Now Playing Thread

[Nicky007]

NP  Mercenary:  Everblack

This is their second album, in the vein of Nevermore, not the late complex N-style like TGE, but more the early atmospheric, melodic N-style.

I wouldnt place M in the top league of prog metal (who's there ? - DT, Nevermore, Kamelot, SyX - anyone else ? ), but imo they certainly belong in the second league (Opeth, Redemption, Circus Maximus, Seventh Wonder, Riverside, Aghora, and a few others), and therefore in a proper pm CD-collection. Iac they're original enough to give me experiences that other groups can't 

Again, I'd recom The Hours That Remain as a M-starter, maybe not their most original, but their most melodic and accessible album.

Surprisingly, I had to turn down the volume on my Walkman, cause my Sennheiser HD 435 headphones were distorting (adding to the growl, Stevie)    Never experienced that before.

Nicky.

[Steve Jones]

(adding to the growl, Stevie) 

Mercenary: as recommended for frustrated dog-lovers everywhere. 

NP: Van der Graaf Generator - Like Something out of Edgar Allen Poe.  This is one of the discs in 'The Box'.

[Nicky007]

Caravan - Songs for Oblivion Fishermen.  No idea when I last played this one, but it's certainly hitting the spot tonight. 

I'v recently been beating around the bush with Caravan    so I'd appreciate getting some takes on'm, guys 

NP: Van der Graaf Generator - Like Something out of Edgar Allen Poe.  This is one of the discs in 'The Box'.

... an'm too 

Mercenary: as recommended for frustrated dog-lovers everywhere. 

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwl 

Nicky.

[erik]

NP Marillion / Radiation / These Chains

Not quite their best, but there's some really good stuff on it, especially Three Minute Boy and Cathedral Wall.

I'v recently been beating around the bush with Caravan    so I'd appreciate getting some takes on'm, guys 

... an'm [Van Der Graaf Generator] too 

In addition to this previous post, start with Godbluff, I did and it made a huge impression. Just four tracks that make up a great whole, from the quiet intro with flute and whispered vocals of The Undercover Man to the thundering Sleepwalkers. VDGG could be described as somewhere between Crimson and Genesis, but they're actually unique and beyond comparison. Little guitar and loads of sax by Jackson and organ by Banton, Hammil's roaring, very British vocals, Evans' pounding drums and dark, existentialist lyrics.

Albums 3-7 are considered classic VDGG. I recently bought H To He Who Am The Only One (their 3rd), a bit too early to give a verdict on that one, but seems a bit less mature after a few spins. Pawn Hearts (4rd) is a masterpiece and contains their Suppers Ready/Close To The Edge etc: A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers, a very haunting piece. After that they shortly split up to return with the two amazing albums Godbluff and Still Life. The subsequent World Record is said to be less good (don't know it yet) and after that Jackson and Banton left. The comeback album Present is also considered good and is on my shopping list. Their latest effort Trisector, though without Jackson, also rocks.

[Deenfan]

Agreed about the Marillion stuff, dear semi-namesake!

@Nicky:

http://www.myspace.com/ralphsantolla

This is the guitar player from Millenium. Wiki doesn't understand the difference, apparently.

This is their best album, with vocals from Jorn Lande:

http://www.amazon.com/Hourglass-Millenium/dp/B0000516SL/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1218380133&sr=8-11

Superb, powerful melodic hard rock with balls and keys aplenty. Great melodies and great production. Recommended.

[Steve Jones]

Rambling reply because they're fave bands alert!! 

I'v recently been beating around the bush with Caravan    so I'd appreciate getting some takes on'm, guys 

<Van der Graaf Generator>

... an'm too 

Tricky one, as both bands are fairly unique - they sound like themselves and comparisons don't sit well.  The one thing I can say for certain, however, is neither sound remotely like yer average Metal-For-People-Who-Eat-Babies ensemble currently popular in certain parts of Denmark. 

One trait both bands share is they both seemed to evolve naturally.  Each new album saw them refine their skills as songwriters/musicians/performers, each being a step forward.  That's not to say everyone will prefer the last album, of course (we all have our own tastes) but they're both bands who kept working hard at their craft, bands who didn't sell out and go pop.  Bands who kept moving forward.  Progressive, even! 

There's a little bit of eras at work here, too.  Both had their roots in the late 60s and the first albums have something of a 60s feel to them, albeit not a Beatles or Lulu 60s.  By the mid to late 70s, again the releases from both bands had more of a 70s feel, as you'd expect.  Caravan's 'Cunning Stunts' is a very different beast to 'Caravan'.  VDG's 'The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome' is equally different to 'The Aerosol Grey Machine'.  Not better or worse, that's for the ear of the beholder to decide, but a clear evolution.

As to individual bands and where to start....hmm.  Caravan are a quintessentially English band, in a pastoral and gentile kind of way, but with a wicked sense of humour that's immediately apparent in the song/album titles.  There isn't a stand out album, to my mind, but I have one suggestion.  The 1999 'Canterbury Comes to London: Live from the Astoria' is an excellent intro to some of the key tunes, played with exceptional finesse by a band on top form. It's probably my favourite these days. I didn't start there, but if I was doing it all over again, I'd do it all over that one.  Killer versions of 'Golf Girl' and 'Memory Lain, Hugh' especially.

Van der Graaf Generator (shortened to just Van der Graaf for the last 1970s studio release) are an acquired taste.  They really hit the spot for me (along with Peter Hammill's solo stuff) but I can understand if people can't get into the stygian gloom – it's pretty intense stuff at times.  Again, no obvious stand-out album as classic/defining tunes are spread fairly evenly throughout the catalogue.  Personally I rate the last two 70s studio recordings highest, 'World Record' and 'The Quiet Zone/The Pleasure Dome'.  World Record sees Hammill firing off some terrific lyrics, and Quiet Zone saw the addition of Graham Smith on violin which gave a whole new dimension to their sound.  They were really on fire on stage at this point, IMHO, completely awesome.  Unfortunately this wasn't really captured on the final 70s release, the live 'Vital' which still sounds somewhat strangled to my ears.

I think it's a matter of jumping in and trying your luck.  It's not like Deep Purple where you can point folk at Machine Head, Made in Japan or Burn...

[Steve Jones]

Spock's Beard - Spock's Beard.

I actually meant to play Snow, but now this one's started I can't bring myself to switch it off! 

[Iggy]

Also played Seconds out

NP Nursery Crime Genesis

seem top be having a bit of a Genesis weekend.

[Teunis]

Frost* - Milliontown

5. Black Light Machine

[Steve Jones]

Spock's Beard - Snow.

Excellent album. 

[Iggy]

Yes Live at the Roosevelt in 1976 Relayer tour

[Steve Jones]

Placebo - You Don't Care About Us (CD Single #2)

I love the cover of 20th Century Boy on this one. 

[Nicky007]

NP  Savatage:  Gutter Ballet  (1989)

First spin, very much to my taste, not only rockin metal, but proggy too 

And I'v known for long that S have great lyrics.

I have Magellan, which I like too, so gotta get some more S-albums.

Anyone else into Savatage ?  (I know Appy likes'm)

Nicky.

[Iggy]

NP  Savatage:  Gutter Ballet  (1989)

First spin, very much to my taste, not only rockin metal, but proggy too 

And I'v known for long that S have great lyrics.

I have Magellan, which I like too, so gotta get some more S-albums.

Anyone else into Savatage ?  (I know Appy likes'm)

Nicky.

Yep indeed.

I started with Streets and Magellan. Now have Gutter Ballet Hall of the Mountain King and Edge of Thorns.

I really like them BUT Mrs Iggy made me change the disc in the car she doesn't like his singing. So I put Beardfish on and she liked that more.

NP IQ 20 DVD

[Teunis]

Threshold - Clone

[Steve Jones]

The Jam - Live Jam

(Sorry if I woke anyone!)

[Deenfan]

I see I will have to do as I've said in another thread (or earlier in this one).

I will have to perform a complete Savatagistory in review form on this very forum soon!

[Iggy]

NP IQ Stage today it is live IQ excellent

[Steve Jones]

Greenslade - Bedside Manners are Extra.

Sound quality on this is pretty ropey (hiss is the fifth member of the band and distortion makes a number of guest appearances) but the music is mesmerising.  I've played this a good few times over the weekend and concluded that:

• It sounds better if not played on headphones.
• I urgently need to replace the rest of my Greenslade vinyl!

Don't you just love it when you rediscover a band you've not heard for years? 

[Iggy]

Greenslade - Bedside Manners are Extra.

Sound quality on this is pretty ropey (hiss is the fifth member of the band and distortion makes a number of guest appearances) but the music is mesmerising.  I've played this a good few times over the weekend and concluded that:

• It sounds better if not played on headphones.
• I urgently need to replace the rest of my Greenslade vinyl!

Don't you just love it when you rediscover a band you've not heard for years? 

Yep.

I've only the one Greenslade CD must check out the rest.

[Nicky007]

I will have to perform a complete Savatagistory in review form on this very forum soon!

I'm interested, Deenie 


NP  Disturbed:  Believe

Gotta give it some spins.

These guys are real big in the States (Believe, Ten Thousand Fists, and Indestructible were all nb 1 on the US Billboard).

Sorta grungy hard rock.

Anyone here into Disturbed ?

Nicky.

[erik]

NP Kansas / Leftoverture / Cheyenne Anthem
Before this played Point Of Know Return. Got this Kansas urge after discussing them here!

@ Steve Jones: thanks for your views on VDGG, looks like I must check out World Record and Quiet Zone/Pleasure Dome! VDGG is indeed an acquired taste, but it's worth the effort chewing on it for a while.  Intense stuff is well-put!

Anyone here into Disturbed ?

Don't really know them, but their cover of Land Of Confusion is pretty cool

Anyone else into Savatage ?  (I know Appy likes'm)

Have Dead Winter Dead in my collection, love that one

Agreed about the Marillion stuff, dear semi-namesake!

[Steve Jones]

looks like I must check out World Record and Quiet Zone/Pleasure Dome!

I see from your posts that you're into some of the earlier stuff, so you might not automatically go for the later stuff, but it's certainly worth a chew. 

Peter Hammill is one of my all-time favourite lyricists and there's some great stuff on World Record. 'Perfume coiled like a Thuggee scarf' from the track 'When She Comes' is one that's been stuck in my head for over 30 years now and just won't let go.  'Meurglys III (The Songwriter's Guild)' is one of the best VDGG tracks for me, and includes the following brooding:
"These days, I mainly just talk to plants and dogs,
all human contact seem painful, risky, odd."
It might not look much written down, but when Hammill wails and barks it at you I think it's incredible. 

NP: Japan - In Vogue.  A compilation, the only Japan I've got on CD. 

[Steve Jones]

Asia - Asia.

The overall sound of Asia has always been a little too lightweight and AOR/poppy for my tastes, although there's no denying the musicianship and quality of songwriting.  Perhaps that's why I prefer other versions, for example 'Heat of the Moment' is spine-tingling on the Steve Hackett 'Tokyo Tapes' DVD or CD.

A nice enough album, nonetheless, with some stonkin' Steve Howe guitar. 

[Steve Jones]

Asia - Alpha.

Lightweight sound or not, I still fancied playing another one.