Now Playing Thread

[Steve Jones]

Am I the only one that doesn't have it yet ? I had pre-ordered it on Amazon but they could not deliver before early July so I cancelled

Well I thought I was the only one, but as I got it on the day of release I guess I shouldn't complain.

I used to pre-order everything with Amazon because the service was exceptionally good and it was so easy.  But in the last year or so more and more titles went straight on to back-order even when you'd pre-ordered it, which I found really annoying.  So they lost my business for pre-orders and I'll only order something now if it shows as actually in stock.  The new Dream Theater album was an exception to this as someone sent me an Amazon gift voucher, so I thought I might as well use it.  Even so, I notice the single CD version of the album went straight to "Usually dispatched within 7 to 10 days" so I guess I was lucky!

NP: Deep Purple - Purpendicular

[Teunis]

Jadis - Somersault

[maddox]

Shadow Gallery ~ Carved In Stone

[Steve Jones]

Opeth - Deliverance.

I'm concerned about the absence of Manatee, last seen heading off to celebrate the Summer Solstice in some pagan enclave.  I do hope he's not been ritually sacrificed by the Pennsylvegans

[Iggy]

Oh yes - completely blew me away!  I don't much care for US Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV stuff, but BSG is a whole different ballgame - awesome
I see the complete thing is coming soon on Blu-Ray for a ridiculously large amount of money.  Once the price drops to less stellar levels I'm having me one of those


NP: Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings

I've been meaning to ask. Is there a big difference between normal DVD's and Blue Ray? Can you really tell the difference?

NP Black Clouds and silver Linings again.

I find it very familiar even though it is new. I don't find much ground breaking material here.

[erik]

NP Aragon - Rocking Horse (and other short stories from the past)

For once, I really disagree substantially with you, Erik:  True, Tony's sound is an essential part of Genesis, but in my analysis, Phil's personal vicissitudes, and his ensuing need for confirmation, dominated the direction Genesis took, in a commercial direction - let's face it: They sold out.

The era from Foxtrot to Duke is the essential Genesis era, Foxtrot being still somewhat raw compared to the mature masterpiece Selling England, and Duke being at the transition from a true seeking progressive band to a band that wanted to aggregate fans and play stadiums (and play golf).

Interestingly, Ray Wilson had some hopes of getting Genesis back on the right track, but since he matched Tony and Mike so badly, who seem to have been quite complacent with their now celebrity status, the album turned out rather perfunctory.

And this aint pure speculation:  When I hear their self-titled album, I'm simply bored, I regard it as a duty to listen more to it (while Abacab still grips me here and there), and Cryme is a bit too raw to grip me (and the guys needed an album to get to know each other), while pretty much everything from Selling England to Duke has become pure bliss to me.

OK, guys, let me have it now   

Actually, I agree with you (Nicky) that Phil eventually dragged the band into being mostly pop and not so proggy.  While I am obviously a Tony Banks fan, I think his influence began to wane after Wind and Wuthering.  His thinking (and Mike's too) may have shifted as well (which could be either good or bad with proggers) since I noticed that his solo stuff (The Fugitive) was not nearly as complex as I was expecting, and Mike + the Mechanics is basically not prog at all.  I may disagree with you as to which albums on the fringes of the "core" period are "essential," but we all have our favorites.  I think the early ones you found a bit raw were possibly their best, but then I like that kind of raw, which is, I think, what draws me to PG's early solo stuff.  And while I think Duke and parts of Abacab are great, I do think Genesis were past their prime by then.

I knew this would stir some controversy  . Sure they changed and injected more pop into their sound, but I think throughout their career Genesis maintained a certain "genesisness" in their music, a certain quality and sound, of which Tony Banks chords and melodies are an important core ingredient. If you take We Can't Dance and Selling England and look with a bit more distance, you might say that I Can't Dance and I Know What I Like aren't a million miles apart, the ballads Hold On My Heart and More Fool Me aren't either and with Fading Lights we have a 90's equivalent of Firth Of Fifth. The more that things change, the more they stay the same. I don't think they simply sold out, they just wanted to do something different and therefore changed (and sure the smell of succes may have lured them a bit). I don't think that it's all Phil Collins' influence (although his solo career success will of course have had its impact); Mike and The Mechanics and most of Banks' solo stuff is hardly prog as Manatee correctly pointed out.

As for Duke and Abacab: Duke to me is a very fresh sounding transition album from the 70s to the 80s and a big step forward after And Then There Were Three, on which they were obviously struggling after Hackett's departure. Duke is a cherished album that I've come to appreciate more and more. Abacab I think is an amazing album and definitely progressive, they totally reinvented themselves with a bold new and leaner sound.

Their eponymous album and Invisible Touch have aged less well. Mike Rutherford always says his favourite album is "Side A Of Genesis", side B is B sides material indeed. With the best stuff from the two you could have one great Genesis 80's album. Too bad they called it quits after Calling All Stations, because I really liked the direction they were taking with that one, a bit darker and slightly heavier, especially the great title track.

Thanks guys btw for the PT/Deadwing feedback, I'll be a good boy and reconsider!

And Nicky, thanks also for the Cornell/Euphoria Morning recom, looks like I have to check it out, I'll start with the links in your earlier post that I missed at the time.

[Steve Jones]

I've been meaning to ask. Is there a big difference between normal DVD's and Blue Ray? Can you really tell the difference?

My God yes, much sharper and more detail.  If you can't tell the difference you need a dog and a stick

Also, there's whizzy fly-out menus over the picture which makes navigation a lot easier.  The only real drawback has been the price of discs, but you can get 3 for around £20 from Amazon at the moment (selected titles only) so it's heading in the right direction.  Also the odd title such as Rush S&A live was cheaper than the DVD version anyway.


NP: Coldplay - LeftRightLeftRightLeft

[Bupie]

JF Midnight Oil - 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1

I bought it recently (I only had it on vinyl), thanks to the song title game topic  that reminded me of it, and boy, what a slap in the face. All the songs came back to my memory at first notes and I now clearly remember what a deep impact this album made on me at the time of its release. Ten songs, ten gems    Buy it, load it, steal it if necessary but LISTEN to it : it is a vital recommendation for your own musical sanity.

For the anecdote, this album had two singularities : first, it was one the first albums carrying an openly ecological message ; second, it produced one of the rare (unique ?) hit single including a (rather long) drum solo with Power And The Passion.

NP Dream Theater - Black Clouds

I have only listened to the first song so far but the first Rudess solo (on three in one song ) made me cringe : his keyboards seem to scream "outside producer, outside producer"    Even non veggies take some fat off their meat sometimes  Too bad because the song could be great with something like a five minutes cut-off. I hope that further listens and the rest of the album will make me change my mind 

Edit : Now I have listened to three songs and I am starting to get thrilled. AROP is a neat metal song with a nice chorus, in the line of Constant Motion but probably better. Wither is a power ballad, a bit in the style of Forsaken but more AOR than nu metal, and waaaay better than Forsaken. At first listen, I like it a lot  I also notice that James is doing a great job. Too bad that it is almost impossible to hear the bass lines. Anyway, hope is coming back  Complete review to follow in the dedicated thread.

[Nicky007]

Abacab I think is an amazing album and definitely progressive, they totally reinvented themselves with a bold new and leaner sound.

Thanks, Erik. You're more of an expert on Genesis than I am, so I appreciate your comments on'm. I'l soon give Abacab some runs and try to see it in this light 

And Nicky, thanks also for the Cornell/Euphoria Morning recom

Welcome, Erik. I'm sure you'l be pleasantly surprised 

I'll start with the links in your earlier post that I missed at the time.

Looks like you'l be the only one. Pity 

Pennsylvegans

That only happens if ya don't drink enuff Guinnesses 

I'v noticed your umlaut, Jönesy 


Played:

Cure:  Disintegration and Wish

I got these two albums some time ago on the basis of several Amazon reviews. I can see that there are very genuine moods on these albums, but the music's too monotonous for my temperament. I'l try to put them on again some time when Ms and I are lounging. Maybe they'l grow 

Anyone into Cure ?


Iced Earth:  Something Wicked, Pts 1 & 2

Much more to my taste. Not so experimental in terms of changing signatures and complex passages, but good solid metal with top musicianship and some special twists and moods here and there, and an intriguing, quite philosophical, storyline that I don't quite get (yet).

Recommended to heavy roomies 

Nicky.

[Bupie]

Played:

Cure:  Disintegration and Wish

I got these two albums some time ago on the basis of several Amazon reviews. I can see that there are very genuine moods on these albums, but the music's too monotonous for my temperament. I'l try to put them on again some time when Ms and I are lounging. Maybe they'l grow 

Anyone into Cure ?

I really liked their first two albums, especially Seventeen Seconds that has got great songs like A Forest (I should consider buying the cd edition since it's another "vinyl only" in my collection). Strongly recommended to ... everybody. I completely lost interest in their music past the mid-eighties.

Iced Earth:  Something Wicked, Pts 1 & 2

Much more to my taste. Not so experimental in terms of changing signatures and complex passages, but good solid metal with top musicianship and some special twists and moods here and there, and an intriguing, quite philosophical, storyline that I don't quite get (yet).

Don't know them but they have a cool (pun intended) name 

NP Still Black Clouds ... In the middle of The Count Of Tuscany right now. The Best Of Times was really HUGE at first listen ... at the exception of the fade-out outro

[Nicky007]

Don't know them but they have a cool (pun intended) name 

They're probably at the upper limits of your heavy tolerance, Bupsie, but I can't be sure. If you wanna try'm, then I suggest you get Part 1 of Something Wicked, "Framing Armageddon", as Tim "Ripper" Owens sings on this one, and it seems to me more melodic than Part 2. I like Ripper's singing far more than Matt Barlow's, who sings on Part 2.


NP  DT:  Falling Into Infinity

There are some real nice songs on this one, and some mediocre ones. One really feels that the guys were being pressed into a radio-friendly mold. Fortunately they freed themselves and then made Six Degrees, a heck of an album, and the first of the DT we know today, the flagship of progmetal 

Nicky.

[Manatee]

Opeth - Deliverance.

I'm concerned about the absence of Manatee, last seen heading off to celebrate the Summer Solstice in some pagan enclave.  I do hope he's not been ritually sacrificed by the Pennsylvegans

You're not far off, actually.  I was somewhat sacrificed to a young, attractive (albeit overly tattooed) unwed mother, although sadly, not entirely in the way that Nicky (and I) prefer.  Other topics of hilarity included: what happens when hybrid cars decide to run on neither gas nor electricity, why my insane friends have roosters in their backyard (which, if you've had a bit much to drink the prior evening, are probably the most annoying critters on the planet), my recruitment of my friends' second daughter (not of age yet so hands off, despite carnivorous leaning) to be my official representative at college reunions so I won't get abused for not going, and a strange hairy guy who claimed to have just gotten out of prison, although those who knew him better later revealed that he is merely full of shite and not a recent detainee.

You can be happy that ya still have your * Greenie. Otoh I don't even know whether Manatees have a * 

We're mammals, so I believe we do.  Finding ladies who are turned on by motor boat propeller scars is another story.

And me too 

Sorry guys, I think me acquiring and posting said pictures would violate the benevolent pseudo-uncle by-laws, so you'll just have to wait for her to get drunk in public in front of that a**hole from Girls Gone Wild like everyone else.

Re: The Cure

I have a couple of albums, Nicky, but I wouldn't call myself a big fan or particularly expert in their catalog.  I'd say they have moments of brilliance, but you have to sift through a lot of less-than-fascinating stuff to get to it.  As you probably know, they aren't the least bit heavy, and it's debatable whether they're proggish, although they're certainly not plain vanilla radio-friendly music.

Replying to multiple posts at once is tiring, especially when some of them are Nicky's 8-parters, so I'll do another post if I find something else that I should reply to.

NP: Devin Townsend Project - Ki

This one still needs room to grow on me.  Kind of ironic, ain't it?

[Manatee]

How come everyone's got this apart from me?   I'd just like to take this opportunity to say you're a bunch of people of questionable lineage

I don't have it, but then, I don't want it.  I guess that means I'm of questionable taste rather than lineage.   

[Steve Jones]

I don't have it, but then, I don't want it.  I guess that means I'm of questionable taste rather than lineage.   

I couldn't possibly comment

my recruitment of my friends' second daughter (not of age yet so hands off)

Someone once said, "If there's grass on the wicket, let's play cricket."  But it wasn't me, your honour


NP: Be Bop Deluxe - Modern Music

[Steve Jones]

NP: Devin Townsend Project - Ki

This one still needs room to grow on me.

I bought it knowing it was atypical and now think it's a truly excellent album.  I'll be extremely surprised if it doesn't end up in my top ten of 2009.  I guess it was easier for me to bond with it, not having previous Devin experience, but I think it'd be an awful shame if it didn't fully click home with you at some point.  An utterly beautiful work, even the Elvis bit, with a wonderfully natural and dynamic sound quality that puts many other recent releases to shame.

Kind of ironic, ain't it?

No, that was Alanis

[maddox]

Dream Theater ~ Black Clouds & Silver Clouds

[PH]

Dream Theater ~ Black Clouds & Silver Clouds

But where are the linings, mad?

[Manatee]

Someone once said, "If there's grass on the wicket, let's play cricket."  But it wasn't me, your honour

I think I'll just assume I don't know what that means and let it go as another in a long line of British perversions.   

I bought it knowing it was atypical and now think it's a truly excellent album.  I'll be extremely surprised if it doesn't end up in my top ten of 2009.  I guess it was easier for me to bond with it, not having previous Devin experience, but I think it'd be an awful shame if it didn't fully click home with you at some point.  An utterly beautiful work, even the Elvis bit, with a wonderfully natural and dynamic sound quality that puts many other recent releases to shame.

I don't actively dislike it, but I've only found a few parts I've really connected with so far.  Still, that's not unusual with anything Devin does on the first several plays, so I'm not worried yet.  I think anyone who buys this is morally obligated to buy Physicist too just so they understand the degree to which he normally bashes one's head in.   

No, that was Alanis

Unlike Alanis, though, I actually know what the word means.   

In the car earlier: I determined that Mastodon is ideal for playing while in NYC traffic without actually having to ram someone.  And the more I play it, the more I think it sounds like very early Black Sabbath with an extra helping of virtuosity.  This is not a put-down.  I like Black Sabbath, especially the early stuff.

[Bupie]

JF The Tea Party - Transmission

NP John Wetton - Rock Of Faith

Difficult to connect those two albums. One features some tortured alternative/indus rock (maybe they had too much tea ?) and the other some gentle and unoffensive music since I wouldn't go as far as calling it rock (maybe they had not enough coffee ?). Hum, time to go to bed ...

[Bupie]

NP Steve Winwood - Junction Seven

I liked Arc Of A Diver or Talking Back To The Night very much but this one  Another album to put on the "sell back" list ...

[Steve Jones]

Just: Paatos - Kallocain
Now: Liquid Trio Experiment - Spontaneous Combustion

[erik]

NP  DT:  Falling Into Infinity
There are some real nice songs on this one, and some mediocre ones. One really feels that the guys were being pressed into a radio-friendly mold. Fortunately they freed themselves and then made Six Degrees, a heck of an album, and the first of the DT we know today, the flagship of progmetal 

Edit: Fortunately they freed themselves and then made Scenes From A Memory, a heck of an album, ...

Nicky, I know you prefer Six Degrees but you can't just skip Scenes, DT already freed themselves with Scenes. As I said before, they did what Marillion did, releasing their most poppy record company influenced album (Holidays In Eden) and then an ambitious stellar concept album (Brave). Six Degrees then is their Marbles, altough it took Marillion longer (and a few hit-and-miss albums) to get there

[Nicky007]

Edit: Fortunately they freed themselves and then made Scenes From A Memory ...

Right, Erik, I don't know why I'v become so careless - maybe old age, or maybe I'm too comfortable in the Room 


NP  DT:  Falling Into Infinity  (on repeat)

Actually, I'd now say that FII turns out to be a very fine album if one has the patience to get properly into it - as Jonesy also commented earlier. Yesterday I ended up playing it the whole day, some four times thru (with the necessary repeats).

The main problem imo is that the first two tracks are poor. In fact, I find New Millenium a lousy track - don't understand why they included it, and particularly why they chose it as first track. I'l probably skip it in the future.

Once you get past these two tracks, the album gets better and better. Track three, Peruvian Skies, is a Petrucci classic, and Hollow Years a Portnoy classic. Then comes Burning My Soul, which I find boring. The rest of the album is pure bliss.

And Master Petrucci has done some of his finest stuff on FII.

Guess I have to make the same effort with Scenes ..... 

However, Erik, I can't share your enthusiasm for H-Marillion. I'd say their music is too laid back for me. DT are far more hard-driving - I need that.

You're not far off, actually ....

Sounds like the Addams family 

If there's grass on the wicket, let's play cricket.

That was wicked, Jonesy 

Nicky.

[Bupie]

NP  DT:  Falling Into Infinity  (on repeat)

Actually, I'd now say that FII turns out to be a very fine album if one has the patience to get properly into it - as Jonesy also commented earlier. Yesterday I ended up playing it the whole day, some four times thru (with the necessary repeats).

The main problem imo is that the first two tracks are poor. In fact, I find New Millenium a lousy track - don't understand why they included it, and particularly why they chose it as first track. I'l probably skip it in the future.

It took me a few listens but I really enjoy New Millenium now. Quite unusual in DT's catalog but that can be seen as a quality and for once John Myung is put at the front 

Once you get past these two tracks, the album gets better and better. Track three, Peruvian Skies, is a Petrucci classic, and Hollow Years a Portnoy classic. Then comes Burning My Soul, which I find boring. The rest of the album is pure bliss.
Nicky.

I hated Burning My Soul at first. Now I won't say that I really like it but I don't feel the need to skip it. The only song that I really dislike -maybe the worst for me in all of DT's catalog- is Just Let Me Breathe  

NP Dream Theater - Black Clouds ...

I am completely reassured now    At this point, I think it might quickly seen at outclassing SC ...

[maddox]

But where are the linings, mad?

They got lost in between the images and words.