Now Playing Thread

[Nicky007]

Interesting stuff, Nicky.  Nice find.   

still 

Greenie

Catherine Wheel - Chrome

A personal favorite.  Sort of metal, sort of prog, maybe neither, but I like it.

I'l try'm out after my NP 

Truly a gifted musician.

Definitely 

They should'v taken him as guitarist and second singer


Played:

SyX:   V: The New Mythology Suite   Twilight in Olympus   The Divine Wings of Tragedy

I thoroughly enjoyed these albums. Great band 


Stride:  Bah Humbug

Merry Christmas

To:  All of you

From:  Stride & Friends



Metal lounge, the whole family can listen to this one 

I usually find the regular Christmas music cloying. Stride's Christmas album is very refreshing 


NP  The Ocean:  Precambrian

German (Berlin) avantgarde metal group 

E.g.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=q45ZuNJdUWI

There's a "surprise" (ala Haydn) halfway thru to call to order 

&  www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLCGIFoP-Io&feature=related

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

Andromeda:  The Words Unspoken (live) 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdlFyyI4t3I

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

NP  Queensrÿche:  Operation Mindcrime II

As I'm a man of few words, I'l just say 

Nicky.

[Iggy]

As I'm a man of few words, I'l just say 

NP Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape which arrived today 

[maddox]

NP Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape which arrived today 

It rocks, doesn't it?

[Nicky007]

I'l add one, just to prove my point: 

NP Seventh Wonder - The Great Escape which arrived today 

Yeah, sure lookin forward to gettin that one 


NP  Another great album:

Stride:  Imagine

E.g.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8jmRLMWRm4&feature=related

&  www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ_QHRXxg20

Iggy, if you'r not yet into these guys, then here it is 

Man, dig that guitar - Joel Gregoire 

Wonder what they'r up to, and when we'l get another album from them 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

Not much, but it will certainly allow me to expand my CD collection.

Then you should get some cd's by To-Mera.

Anyone who likes Haken, has got to like To-Mera. Not only do they share music, they share musicians, like Thomas MacLean, who "is a England born guitarist and bassist. He is most well known for being the guitarist in the progressive metal/jazz fusion band To-Mera, and also for being the bassist for the progressive metal band Haken," and Richard 'Hen' Henshall, who "is a British Progressive metal multi-instrumentalist. He is most well known for being the guitarist and keyboardist for the bands To-Mera and Haken. He has released one album with To-Mera and one album with Haken." - Wikipedia, Thomas MacLean and Richard Henshall

OK, To-Mera have a woman on lead vocals, Julie Kiss, but guys, Julie is a true prog musician, not a booby bimbo like in all those saloon metal groups.

E.g.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU26_Z5_YLo

&  www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_TOnXilfx8&feature=related

Shattering ... and beautiful, in turn 


NP  Queensrÿche:  American Soldier

Another masterpiece by Q 

Not surprising to me: In my eyes, Q is one of the leading prog groups in the world, in league with DT and SyX. Of course every single album by them is worthwhile.

It's beyond me that music lovers, even one-time fans, spend so much time battering these groups, and running down individual albums by them. Let's put things straight, guys: Any randomly chosen song by any of these three groups is far above the commercial crap that they play in the regular radio programs.

Tom, you'r much nicer than me (at least in the Room), and I know that you don't like it when I say things so drastically, but this is actually my honest opinion, based on tons of hours that I regret having wasted with, to my ears, miserable music. Maybe it's cuz I'm older than you guys, but I'v now decided to concentrate on what I consider is quality/progressive music.

And it doesn't need to be bang-bang music; I'm just as happy (when in the right mood) with a solemn song by Arena (with Rob singing), or one by Jeff Buckley and his band 

So help me God 

Nicky.

[Peter]

OK, To-Mera have a woman on lead vocals, Julie Kiss, but guys, Julie is a true prog musician, not a booby bimbo like in all those saloon metal groups.

E.g.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU26_Z5_YLo
&  www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_TOnXilfx8&feature=related

Great musicianship, from all of them, but what I'm missing a bit is the actual song.... yanno, the red line, it's not there for me, somehow...

[Teunis]

Gazpacho - Missa Atropos
Muse - The Resistance
Carptree - Nymf
Darkwater - Where Stories End

[Nicky007]

Great musicianship, from all of them, but what I'm missing a bit is the actual song.... yanno, the red line, it's not there for me, somehow...

I think I get what you mean, Cap.

Well, these musicians break with the traditional verse-bridge-refrain structure, it's more like with Dream Theater, you have some sung passages, some instrumental passages, with different moods, they segue into each other and are repeated (with different lyrics and/or embellishments), and the hope is that somehow it all builds up a wholeness, maybe even to a climax ( you know, like in  ) and fades out, which DT and To-Mera manage to do for me. Here I'd say that it's very much a matter of repeated listening.


NP  Watchtower  on  Yoututbe

Here even I am challenged in finding the "song" 

Any of you guys into Watchtower ?

Nicky.

[The Butterfly Man]

Tom, you'r much nicer than me (at least in the Room), and I know that you don't like it when I say things so drastically, but this is actually my honest opinion, based on tons of hours that I regret having wasted with, to my ears, miserable music.

Fair enough, I can't argue with your opinion. But I'm curious what music you listened before you got into prog. And please, don't mention Céline D. I've got an opinion on her music too...

NP: A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step

Tom

[Nicky007]

But I'm curious what music you listened before you got into prog.

Well, it all started with Céline ... 

OK, truth now, I'v basically had three periods in which I listened seriously to rock: from about 14- 19, 30-35, and 46-eternity.

Outside of those periods, I was into classical music (8-14, 28-32, also playing piano myself), new-age music, or no music at all.

It all started with a cover of "Puff, The Magic Dragon" by The Fabulous Four (a Swedish group way back in the 60's)  , then Simon & Garfunkel, and then Doors. Guess one could say that Doors got me seriously into rock. I was crazy about their album Waiting For The Sun. Then came Cream (that was my bro's work), Beatles' Abbey Road, Floyd, Santana, Zep, and many other groups that were up in those days. As I wrote earlier, there was a high degree of overlap between quality and popularity then - contrary to now.

When I was about thirty, one of my neighbors in the dormitory I was living in at the time got into QE2 by Mike Oldfield. Man, was he into it - and the volume too! First I fretted like hell and hollered at him to turn down the volume. He did for a while, and then the volume was up again. Guess what happened then ?  I too got crazy about QE2 (it's still one of my alltime faves, so much for neighbor sharing), and we became close friends - that is, my neighbor and I, I don't think that Mike O has ever heard about me    QE2 was supplemented with further Oldfield albums (of course), Manfred Mann's Earth Band (also due to my neighbor), Bruce Springsteen, and many other, I'd say, melodic rock groups at the time. My neighbor and I and other friends also went to many great concerts together during that period.

I was even into Michael Jackson for a while, and even attended a concert with him in Cop, but I don't think I'l talk about it 

Then there was a looong period with nooo rock music. I was moving around in spiritual circles, where the gospel was "Rock music is eeevil," or at least bad for your constitution 

I'v already told you guys a lot about the time when I ran into Ms 007, about ten years ago. Well, she started playing Yes for me (I had already encountered Going For The One ten years earlier and was crazy about it, and it still is one of my alltime faves), then I got gripped by Jon & Vangelis, then Ms also had some Zep albums, which I also drove her mad playing all the time, and the rest of the story is well known to senior Roomies.

Today I don't think that anyone who knows me even faintly can claim that I don't like rock music 

Nuff, Tom ? 


NP  To-Mera  on  YouTube 

Nicky.

[Bupie]

So it is a woman who led you to prog land ? And still you are so misogynist ? Hum, baffling   

NP Threshold - Subsurface

I am getting used to Threshold. I think of getting Clone to complete my "Mac's collection".

[Nicky007]

And still you are so misogynist ?

Just cuz I don't want boobs mixed into my music ?

Each thing in turn, and each equally enjoyable by itself 

And Bups, who's the Roomie promoting real talent among women ? - e.g. Julie Kiss, Natasha Shneider, Lana Lane, and Lisa Gerrard (all pantheon musicians with me)

I'm thinking of getting Clone to complete my "Mac's collection".

Clone is currently my fave Threshold album 


NP  Darkthrone:  Transilvanian Hunger

Norwegian black metal, a cult album from 1994 ... but somehow I don't get it 

As Cap would say: Where's the song ? 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

NP  Dark Suns:  Existence

Great stuff 

Thanx Tom 

Nicky.

[The Butterfly Man]

Nuff, Tom ? 

Yeah, interesting read!

I've got no story like that, I went with my dad to a Marillion-concert back in 1995 (when I was 9 years old!) and from then on I was infected with 'prog'. Actually, my exploration of other genres (like postrock, singer/songwriter) is something from the last few years.

NP: Kino - Picture

Tom

[Nicky007]

Yeah, interesting read!

Thanx Tom 

I just took a peek at your LP, and that gave me the impression that you mainly go for less heavy stuff than I. Aint that so ?  You make some excursions into BTBAM, Scar Symmetry, and Loomis, but you'r quickly drawn back to more moderate stuff. And very raw stuff like Nevermore and Deathspell Omega don't do anything for you.

That's also why you get more out of listening to groups like H-Marillion, Coldplay, and Muse than I do.

Am I right ? 


What music does your dad go for ?  Not cuz I'm into daddy here and daddy there, but I presume that your dad is about the same age as I 


Dark Suns:  Existence  (2. run)   

Actually some of it reminds me of the Swedish group Skyfire. I suppose noone else here knows'm. Guys, try these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp0-bNmC8Lg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ6Ef5soPV0&feature=related


Hey Tom, just saw that it's your birthday on Monday. Gotta figure out somethin - hm. OK, how about a dark sun ?  I'v studied physics at the Uni, so I should be able to fix a solar eclipse for ya 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

The Ocean:  Heliocentric, Track 2: Firmament

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLCGIFoP-Io&NR=1

I'm beginning to really like this group 

I havent yet understood what they'r singing about, cuz of the German accent and scream and growl, but I think it's about the creation of our planet and stuff 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

Bal-Sagoth:  Callisto Rising

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHg3XBBvcjU

Any of you guys heard about this group ?

Sorta Rhapsody with whisper and growl (instead of opera). Quite special 

"Bal-Sagoth was conceived in 1989 by Byron Roberts, in an attempt to form what he called 'A sublimely symphonic black/death metal band swathed in a concept of dark fantasy/science fiction and ancient myths & legends.' Inspired by such writers and artists as Robert E. Howard, H. P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, Edgar Rice Burroughs, J.R.R Tolkien and Jack Kirby, Byron set out to create his own dark fantasy universe, with tales told through epic lyrics and music." - Wikipedia, Bal-Sagoth

Nicky.

[Manatee]

Played:
Gazpacho - Tick Tock
Genesis - Selling England by the Pound

NP: Devin Townsend - Ocean Machine

[Nicky007]

Bal-Sagoth  on  YouTube

I guess because this is so British, it appeals to me a lot more than Rhapsody 

Iggy, Funky 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Today I was in a terrible 'old-school' mood.

I've played:

Anthrax ~ Spreading the Disease
Anthrax ~ Among the living
Anthrax ~ State of Euphoria

and ...

Megadeth ~ Rust in Peace

Curently I'm playing absolutely nothing.
Heard they were playing in town today so I thought to pay them a visit.

[Nicky007]

Currently I'm playing absolutely nothing.
Heard they were playing in town today so I thought I'd pay them a visit.

Must be a terribly boring town you live in, Mad 

Anthrax

Their old stuff doesnt do much for me, but some of the newer stuff, which is more Linkin Parkish, I find quite exciting 


NP  To-Mera:  Dreadful Angel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhvLPvhwKg4&NR=1

I'm enjoying this group as much as Haken now 

Nicky.

[The Butterfly Man]

I just took a peek at your LP, and that gave me the impression that you mainly go for less heavy stuff than I. Aint that so ?  You make some excursions into BTBAM, Scar Symmetry, and Loomis, but you'r quickly drawn back to more moderate stuff. And very raw stuff like Nevermore and Deathspell Omega don't do anything for you.

That's also why you get more out of listening to groups like H-Marillion, Coldplay, and Muse than I do.

Am I right ? 

I never really thought about it that way, so again I'll say: Interesting! But I suppose you're right. I still like my dose of heavy music though, I just don't like it more than the 'moderate' stuff. I think I've actually gained a wider view on the musical spectrum lately, there's so much good music to enjoy.

But don't be afraid, I'm still pretty much standing by your side in the metal-basement of the Room!

What music does your dad go for ?  Not cuz I'm into daddy here and daddy there, but I presume that your dad is about the same age as I 

My dad listens to all kinds of music but his favourite bands currently are Anathema and Porcupine Tree. He introduced me to Marillion (and Arena!) way back, nowadays it's the other way round. For a few years now I've been making him cd-r's with songs from all kinds of artists (mostly prog and related) and it's great to see that he uses these cd's as a startingpoint to explore music that's new to him. By the way, recently he bought Dark Suns' Existence!

Hey Tom, just saw that it's your birthday on Monday. Gotta figure out somethin - hm. OK, how about a dark sun ?  I'v studied physics at the Uni, so I should be able to fix a solar eclipse for ya 

I hope I'm not too late, can you still fix it?

NP: Solar - Dark Places

Tom

[Nicky007]

there's so much good music to enjoy.

But don't be afraid

I'v learnt to stand on my own feet in this respect. My family, my spiritual friends, pretty much everybody in my close circle thinx I'm nuts listening to this devilish/disturbed/noisy/cacaphonic music - even my bro, who 40 years ago got me into Cream, Floyd, and Zep 

And I'm sure that most Roomies think I'm nuts listenin to a group like Deathspell Omega (my oh my) 

his favourite bands currently are Anathema and Porcupine Tree

I'l be the last to criticise that choice 

recently he bought Dark Suns' Existence! 

Wow !

NP: Solar - Dark Places

Played:

Protest The Hero  on  YouTube

E.g.  Sequoia Throne   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypCdGNe3Bvs

Canadian group, quite well known in North America, remind me of Mars Volta, just as wild 


NP  Galahad:  Empires Never Last 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIp4tXMMZhY&NR=1

Nicky.