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[maddox]

Tool - Reflection

[Nicky007]

Not true.

Well, everybody of my generation. It's a well-known song, and for a good reason: It's a great song. Jeff Buckley's version is simply out of this world. Rufus Wainwright does it nicely too. I'l check up PoS' version shortly - pretty curious - it's probably weirder.

Hey guys, since you were talking about Queensrÿche (have only their first EP and it's, hum, ), could I have your take on Fates Warning ?

Bupsie, as Fates Warning is one of my fave bands (as Claus said: "That's not a lonely place to be"  - well, aint it great that there are so many groups that are worthy of being in a pantheon  ), I guess I should comment:

My fave FW album is A Pleasant Shade Of Gray, and I think that you'l enjoy it too. It's moderately heavy, rather slow actually, atmospheric, lots of keyboards (well, trust Kevin Moore, he's not gonna be some wallpaper), pensive and wistful, a middle-aged man (like us, Bups) looking back at his turbulent life, won and lost women (that's iac somethin for you, Bups). And Ray Alder is some powerhouse of a singer 

It's also rendered live on FW's double-cd Still Life, heavier, together with some great older songs - also recommended.

In general, I'd say that all albums by FW are great, so you can start anywhere with them. Aint that right, Mad ?

If you wanna have recoms of good albums by good prog groups, you can always check my pantheon. I'v listed my fave albums first.


NP  OM I & II  (on repeat)

Simultanously? Does it work THAT good?

You scallywag !  (I just learnt a new word) 

This stuff is sooooo good 

"I'v lived a violent life
I might as well be dead
I just wanna sleep forever
And forget ... forget."



Nicky.

[The Butterfly Man]

I don't know what it is, but for some reason I can't really get into Queensrÿche. I have Operation: Mindcrime and that is an album I like, although I rarely listen to it. But other QR-albums I've heard so far didn't really impress me. Is Operation: Mindcrime II as good as (or better than) Operation: Mindcrime? I've read a couple of reviews that didn't really persuade me to buy it but if I have to believe Nicky I'm missing out tremendously...

NP: Metallica - Death Magnetic (I'm becoming predictable, I know...)

Tom

[Bupie]

Thanks for your comments on FW, Nicky. I do have to try them ... and so many other bands, like Circus Maximus, Sieges Even, Blind Guardian, etc 

I don't know what it is, but for some reason I can't really get into Queensrÿche. I have Operation: Mindcrime and that is an album I like, although I rarely listen to it. But other QR-albums I've heard so far didn't really impress me. Is Operation: Mindcrime II as good as (or better than) Operation: Mindcrime? I've read a couple of reviews that didn't really persuade me to buy it but if I have to believe Nicky I'm missing out tremendously...

I was so disappointed by their first LP, that sounded to me like some third division (at best) NWOB-though they are American-HM, that I didn't even try Operation Mindcrime despite all the praise around it.

My biggest concern with some bands is the singer's voice when it belongs to a too high pitched/screaming type (i.e. James LaBrie on some songs of SFAM). That's what prevents me from appreciating huge bands like Lep Zeppelin, Deep Purple or Helloween to name a few 

And I'm afraid that Queensrÿche and Fates Warning have this kind of singer (although I never heard a Fates Warning song).

JP   The Jam - Sounds Affects (bought the CD a few days ago)
      Squeeze - East Side Story (bought the CD a few years go)
NP  Whitesnake - 1987 (hmm, what did I just write about high pitched voices ?)

[johninblack]

JP   The Jam - Sounds Affects (bought the CD a few days ago)
 

Fantastic album that, one of my favourites, other than Setting Sons and All Mod Cons......

[Bupie]

Fantastic album that, one of my favourites, other than Setting Sons and All Mod Cons......

I agree, it's so diverse and perfectly crafted. It provides a wide range of musical tones and emotions. I had not listened to it for more than twenty years but all the songs came back clearly to my memory at first note. Strangely, until last week, I only had two live albums of The Jam on cd's, no studio album. Only a few vinyles left in a case. I am going to fix that soon.

NP Dream Theater - Images and Words   

[Bupie]

NP UFO - Obsession

Track : Ain't No Baby  Aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh, just too good to be true 

[Nicky007]

Guys, I'd definitely call "Operation: Mindcrime" I & II masterpieces, albums that have contributed substantially to defining prog, and therefore albums that any proggie worthy of his/her name should own and delve into. With these two albums, it's especially important to get into the story and lyrics, altho several of the songs can stand their ground alone  

Queensrÿche are a very special group - well, any hard-working prog group gradually carves out their own very special niche - and quite different from most of the other groups that we roomies indulge in. Maybe initially I'd say that what grips me in Q's music is a bit the same as with Ten: These are very mature groups where the prog lies in the subleties. So they're groups where you really have to do some close listening for a long time before the treasures reveal themselves.

And "If I Could Change It All" (Track 13 on OM II) is one of the greatest moments in rock, particularly if you're into the story  - aint that right, Jonesy ?

For me, lyrics are a strong indicator. If I can see a lot of intelligence there, I usually end up finding it in the music too  

But I'l return with more.


Bupsie, re the singers, Geoff Tate sings mainly in a lower pitch now than on the first Q albums.

FW replaced their singer after the first three albums. I find their present singer Ray Alder (from 1988 on) one of the best singers around. He also sings on the second and third Redemption albums  

That's what prevents me from appreciating huge bands like Lep Zeppelin ....

Interesting, Bups. Maybe it's those ten years difference. When I was a teenager, and Zep I & II came out (with a short interval), it was a big moment in rock history 

NP: Metallica - Death Magnetic (I'm becoming predictable, I know...)

Me too:

NP  OM I & II

Nicky.

[Steve Jones]

Queensryche recommendation:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Operation-Mindcrime-Deluxe-DVD-Queensryche/dp/B000FO6FAA/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1233921883&sr=1-8
A much cherished package here at Jones Towers.  Remastered version of Mindcrime (the first one), a live recording of Mindcrime (not the same as the Operation LIVECrime CD) plus a DVD of videos, making-of stuff, etc    The DVD is actually 'Video:Mindcrime' which was originally out on VHS tape back in pre-historic times, when dinosaurs and large cans of hairspray stalked the earth! 

Fates Warning recommendation:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/PLEASANT-SHADE-GREY-Fates-Warning/dp/B000I8OFJG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1233921929&sr=1-3
Great album, plus the bonus DVD includes the whole of APSOG played live from start to finish.  I was much pleased when I bought this one

NP: AC/DC - '74 Jailbreak.

[Nicky007]

NP  E.L.O.:  A New World Record

One of my oldtime faves.

Here the lyrics aint much, but the music sure is 

Nicky.

[Iggy]

NP  E.L.O.:  A New World Record

One of my oldtime faves.

Here the lyrics aint much, but the music sure is 

Nicky.

I have it on vinyl but alas not on CD

[Steve Jones]

Bad Company - Straight Shooter.

[Nicky007]

I have it on vinyl but alas not on CD

I have the remastered cd from 2006. It's excellent - trust the perfectionist Jeff Lynne - and lives fully up to my expections 

There's of course some bonus material, nothing of which I find particularly interesting.

But who cares, Tightrope and Rockaria! do it 

Nicky.

[Iggy]

Candlemass - Nightfall

First play

[Steve Jones]

Just finished: AC/DC -High Voltage.
Now playing: Frost* - Experiments in Mass Appeal.

[Bupie]

Bupsie, re the singers, Geoff Tate sings mainly in a lower pitch now than on the first Q albums.

FW replaced their singer after the first three albums. I find their present singer Ray Alder (from 1988 on) one of the best singers around. He also sings on the second and third Redemption albums  

Interesting, Nicky, since I read a lot of (very) bad comments about Adler's singing 

Interesting, Bups. Maybe it's those ten years difference. When I was a teenager, and Zep I & II came out (with a short interval), it was a big moment in rock history 

I know that but, as you mention, I was a bit young to be involved in the process. But it doesn't prevent from enjoying other 70's acts deeply nowadays.

Thanks too for your tips, Steve 

[Steve Jones]

John Martyn - One World.

[Nicky007]

Interesting, Nicky, since I read a lot of (very) bad comments about Adler's singing 

This should do it, Bups:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwnofe5J2uM

A Pleasant Shade Of Gray, a great epic 

And with the marvellous Mark Zonder on drums 

Ray's really best in FW, altho also fine in Redemption and Engine 

Nicky.

[Teunis]

NP  E.L.O.:  A New World Record

One of my oldtime faves.

My favorite ELO album is 'Out Of The Blue'  .

I've been playing El Grupo - El Grupo live

[PH]

Marillion - Marbles

again

"Angelina" at the moment. It's a beautiful song.


-Paco

[maddox]

Seventh Wonder - Mercy Falls

Track: [02] There And Back

[Steve Jones]

Marillion - Season's End.

[maddox]

Time for another classic.

A Rather long classic.

Echolyn - Mei ~ 49.33 minutes.

[Steve Jones]

Bad Company - Here Comes Trouble.

[Steve Jones]

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath.