterflies.
Chills go through my spine.
Currently it's one of the best live concerts, together with acts like Pink Floyd and U2, that I have ever seen. 

Go double figure...   

By the way, though it may not apear like that, there are a lot of gaps in my collection so I must say that I own next to nothing from ELO.
One of the bands I still need to check upon.

Go triple figure. 

[maddox]

Simply love both Queen and Muse, is that okay too? 

Of course it is!

Never question your own judgement. 

[Nicky007]

Go triple figure. 

I tried, Mad, but I ended up lying on the floor being confused about what was legs and what was arms 


As a well-worn rocker, I'l permit myself to say that Queen's Sheer Heart Attack, Zep II, Yes's Going For The One, E.L.O.'s A New World Record, and U2's The Joshua Tree are the most important albums by the respective groups, and must-haves for any serious rocker/proggie 

With Floyd, it's not so obvious. They made at least four groundbreaking albums: Meddle, Dark Side, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall. I'd also say that Floyd were a notch above the other five great groups, maybe the only rock group up until DT that are fully in league with The Beatles 

I'l leave it to other Roomies who know Genesis better than me to identify the Genesis must-haves.


Guys, great that there's life in the Room again 


NP  Priest:  Jugulator

This is the most advanced or avant-garde album by Priest, and imo together with Nevermore's This Godless Endeavor the most advanced rock albums overall 

Endeavor has somehow made it, been well received by the cognoscenti, but not so Jugulator 

Both albums will take years to be properly understood in progworld.

Both are extremely harsh, they bore into ya, they hurt - ouch - but for those who like to stick their necks out - like me - they'r ooooo, so delicious 

Took me looooong time and many spins to get to appreciate these two albums ... so it's not that I'm in any way categorically/dismally different from other proggies.

But here's a tip/clue iac. Hope one day to share this music with other Roomies, that's why I'm persistent about it. Where else than in these circles would I find peers ?

E.g. the Neverworld is run by veeeeery nasty (and maybe not too bright) people - not a place for Roomie types at all - and the Priest official site is dominated by people who relish the pre-Jugulator leather & spike stuff. Ripper, who sang unbelievably on Jugulator and Demolition, is almost non grata there 

OK, nuff rambling for today from Vangede (my town).

Guys, let's get the Room bristling with music 

Nicky.

[The Butterfly Man]

Muse ~ Haarp (DVD)

I never thought I would say this but... I like them!

Bellamy has a strange way of singing but it fits the music.
People say that the band's music sounds like Queen but to me they are way better than Queen. 

Finally, I thought this day would never come. Muse are simply great. Like you, I dig 'em more than Queen and indeed, it's pretty obvious that they lifted some elements out of Queen's music. But so what? Every band has it's influences. In my view a band doesn't need to be groundbreaking in order to be good. So while Muse may not be very original in that sense, they are really good at what they do and especially their live-shows are an unforgettable experience. Also, Matt Bellamy is one of the most talented musicians I ever witnessed. He is truly gifted.

NP: Ayreon - Universal Migrator - Part One: The Dream Sequencer

Tom

[Nicky007]

Muse are simply great.

OK, guys, I'l take'm up again.

I got a bit tired of the Black Hole stuff, but I have to admit that what I'v heard from The Resistance is quite refreshing. They'v cut the hackneyed classical arpeggios and focussed more on rock substance 

In my view a band doesn't need to be groundbreaking in order to be good.

Right, Tom, Celine's rendition of The Power Of Love is hardly groundbreaking but it's great nonetheless. In fact it wasnt even original, as she covered it 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

... but somehow they just never really grabbed my attention (except maybe Bohemian Rhapsody).

Everybody's haranguing about Bohemian Rhapsody, as if this were the one and all of Queen 

BR is a great and fun song, but guys: There's soooooo much more to Queen. These guys were serious and seeking musicians !!!

Any of you guys into Sheer Heart Attack ?  Tellya, you don't know Queen before you'v heard this album. Completely different from Night and Day.

And Made In Heaven ?  Also very different, and equally much Queen - aint that right, Teunis ?

Guys, please be serious about Queen !

They merit it 

Nicky.

[The Butterfly Man]

... what I'v heard from The Resistance is quite refreshing. They'v cut the hackneyed classical arpeggios and focussed more on rock substance 

Hmm, I don't know if that's so true. The Resistance is the album that got the most resistance (oh my, did I really make that lame joke?) from die-hard fans for being too Queen-like, or too much orientated on classical music (there's even a real symphony, spread out over the last 3 tracks). Next to this there are some 'proper' rock-songs on the album. This combination of genres makes it my favourite Muse-cd to date.

Tom

[The Butterfly Man]

Guys, please be serious about Queen !

I am. I listened to a lot of Queen-stuff when I was younger. I would always go 'shopping' in my dad's cd-collection and often ended up with a Queen-album (I must have listened to Made In Heaven about a million times). Nowadays I still listen to Queen, but not as much as I used to (and probably should do ).

By the way, recently I saw a documentary on the life of Farrokh Bulsara and I found it very impressive. What an icon. Too bad he died much too young.

Tom

[Nicky007]

New York Suite Seems to be a title that fits the discussion above

Is this some sorta French humor ? 

Where's the preceding "New York", and where's the "suite", Bups ? - unless you'v made some sorta anagram, or rebus, or allegory 

Guess that if you'r staying over in a hotel suite, and ya fall out the window, you'l be en suite clutching at straws to stay alive - is that French humor ?

Hey, better get goin now ..... 

Nicky.

[maddox]

I tried, Mad, but I ended up lying on the floor being confused about what was legs and what was arms 


As a well-worn rocker, I'l permit myself to say that Queen's Sheer Heart Attack, Zep II, Yes's Going For The One, E.L.O.'s A New World Record, and U2's The Joshua Tree are the most important albums by the respective groups, and must-haves for any serious rocker/proggie 

I agree with you on Zep II and The Joshua Tree.
Especially the latter is marvelous on the Remaster.
Utter brilliant!

With Floyd, it's not so obvious. They made at least four groundbreaking albums: Meddle, Dark Side, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall.

And while we're at it, let's not forget Animals shall we?
A fine album it is.
I agree that with Pink Floyd things are getting a bit harder to choose from.
One of the true dinosaurs in prog music alongside acts like Yes, Genesis and King Crimson.
Camel is also good but just 'one of those bands'.
Though you definitely should listen to Moonmadness.
Outstanding.

I'd also say that Floyd were a notch above the other five great groups, maybe the only rock group up until DT that are fully in league with The Beatles 

Probably true I guess.
Maybe you should add Rolling Stones to that list though I was never fond of them.

It's like they say: Either you like the Beatles or you like the Rolling Stones but you can never like both of them.

I'l leave it to other Roomies who know Genesis better than me to identify the Genesis must-haves.

Probably everything from the Gabriel-era minus From Genesis to Revelation.
That album, their first, has got nothing to do with prog/sympho whatsoever.
The least played Genesis album in my prog-treasure chest. 

Though I must add that Wind and Wuthering and A Trick of the Tail (Collins-era) is also outstanding.

Guys, great that there's life in the Room again 

Indeed!

Holidays are over.
Lets talk some music!

Hmm, I just had a de-ja vu. 

np> Gazpacho ~ Night

[Manatee]

Hey guys. Back from my regular european-salaree-three-weeks-summer-vacation. Yes, I know, Manatee, you dont have it on your side of the world. Sympathy is what you need my friend (*)

So you dont have Clutching At Straws yet ?  That can not be true !!! That will be your first move. Then go forward from the beginning of the Hogarth's area : Seasons End, Holidays In Eden(*), Brave and so on. Of course, go for the 2 cd's version each time it exists (*)

(*) There's a link between those three passages. Will you find it ?

Hmm, I'd guess the sympathy part refers to Sympathy for the Devil (and hey, I'm American, but I'm not *that* evil  ).  The horned one was the supposed tempter in snake form in Eden.  The exists part has me puzzled.  I suppose you could connect it to Eden by saying that it's an account of how we came to exist, but I feel like I'm stretching for that one.  Is this close to what you had in mind?

JP: Jethro Tull - Minstrel in the Gallery

Had to play this -- I woke up singing Baker St. Muse.

NP: Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick

One of the all-time greats.  If I can get my thoughts organized, I'll try to give my reasons why on that other topic.

[maddox]

Finally, I thought this day would never come.

So did I. 

Muse are simply great. Like you, I dig 'em more than Queen and indeed, it's pretty obvious that they lifted some elements out of Queen's music. But so what? Every band has it's influences.

Tom, you're the man. 
Couldn't have said it better.

In fact, I never it better. 

In my view a band doesn't need to be groundbreaking in order to be good.

Did I say that you're right?

I'm sure I did.

So while Muse may not be very original in that sense, they are really good at what they do and especially their live-shows are an unforgettable experience. Also, Matt Bellamy is one of the most talented musicians I ever witnessed. He is truly gifted.

No, no, no, you're wrong!!!

[Teunis]

Of course it is!
Never question your own judgement. 

Phew, relieved  .

And Made In Heaven ?  Also very different, and equally much Queen - aint that right, Teunis ?

Really great. The order of songs and all quality. Even my wife likes it  . No, seriously my favourite Queen album! I only don't get the humour of the last, long instrumental. Do you Nicky?
Today: IQ - Frequency
            Frost - Experiments in Mass Appeal
            Magenta - Seven

[Nicky007]

And while we're at it, let's not forget Animals shall we?
A fine album it is.

You'r right, Mad, but I wouldnt call it "groundbreaking", like the four other albums are. I'd call it "subtle" and "moody". How's that ?

Actually a bit like The Final Cut, altho the two albums are quite different, but both are very much Roger Waters, lotta acoustic vocal stuff, lotta bite, but also feeling.

I think that everything from Atom Heart Mother to Final Cut is pure genius.

Atom Heart has been downplayed a lot, but I sure remember hearing it upon release. It went directly under my skin, it became an obsession with me 

And all them wonderful songs by each of the guys on Side 2 - whew 

Though you definitely should listen to Moonmadness. Outstanding.

Thanx for the tip, Mad. Got it on my SL now 

Probably true I guess

As I have said so, it definitely is true. - a so-called "funkster" 

Maybe you should add Rolling Stones to that list though I was never fond of them.

The Rolling Stones were great, and they had a short period when they were in league with The Beatles:  Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967), which was Stones' Sgt. Pepper, and just as great imo; and Beggars Banquet (1968), another very special masterpiece. After those, they made a few more great albums, but they gradually became lazy - which never happened to The Beatles - and after Exile On Main Street, it all seems one (Goats Head) soup to me 

From Genesis to Revelation. That album, their first, has got nothing to do with prog/sympho whatsoever.

OK, interesting, Mad. I'v never heard it, and I guess I can do without it 

I once loved Tresspass and Nursery Cryme 

Today they sound rather quaint to me, and I guess I'm into bit heavier stuff 

Though I must add that Wind and Wuthering and A Trick of the Tail (Collins-era) is also outstanding.

Not to mention Duke, which is highly progressive and rocks like hell 

When do you guys think that the Genesis guys gave in to poppiness ?

Lets talk some music!

I think that's what we'r doin 

I only don't get the humour of the last, long instrumental. Do you Nicky?

I love that piece. It's soooo deep. It catches the complexity of Freddie so amazingly, Teunis 

I think that Brian worked a long time on it ..... and it's utterly awesome 

Teunis, chase every non-proggie outta yer living room, take a (Belgian) beer from the fridge, drink it sloooowly, and get into the mood of this extraordinary piece 


But still nobody here really gets the Priest thingy 

Guys ! 


And I miss Jonesy to share Nevermore with 


NP  Priest: Demolition

Also a fabulous album 

Tip: Get it before Jugulator. Demolition is far more accessible. Two wonderful songs that will win yer heart straightaway: Close To You  &  Lost And Found 

Hmm, I'd guess ...

Greenie

Knowing Bups, his tale is probably just as wacky, and more devious 

NP: Jethro Tull - Thick as a Brick

One of the all-time greats.  If I can get my thoughts organized, I'll try to give my reasons why on that other topic.

Please do, Greenie 

I was once crazy about this one, and I'm longing to hear it again .....

Tom, you're the man. 

That's what the cat says too - when dinner is served 

Nicky.

[Teunis]

I love that piece. It's soooo deep. It catches the complexity of Freddie so amazingly, Teunis 

I think that Brian worked a long time on it ..... and it's utterly awesome 

Teunis, chase every non-proggie outta yer living room, take a (Belgian) beer from the fridge, drink it sloooowly, and get into the mood of this extraordinary piece 

Too deep for me I'm afraid  . Found it boring, nothing happens for a long time till the climax at the end. Most of the time I skipped this song. Okay, I'll give it another try with my headphones on  . Maybe it will click after 25 (Belgian) beers .

NP (for the fourth time): Gazpacho - Missa Atropos (and loving it!!)
Earlier: Muse - The Resistance

[Nicky007]

Maybe it will click after 25 (Belgian) beers .

Teunis 

Soon we'l be seein you jugglin with bongs 

You'v always been the decent guy here. Leave the extremes to me 

If you guzzle 25 Belgian beers, your brain will click off 


NP  Amorphis:  Silent Waters

Oh how I love this music. So atmospheric, melodic, and expansive. I visualise the endless spans of Finnish waters and woods, and hear the stories of the people who have lived there thru the ages 

Thanx again, Tom, for gettin me onto this great group.

I think that most Roomies would enjoy Amorphis. There's some growl here and there, but it's quite friendly growl, and Tomi's clean singing is wonderful 

It's amazing that there still are so many people who think that rock is for morons. There's sooooo much culture here - aint that right, guys ?

Nicky.

[maddox]

You'r right, Mad, but I wouldnt call it "groundbreaking", like the four other albums are. I'd call it "subtle" and "moody". How's that ?

Fine by me. 
It's funny though, since a lot of people claim that the four biggest PF albums are Dark Side, Wish You, Animals and The Wall.
Indeed, Meddle and The Final Cut are good albums but I think that the latter should be considered as Roger Waters' first solo album. His hand is all over the place, if you know what I mean.

Actually a bit like The Final Cut, altho the two albums are quite different, but both are very much Roger Waters, lotta acoustic vocal stuff, lotta bite, but also feeling.

Right.

I think that everything from Atom Heart Mother to Final Cut is pure genius.

Wasn't Meddle released before Atom Heart Mother? 

I have some mixed feelings about Atom by the way.
It isn't a bad album, on the contrary but especially the title-track gives me a non-Pink-Floyd feeling.
It sounds and feels like a different band, yet on the other hand it is the same.

Thanx for the tip, Mad. Got it on my SL now 

You're quite welcome.

The Rolling Stones were great, and they had a short period when they were in league with The Beatles:  Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967), which was Stones' Sgt. Pepper, and just as great imo; and Beggars Banquet (1968), another very special masterpiece. After those, they made a few more great albums, but they gradually became lazy - which never happened to The Beatles - and after Exile On Main Street, it all seems one (Goats Head) soup to me 

Others should elaborate about the Rolling Stones.
I own next to nothing of the stones.

I'm more a Beatles-guy.

I once loved Tresspass and Nursery Cryme 

Outstanding albums!
Together with Selling England by the Pound and The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway they represent the best what Genesis has ever done.
A lot of people also like the Ray Wilson-album Calling All Stations but it does nothing to me.
It isn't as essential as the aforementioned ones.
In fact, with Mike Rutherford on guitars they've lost a big deal of their music-identity.
The albums with Steve Hackett upon it where outstanding and it shows what a talented guitarist he is.
Mike isn't a 'real' guitarist, he's just a bassplayer who went from four to six.
It's quite challenging for a bassplayer to become a good guitarist in my opinion.
I never understood why they never choose for Daryl Streumer to be the new guitarist.
Agreed, his playing sounds and looks like Hackett but at least they would've had a real guitarist.
Instead they've went for second best.

I'll stop now.

Today they sound rather quaint to me, and I guess I'm into bit heavier stuff 

Partly true for what I'm concerned.
Nowadays I tend to play the new albums a lot more than the old albums, except for acts like King Crimson, Genesis and Pink Floyd.

Not to mention Duke, which is highly progressive and rocks like hell 

Nah, together with Abacap and Invisible Touch it represents the worst Genesis albums I'm afraid.
The Genesis album is quite good and to a certain extend so is We Can't Dance (ridiculous title by the way) but Abacap and Duke...I can live without.

When do you guys think that the Genesis guys gave in to poppiness ?

The first signs were on ...And Then There Were Three.
After that they've become massive (especially during Invisible Touch) on one hand but lost proggy sound on the other.
The reason why Invisible Touch became so huge was that the broad audience, from who a lot were probably ignorant about prog-music, became interested.
Rock but with a poppy edge over it.

I think that's what we'r doin 

Indeed.

But still nobody here really gets the Priest thingy 

Guys ! 

Been there, done that.

And I miss Jonesy to share Nevermore with 

Me too actually.
Especially since I bought their previous album.

I really stop now.

[Nicky007]

Been there, done that.

  .
  .
  .

Especially since I bought their previous album

How about gettin some more of their albums, Mad. They'r all great, except maybe the first one, which probably only Nevermore fans can appreciate.

I can recommend Dreaming Neon Black as your next N-album. It's very melodic and not too harsh 

Wasn't Meddle released before Atom Heart Mother?

I actually had to check up on that to be sure. They'r both from the same time. But I was right:  Atom Heart Mother is from 1970, Meddle from 1971.

His hand is all over the place, if you know what I mean.

That's what she said 

Agree, Mad 

And Roger continued doing amazing stuff 

I'm more a Beatles-guy.

I'm too, Mad, by far, but I can still enjoy Majesty and Banquet, and the songs As Tears Go By, "Paint It, Black", Ruby Tuesday, and Lady Jane (on my "Classic" list) 

A lot of people also like the Ray Wilson-album Calling All Stations but it does nothing to me.

Actually pretty much everything after Abacab I find uninteresting. They simply lost their spark. Sounds harsh, but that's the way I feel about it.

There are some nice stories, but musically they lost it 

Contrary to Priest imo: With A Touch Of Evil they revved up, something amazing happened to Glenn, and then came his soloalbums, and then Jugulator, Demolition, Angel, and Nostradamus - whew 

And Mad 

Don't give me any more  's, or else I'l go Mad.

Nah, together with Abacap and Invisible Touch it represents the worst Genesis albums I'm afraid.

You might be right about me overrating Duke, Mad.

But it was the album that got me seriously into Genesis, so therefore it means something special to me 

The first signs were on ...And Then There Were Three. After that they've become massive (especially during Invisible Touch) on one hand but lost proggy sound on the other.

You'r probably right about that, Mad 

Adds substance to my theory that true prog and mainstream popularity are moving further and further away from each other 

Seems like Genesis' fate epitomises this situation 

Nicky.

[Manatee]

Too many quotes to keep up with, so I'll just say my piece.   

I'll weigh in on Genesis (can't resist).  I'd say/agree that their prime period goes from Trespass through Wind and Wuthering.  I'm definitely including Foxtrot among their best, perhaps even the best of all (for one thing, it's got Supper's Ready).  "Your Own Special Way" might have been the first hint of pop, although it's a nice song on an excellent album.  After that I'd agree there was a bit of pop on ...And Then There Were Three with "Follow You, Follow Me" although that one wasn't so bad (it still had mellotron if I recall correctly).  I think that album was more just prog Genesis not at their best -- losing Hackett may have cost them some of their complexity.  Duke was a good album, but I think it has definite pop elements -- "Turn it On Again" seems made for radio, although I still like it.  After that, I think they're a good pop band with prog elements coming out now and then.

As to the Stones vs. the Beatles, I think they're very different bands for the most part, so I don't know that a comparison between the two is all that significant even though they've always been considered rivals.  As I've said before, while I acknowledge that the Beatles have some historical importance, I only find the occasional song of theirs interesting, in part perhaps because I've just heard them so much.  I like the edge the Stones have more, but I also agree with Nicky that most of their newer stuff sounds like they're "just mailing it in".

I'm one who did in fact consider Dark Side, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall to be the "big four" by PF.  Perhaps Animals isn't quite up there with the other three, although the line "You're nearly a laugh, but you're really a cry" always was a favorite of mine.  I think Mad is spot on that The Final Cut is more like a Waters solo album, and I also like Meddle, but it's perhaps not as rich as the others.  I can't really claim to have a strong opinion on Atom Heart Mother (or Piper at the Gates of Dawn) since I've really only heard them a couple of times.

NP: Amorphis (songs on My Space)

[The Butterfly Man]

NP: Oceansize - Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up

Hmm, new Oceansize, interesting...

Tom

[Teunis]

Teunis 

Soon we'l be seein you jugglin with bongs 

You'v always been the decent guy here. Leave the extremes to me 

If you guzzle 25 Belgian beers, your brain will click off 

LOL  .

Today: Gazpacho - Missa Atropos
            Toto - Greatest Hits Live...And More (DVD)
            Gall - Anonym

[maddox]

NP: Oceansize - Self Preserved While The Bodies Float Up

Hmm, new Oceansize, interesting...

Tom

I quite like the Frames album.
Tell me, is the new album (weird title btw) as good as Frames?

On topic>

Rush ~ Rush in Rio

[funkster]

Skyforger by Amorphis for the first time

[Bupie]

Is this some sorta French humor ? 

Where's the preceding "New York", and where's the "suite", Bups ? - unless you'v made some sorta anagram, or rebus, or allegory 

Well, in French, suite means "what happens next" and I just had a discussion with this Manatee guy from New-York. But forget it, maybe French are too clever to share this kind of jokes with foreigners ...