Now Playing Thread

[Manatee]

Could be worse.  At least that's a quick death.  You could force me to watch every Michael Jackson retrospective on television in the next year.

At any rate, I have high hopes for it.  After all, I went to the trouble to get the Racket version partly because you guys assured me that Ocean Cloud was essential.  If it turns out you were having a joke at my expense because it's really a New Kids on the Block cover, my wrath will be terrible indeed.

OK, you can't dance to it, so you're off the hook for now.  Thus far I'd say it (which is currently playing) and the album in general sound promising but way too subtle/complex to take in without multiple plays.  I felt that way about much of Afraid of Sunlight too and wound up liking the whole album, so no need to panic.   

[Steve Jones]

The Flower Kings - Instant Delivery

[Teunis]

Shadowland - Through The Looking Glass

[Steve Jones]

Just: Be Bop Deluxe - Drastic Plastic
Now: Be Bop Deluxe - Live! in the Air Age

[Manatee]

NP: Marillion - Marbles

I awoke this morning to the sound of power tools outside (this happens a lot in the summer) with 'The Return of the Giant Hogweed' in my head.  Imagine my dismay upon recalling that I haven't done vinyl replacement on Nursery Cryme yet!     On the upside, it appears my subconscious knows the whole song by heart.   

[Nicky007]

Lunatic Soul - Lunatic Soul

Ditto 

Quite nice, but a bit much ambient. I think I prefer the more hard-driving sound of Riverside.

Nicky.

[Teunis]

Neal Morse - Lifeline
Lunatic Soul - Lunatic Soul

np: Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet

[Steve Jones]

Roine Stolt - The Flower King

[The Butterfly Man]

NP: Karnivool - Themata

Excellent!

Tom

[The Butterfly Man]

NP: Karnivool - Sound Awake

From Last.fm: Karnivool is a five-piece progressive rock group from Perth, Australia. Their music style is a combination of melodic progressive rock and alternative rock, with alternative metal influences. Major influences of the band are Nirvana, Meshuggah, Tool and Carcass. Capturing a perfect blend of both melodic beauty and heavy, spine-bending rock, Karnivool will appeal to anyone who desires a truly unique sound.

I think this will at least make some of you curious...

Tom

[Steve Jones]

Ritual - The Hemulic Voluntary Band

A mighty CD

[Steve Jones]

Opeth - Damnation

Also pretty mighty!

[Manatee]

NP: Genesis - Trespass

Mighty and mighty old.

NP: Karnivool - Sound Awake

From Last.fm: Karnivool is a five-piece progressive rock group from Perth, Australia. Their music style is a combination of melodic progressive rock and alternative rock, with alternative metal influences. Major influences of the band are Nirvana, Meshuggah, Tool and Carcass. Capturing a perfect blend of both melodic beauty and heavy, spine-bending rock, Karnivool will appeal to anyone who desires a truly unique sound.

I think this will at least make some of you curious...

I caught some of their stuff from Themata on Pandora.  I gave them the thumbs up.   

[Nicky007]

NP  Enslaved:  Vertebrae 

I agree, Iggy, there aint that much that reminds me of Floyd either, mainly one song that has quite some Meddle atmosphere; and the first two tracks are rather growly and seem rather regular black metal, at least on first runs; but then come some tracks of very unusual beauty and variation.

Very original group this is, both their music and lyrics, and mature too: They'r very tight and can quickly change moods.

The groups they remind me of are mainly Opeth, Scar Symmetry, Riverside, and yes, some Floyd too. Quite a range !

I find myself very much gripped by this music, and there is a lot of depth to it.

"In the void of chaos life endures
In the gap of creation, the ancient wisdom breathes"

- Enslaved: Vertebrae (first words on album, track Clouds)

Vertebrae is indeed a fine album

Nice to share, Funkster 


JP  Eddie Vedder:   Into the Wild

A wonderful album 

Anyone who likes Eddie's singing should get this.

As I apprehend from the booklet, he pretty much plays everything himself, even the percussion.

Just: Riverside - ADHD
Now: Nevermore - Enemies of Reality

Altho there is less alphabetic proximity, I like that one better, Jonesy 

Looks like you'r playin a lot of Nevermore these days 

Now we just need to get Iggy, Tom, and Mad turned on. Seems like Warrel's singing requires quite some adaption 

Nicky.

[Teunis]

Ayreon - Actual Fantasy Revisited (5.1 version) 

[Iggy]

Np Archive #1 - Genesis via Spotify

[Manatee]

JP  Eddie Vedder:   Into the Wild

A wonderful album 

Anyone who likes Eddie's singing should get this.

As I understand, he pretty much plays everything himself, even the percussion.

Solo Eddie. Interesting, haven't come across that before.  I'll have to try to grab a listen somewhere.

NP: morow.com

Again I say, what a great station!

Heard songs from more bands I need to check out now: The Watch, Quidam (another good Polish prog band that's been around longer than Riverside?), and Lana Lane (who I know has fans here).

Interesting tidbit. I got around to doing my pre-order of ADHD (4 days to go in North America), and I found something that's either funny, great, or sad, possibly all of the above: It Bites - The Tall Ships is now available in North America for pre-order!  I'ts good that it's getting released here, but crikey, how long has it been out in Europe, over a year?

[Nicky007]

Solo Eddie. Interesting, haven't come across that before.  I'll have to try to grab a listen somewhere.

It's the music he made for the film "Into The Wild". Great movie too 

I never understood why Eddie stays with Pearl Jam. With his talent, he could do groundbreaking things with a more progressive band / musicians 

With him, money can't be the main reason 

... and Lana Lane (who I know has fans here).

I'v actually only really heard her singing on Gary Hughes's Once And Future King (as Guinevere), but that's nothing short of amazing 

So yes, despite her tussle with Arjen, as an artist, I consider her a great singer 

Nicky.

[Manatee]

I never understood why Eddie stays with Pearl Jam. With his talent, he could do groundbreaking things with a more progressive band / musicians 

With him, money can't be the main reason 

Nope, I'm sure he can make money with his own name.  Personally, I like Pearl Jam a lot, but I do think their best stuff came early.

NP: (via morow.com) Dream Theater - Metropolis (live, just the one song)

See, I'm keeping an open mind.   

[Nicky007]

See, I'm keeping an open mind.   

At first glance, yes, but if you would really like to get into DT, I suggest that you choose some more accessible pieces than Metropolis. (This goes for both Parts 1 & 2.)

How about trying some of the songs on my SO-list ?  That's what it's for (partly) 

I'm sure that if you played The Count Of Tuscany, you'd be as enraptured as I. Even Jamie is amazing on this one.

OK, Greenie, let's make a deal:  You listen thrice to The Count. (Count to three.) If you aint thrilled afterwards, I promise (like A.O. Scott) that I'l blow up my car - not that I have a car, but I can blow up yours instead 

Nicky.

[Manatee]

At first glance, yes, but if you would really like to get into DT, I suggest that you choose some more accessible pieces than Metropolis. (This goes for both Parts 1 & 2.)

How about trying some of the songs on my SO-list ?  That's what it's for (partly) 

I'm sure that if you played The Count Of Tuscany, you'd be as enraptured as I. Even Jamie is amazing on this one.

OK, Greenie, let's make a deal:  You listen thrice to The Count. If you aint thrilled afterwards, I promise (like A.O. Scott) that I'l blow up my car - not that I have a car, but I can blow up yours instead 

Nicky.

I'll try to get a listen or 3 of that one then.  For the record, I thought the instrumental part at the beginning of Metropolis was really good.  When the vocals came in I was, as usual, not impressed.  The later instrumental parts I thought were good in places and excessively noodly in others.

Please don't blow up my car.  My last one got sideswiped by a tour bus in Manhattan, and I'd like to keep this one for a while (especially since I'm not in a good financial position to buy another one right now).

[Manatee]

JP: Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Linings - 6. The Count of Tuscany (courtesy of some kid who used it to demonstrate his virtuosity at some guitar video game on YouTube -- but the music is the actual DT recording)

I gotta give you this one, Nicky.  Excellent song.  While I wouldn't say James is awesome on it, he manages not to ruin it, which is fortunate since it really is quite good -- as in, I will listen to it again without being nagged. 

[Steve Jones]

Ozric Tentacles - Live Ethereal Cereal

One of the earlier recordings released on cassette tape, so the sound quality is pretty naff even on more recent CD re-releases.  Still worth the odd listen, though

[aswas]

Starcastle Song of Times. Regardless of what people think about them, Track 3 (the only track Gary Strater didn't play on) is a nice tribute to Gary, dealing with his passing. It was written in 2004 by Gary. Some decent tracks on the cd.

Before this, IQ  the Seventh House

[The Butterfly Man]

NP: Marillion - Marillion.com

Tom