Now Playing Thread

[Steve Jones]

Seems like I'm on my own in this thread today!

Renaissance - Turn of the Cards.

Having just gotten around to ripping the majority of my Renaissance CDs, this was the one I just had to play first as it features the anthemic 'Mother Russia'

[Iggy]

Beautiful Freak - Eels

[Iggy]

Wheel of Life - Karmakanic (thanks Mad)

[Bupie]

Megadeth - Youthanasia

I wanted to try Megadeth at least once but I also wanted to avoid their early thrash period. In this perspective,Youthanasia seemed to fit. Plus, it features a somewhat frightening but also brilliant artwork from the Master of Covers, Mister Hugh Syme. Last but not least, I got a used copy on the web for 3,50 €  

So, what's the result ? So far, about the end of my first listen, I find it rather pleasant. It's heavy, indeed, but melodic enough with a very clear sound. Of course, Dave Mustaine is not the best singer in the world but it doesn't prevent me from enjoying the songs. Even apart from the power ballad A Tout Le Monde, which is purposely catchy, I find interesting things in each track. And no thrash in sight ...  

[Nicky007]

Seems like I'm on my own in this thread today!

Yeah, I couldnt get onto the internet yesterday - maybe I havent paid the bill - so I'm over at Cop Main Library now. Luckily my e-mail worked 

Just took a stack of metal cd's that I'l be loaning. I'l tell ya guys if I find anything special 

Queensrÿche's debut is among'm, so I'm eager to check it out 

So let's dig back and see if there's anything that you guys have written that makes my blood boil - or my b*s itch 


NP  Queensrÿche:  The Warning

So far only Roads To Madness has really gripped me 

... but let's see, Q are real slow burners 

Nicky.

[maddox]

So far only Roads To Madness has really gripped me 

What about NM 156 and No Sanctuary?
I find those two pretty interesting tracks to say the least.

[Nicky007]

I'm also conducting the Great Stout Experiment (which is why I'm being foolish enough to post at this hour).  In the interest of science, I bought 4-packs of draught cans of both Guinness and Murphy's (and no, I don't intend to consume all of them tonight).  After careful consideration, our panel of judges (all of whom happen to be me) ...

... have reached the following determination:  Guinness does indeed kick the arse of Murphy's, however, as the esteemed Mr. Jones indicated, Murphy's ain't half bad and will do in a pinch.

OK, for once a useful poll, and obviously well researched  


As to our running Q-discussion, I find OM I exciting, both in lyrics and music, but till now, strangely, my finger hasnt gone to the repeat button  

Otoh on Rage, I got seriously stuck on Remember, Infrared, and London (fortunately I work in a warehouse for orthopaedic thingies, so I found a bandage for my finger)  

... on The Warning, there is Roads To Madness,

... on OM II, If I Could Change It All,

... on Promised Land, Lady Jane,

... and on Q2k, The Right Side Of My Mind.

So guys, if you're in this adventure with me, then try out these songs  

I'm sure there are more, but I have to run the albums more. I'v lent out Empire and PL, so it's gonna last a while with them  

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

But I really don't care what the genre they're in is called. If I like the music it's okay with me. It happens that my favourite music is often described with the term prog-metal, so when I people ask me what my favourite music is I'll mention prog-metal. But it might as well be called <insert any genre>, as long as I like it, it's fine.

I agree fully with you there, Tom 

We had a similar discussion earlier, but I think I can sharpen my argument now:  People who are busy putting tags onto groups and their music and labelling albums good/bad etc are usually not real music lovers, and often make money outta their tagging, or seek unmerited attention.

So guys, let me hear what ya think of my new great theory, let's call it "The Faggy-Taggy Theory" 

Oh and I don't really have a definition of the term prog-metal, you better ask Nicky!

Thanks for yer confidence, Tommy 

"Progmetal" "progrock/prog" and "rock" are pretty much the only tags I use in this broccolibowl.

Rock would include everything that rocks at least as much as Robbie Williams' Feel and Michael Jackson's Beat It, also slow stuff like Floyd's Comfortably Numb.

Prog I use about a group and its albums if I experience them as serious musicians constantly exerting themselves to find new expression in their music and lyrics.

Progmetal I use about Contagion and Pepper's Ghost and everything that's progressive and as heavy as or heavier than these albums.


So guys, a couple more b*s for ya to catch. Let's hear yer opinions 

Nicky.

[Steve Jones]

Just: The Verve - The Verve EP
Now: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication

[Steve Jones]

Just: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Live at Montreux 1982
Now: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Live at Montreux 1985

[Teunis]

John Wetton - Rock of Faith

[Manatee]

NP: Rewiring Genesis - A Tribute to The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

You guys are a bad influence.   

[Steve Jones]

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Texas Flood

[Manatee]

Terria - Devin Townsend

This needs to be given the obligatory 

R.E.M. - Document

It's time those herons were disturbed again...

Indeed, otherwise they get overweight, and there's nothing worse than a houseful of chubby herons.

R.E.M. - Up.

For me, this is the opposite end of the R.E.M. spectrum to the mighty 'Document'.  I couldn't get into it when it came out, and I can't get into it now

Sadly, I must agree.  For me, this marked the end of the string of indispensable R.E.M. albums (well Monster wasn't quite up to standards either, but it still had a lot of good stuff).  Daysleeper is a great song, but other than that, I don't play this one much.  I'm not sure Document is my favorite R.E.M. album, although it's a contender.  There are five or six great ones that I can't really choose between.   

Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Texas Flood

I've always been on the fence about SRV.   I like blues quite a lot, and there's no denying his talent.  My disappointment is that he didn't seem to come up with many really memorable songs.  If he's playing, I'll listen, but I usually don't go out of the way to hear him since there just aren't a lot of his songs that I just have got to hear.


re Rewiring Genesis:  This certainly is a mind-bender.  Well played, vocals obviously sound different -- I think it will take multiple plays before I decide whether I love it or just feel boggled by it.   To me the vocals sound sort of like James LaBrie would sound if he could actually sing (here's where I have to start dodging rotten tomatoes).   

[Steve Jones]

I'm not sure Document is my favorite R.E.M. album, although it's a contender.  There are five or six great ones that I can't really choose between.   

Quite, it's only one of mine really.  However, more often than not it's the one I'll instinctively reach for because of The One I Love/End of the World/Oddfellows.

If he's playing, I'll listen, but I usually don't go out of the way to hear him since there just aren't a lot of his songs that I just have got to hear.

Well, that's blues for you

To me the vocals sound sort of like James LaBrie would sound if he could actually sing (here's where I have to start dodging rotten tomatoes).   

Don't worry.  You lot gave us Bud, The Waltons and George W Bush.  We're not really paying attention any more

[Manatee]

Well, that's blues for you

True, blues isn't known for its great variety, although Stevie Ray got so much hype over here that I was hoping for some sort of blues masterwork.

Don't worry.  You lot gave us Bud, The Waltons and George W Bush.  We're not really paying attention any more

For some reason I found the Waltons pleasant, although I can offer no excuse for the other two.  For the record though, Canada gets the blame for LaBrie (sorry to throw a friendly neighbor under the bus, but facts are facts).

[Steve Jones]

Joan Armatrading - Walk Under Ladders.

Not very prog, I'll admit, but some ace tunes and memorable contributions from Sly & Robbie

[Steve Jones]

Semisonic - Feeling Strangely Fine.

I didn't think it was possible to have this many perfect songs on one album.

[Manatee]

Semisonic - Feeling Strangely Fine.

I didn't think it was possible to have this many perfect songs on one album.

I recently ripped that one too, and I had a vague feeling that it was a slightly embarrassing purchase, but indeed, when you play it, it's quite good.   

Renaissance - Turn of the Cards.

Having just gotten around to ripping the majority of my Renaissance CDs, this was the one I just had to play first as it features the anthemic 'Mother Russia'

Dammit, Steve.  All my Renaissance is on vinyl.  This is going to get expensive.


NP: Devin Townsend - Ziltoid the Omniscient (Deluxe Edition for hapless addicts)

My other new arrival and probably the only thing that's a threat to scramble my brains more than the Tommy Dorsey version of The Lamb.

[Steve Jones]

I recently ripped that one too, and I had a vague feeling that it was a slightly embarrassing purchase, but indeed, when you play it, it's quite good.   

'Quite good'   I think Dan Wilson (if that's his name) is a songwriting genius.  I've played that one to death on the trusty iPod in recent years, especially on the train home if it's a sunny evening.  The upbeat songs perfectly reflect the feeling I get when the train leaves the urban sprawl of the Black Country behind and makes the final dash across the Shropshire countryside.  Home for tea & biscuits!

Dammit, Steve.  All my Renaissance is on vinyl.  This is going to get expensive.

I replaced all of mine around 7 years ago.  To be honest I don't enjoy the band anywhere near as much as I did back in the 70s.

[Manatee]

'Quite good'   I think Dan Wilson (if that's his name) is a songwriting genius.  I've played that one to death on the trusty iPod in recent years, especially on the train home if it's a sunny evening.  The upbeat songs perfectly reflect the feeling I get when the train leaves the urban sprawl of the Black Country behind and makes the final dash across the Shropshire countryside.  Home for tea & biscuits!

I like it a lot, but I can't say he strikes me as so good as to match the unrivaled King of All Quirky Pop-Rock, Rivers Cuomo (Lord Weezer).


Ziltoid update - The first few songs of this album are so weird that they make most of Devin's other stuff seem like <fill in the unimaginative band of your choice, e.g.,  Nickelback>.

[maddox]

Tick - Tock

[Steve Jones]

Tick - Tock

Somebody lend this guy another CD

[Steve Jones]

I like it a lot, but I can't say he strikes me as so good as to match the unrivaled King of All Quirky Pop-Rock, Rivers Cuomo (Lord Weezer).

Swings and roundabouts.  While Weezer have made more songs that I rate highly, Semisonic have crammed more on to one single album.  Feeling Strangely Fine is one of my all-time classics

<fill in the unimaginative band of your choice, e.g.,  Nickelback>.

Oi!  I quite like Nickelback! 

[Manatee]

Oi!  I quite like Nickelback! 

I find them bland, but if they cover Planet Smasher or Tall Latté, I'll consider giving them another shot.