Now Playing Thread

[maddox]

I agree, Mad. They're excellent musicians, and there's a lot going on, but nothing that fastens with me.

How was the Maiden concert ?

Nicky.

It could have been better if they have not played A Matter Of Life And Death in it's entirety. It's a pretty decent album, better than Dance Of Death but life from song A to Z is too much. The concert really began at the moment they started playing those classics.

Overall a nice concert but i've seen better concerts of Maiden. 

[Steve Jones]

Good choice. Indeed, it's a 1989 album  .

A very good choice, so much so that I'm now playing it again. 

Only having Seventh House & Dark Matter on my iPod, my IQ listening has been stuck in a rut for a long time.  So in the last week I've dug out all of the CDs and ripped them in an effort to put right this shameful state of affairs! 

[Iggy]

A very good choice, so much so that I'm now playing it again. 

Only having Seventh House & Dark Matter on my iPod, my IQ listening has been stuck in a rut for a long time.  So in the last week I've dug out all of the CDs and ripped them in an effort to put right this shameful state of affairs! 

Yep another brilliant band I got into IQ and Arena at about the same time so had loads of Cd's to buy. Fortunately they are all worth having 

[maddox]

Spock's Beard - The Healing Colours Of Sound 

[Steve Jones]

Caravan - In the Land of Grey and Pink.

I'm trying to spend a few days listening to stuff I've not played in a while.  It's amazing how many gems I find this way, and it's cheaper than buying new ones. 

[Teunis]

Collage - Moonshine

[maddox]

Ayreon - Zero One

[Teunis]

Quidam - Alone Together

Track: Kinds of Solitude at Night

[Proglady]

Sensitive To Light - From the Ancient World

[Nicky007]

NP   DT:  Images And Words

I haven't listened to this album as much as I ought to, so I'm catchin up with my karma ..... so to speak 

Fine album with lots of great moments, but man, have they progressed since then 

Nicky. 

[Steve Jones]

Roxy Music - Stranded.

Ah, the memories! 

[Nicky007]

Pink Floyd - Delicate Sound of Thunder.

Up and coming prog outfit. Could go far if they stick at it. 

English sense of humour - subtle, unique, no one else has it, the Danes and Americans know bout it, and they try hard, but really, nobody does it like the English, it's simply natural to them   

Seriously now, yeah, in my mind Floyd clearly ruled (after Zep) from Dark Side in 1973 to the early 80's when The Wall started to glide in the background. By the time The Final Cut came out, other groups had taken over. Then the rock scene became more complicated, and I would say musically it declined, with punk, grunge, britpop, and the likes, until 1992, when Dream Theater gave us Images And Words and decided to take the lead in prog rock. Since then, Arena, Ten, and a few other great groups have emerged, giving us music and lyrics that are very different from DT, and just as exciting and fulfilling. What's also great is that these groups aint trying to outdo each other, they're simply moving in their own unique directions.

I'm sure that every roomie has a different take on this. So let's hear your takes, guys   


NP   Ten:  Silent Rain  (on Babylon)  

Nicky.

[Steve Jones]

IQ - Nomazamo.

Second time I've played this album this weekend - it's even better than I remember it.  'Common Ground' - wow! 

[Iggy]

English sense of humour - subtle, unique, no one else has it, the Danes and Americans know bout it, and they try hard, but really, nobody does it like the English, it's simply natural to them   

Seriously now, yeah, in my mind Floyd clearly ruled (after Zep) from Dark Side in 1973 to the early 80's when The Wall started to glide in the background. By the time The Final Cut came out, other groups had taken over. Then the rock scene became more complicated, and I would say musically it declined, with punk, grunge, britpop, and the likes, until 1992, when Dream Theater gave us Images And Words and decided to take the lead in prog rock. Since then, Arena, Ten, and a few other great groups have emerged, giving us music and lyrics that are very different from DT, and just as exciting and fulfilling. What's also great is that these groups aint trying to outdo each other, they're simply moving in their own unique directions.

I'm sure that every roomie has a different take on this. So let's hear your takes, guys   


NP   Ten:  Silent Rain  (on Babylon)   

Nicky.

Haven't come across Ten. Any advice on which album to start with?

I agree there are some fantastic bands about. It is a shame in some respects that Arena aren't more popular but on the other hand would I have got front row seats in Reading? 

[Teunis]

Albion - Broken Hopes

[Steve Jones]

Grace - assorted online tracks: http://myspace.grace-music.co.uk/
(Warning - one of those sites that whacks in at full volume!)

A band that I used to go and see in the late 70s, I was somewhat suprised/pleased to find they were still going - following some discussion on the IQ forum.

[Steve Jones]

Graham Parker & The Rumour - Heat Treatment.

Not my normal thing (a bit too 'lounge' for want of a better term) but a tight band, great vocalist, excellent sound quality and (above all) only 2.98 UK pounds from Amazon UK.  Tight? Me? 

Saw them supporting Rock Gods Thin Lizzy on 15th March 1976 and have been a casual listener ever since.

[Nicky007]

Haven't come across Ten. Any advice on which album to start with?

I'm planning to start a special thread on Ten and introduce them soon, but their scope is so wide that it takes quite some time to assimilate their stuff - just like with Arena. Music for the thinking man (m/f) 

Here in the Room, I would recommend The Twilight Chronicles to start with. It's their latest album and in my mind the most exciting and progressive. But also Return To Evermore and Babylon are fabulous.

The Essential Collection has some of their best songs from all albums up to Return in a new recording. You can read my raving review at  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Essential-Collection-1995-2005-Ten/dp/B000CCW16W/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1214122258&sr=1-2  However, today I would recommend the original studio albums, not because Essential aint great (it is), but cause Ten are very album oriented, like all great groups.

Ten albums are hard to get hold of (cause for some to me totally incomprehensible reason, Ten are not world famous). I recom the Amazon network of shops to order them.

You won't regret it tellya   

It is a shame in some respects that Arena aren't more popular but on the other hand would I have got front row seats in Reading? 

Hey, you selfish b****** !  If Arena were more popular, they'd come and play in southern Scandinavia 

Hope your facial surgery went well, Iggy.


NP   Ten:  Even The Ghosts Cry  (on Return To Evermore)   

Nicky.

[maddox]

RPWL - The RPWL Experience 

[Proglady]

Magenta - Metamorphosis 

[Steve Jones]

Magenta - Metamorphosis 

Good call 

RPWL - World Through My Eyes

[Steve Jones]

Echolyn - Jersey Tomato.

This complete double live CD is available for free download from the band's official site http://www.echolyn.com/discography.asp?iAlbumID=10
I hope this initiative brings them extra sales, I'd previously only heard one track by them (on a Jethro Tull tribute album) so I guess I'm exactly the kind of person they're aiming this at. 

[funkster]

Opeth - My arms , your hearse

[Nicky007]

NP   Ten:  Return To Evermore

There's somethin bout this music that grabs me at both intellectual b*s and visceral brain   

Nicky.

[Steve Jones]

NP   Ten:  Return To Evermore
There's somethin bout this music that grabs me at both intellectual b*s and visceral brain   

Conversely, this album doesn't really work for me.  I don't have a single criticism of it, mind you (production/musicianship/vocals/lyrics/etc are absolutely first-rate) but for some reason it just doesn't connect with me.  I've been wondering if that's because it's kind of AOR/metal-lite (a gross over-simplification and pigeon-holing for which I apologise in advance!) when I'm currently in a largely prog mood?  But then I'm also playing a lot of non-prog and enjoying it immensely, so it can't be that.

It's just one of those things, I guess, a 'mood' issue.  One day I'll probably give it a spin and think it's the greatest thing in the known universe, but in the short term I'm unlikely to expand my Ten collection unless I see any real bargains! 

More 'mood' listening:
NP: The Pineapple Thief - Tightly Unwound.  I played this twice over the weekend and thought it awesome, today I just think it's OK and am already working out what I'm gonna play next.

Is this continual changing of my mind something I should worry about, or am I just in touch with my feminine side?