Now Playing Thread

[Nicky007]

NP  Head:  Save Me From Myself

www.youtube.com/watch?v=paVqEuVF1pE

A very touching, largely biographical, video about how Head (previous guitarist in Korn) goes down the drain with alcohol and drugs, verges on suicide, and at the last moment sees the Bible on the table, changes his mind, goes to church, and becomes a reborn Christian 

Nicky.

[Teunis]

Thanks for the reminder just pre ordered it.

My pleasure .

Knight Area - Rising Signs From The Shadows (live album) 

[Iggy]

NP One too many mornings from Portraits of Bob Dylan- Steve Howe

[Nicky007]

Played:

Änglagård  on  YouTube Mix

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngLxOB-ZNuw&feature=BFa&list=AVGxdCwVVULXcWnTY24_UzWyOBU4jTSF7W&lf=list_related

Interesting, but not something I plan to pursue further. I was into that sorta stuff 30-40 years ago.


Opeth:  Heritage

Also Swedish, but much more to my present liking 

Opeth have surprised again. There are some passages with their vintage sound, but on this album they'r more experimental than ever. Very different moods, and always breaking norms and trying out new things, but with maturity and confidence.

Guitar solos are few but excellent.

And for the growlophobes: No growl or shout, only clean singing by Mikael Å.

The lyrics also challenge more than earlier. They'r very dark, as usual with Opeth. There's the much discussed "God is dead", but it's important to note that it's in the song The Devil's Orchard, and the context is "Take the road where devils speak 'God is dead'", so it can't be taken as Mikael's own position. Of course, just to have a line like that on a rock album is an outright provocation, but hey, that's Mikael Å 

However, the music to this song is awesome.

And then there's the song Slither, which is a "tribute to Ronnie James Dio", with lyrics like

Summer's gone and love has withered
I believe in nothing yet nothing is what it seems
All is gone and promises slithered
You gave me nothing yet nothing is what it seems

Hey Mikael, what's your intention with all this 

Super album, a real grower 


NP  Explorers Club  on  YouTube

Hey, real nice 

You read names like John Petrucci, James LaBrie, D.C. Cooper, Derek Sherinian, Steve Howe, Terry Bozzio, Matt Guillery (Dali's Dilemma), and Billy Sheehan in the mix. I say WHEW - talk about a supergroup !!!

Another group that's been doing super stuff that's basically gone unnoticed 

The basic outlines of the music are Trent Gardner's work - Trent is one of the two brothers behind Magellan - but all musicians are given a lotta room to express themselves, and they really blossom here 

Here guys, try this:

Explorers Club:  Age Of Impact (1998) / 02. Fading Fast

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzznvSdGpYk

Simply stellar 

Nicky.

[Nicky007]

NP  Explorers Club:  Fading Fast  (on Age Of Impact, on megarepeat)

Man, this is some stuck-on piece 

Simply had to order Age Of Impact, and Explorers Club --> my pantheon list 

Petrucci is at his most sublime here 


Also played:


Dali's Dilemma:  Manisfesto For Futurism

Just received the album. (Had to buy it at a remote Amazon store.) Great to hear this fantastic album thru 


Magellan:  Symphony For A Misanthrope

I'v had this album for some time, had it recommended by someone I trusted, but initially it doesnt seem to have made much impression on me. I picked it up again, cuz Trent Gardner is the composer, keyboardist and lead singer of Magellan, and: He's the anchorman of Explorerers Club. Whuptee !

Quite special music, reminds me of Tangent in that it's quite a mix of styles, and very keyboard oriented, with pleasant singing, maybe not a groundbreaking album, but here and there quite sublime 


Now I don't know whether you guys think this stuff that I'm writing up is interesting 

I have some quaint idea that a prog chat forum is a place where one shares and discusses music ... but maybe I should just let the Room default to a place with random comments, "NP this", "I just bought that" etc.

Guys, if you want the Room to LIVE then ya gotta make an effort 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Played:

Änglagård  on  YouTube Mix

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngLxOB-ZNuw&feature=BFa&list=AVGxdCwVVULXcWnTY24_UzWyOBU4jTSF7W&lf=list_related

Interesting, but not something I plan to pursue further. I was into that sorta stuff 30-40 years ago.

An interesting statement, which gives us room for some discussion.

Given the fact that you like (old) Genesis, as well as acts like Pink Floyd and King Crimson, I would say that you of all people should like the music of Änglagård.
The band only made two albums + one live album but they did leave behind a significant statement, a progressive watermark so to say.
It's not for nothing that people still consider Hybris as one of the best debut albums of all time.

Highly innovative progrock with anolog hammonds, a drummer who was nearly sixteen (16!) on the time of recording, a bit dark and moody I confess and also quite difficult prog but what a fun to hear!!!

In my humble opinion of course.
Maybe you should give it another listen...

Opeth:  Heritage

Also Swedish, but much more to my present liking 

Opeth have surprised again. There are some passages with their vintage sound, but on this album they'r more experimental than ever. Very different moods, and always breaking norms and trying out new things, but with maturity and confidence.

Very vintage I'd say.
Great album but it's also an album that you definitely have to listen ten to twenty times before reaching a statement.
Talk about innovative!
This man (M.A.) has balls, very big ones to even come up with the idea of recording such a record. 

The lyrics also challenge more than earlier. They'r very dark, as usual with Opeth. There's the much discussed "God is dead", but it's important to note that it's in the song The Devil's Orchard, and the context is "Take the road where devils speak 'God is dead'", so it can't be taken as Mikael's own position. Of course, just to have a line like that on a rock album is an outright provocation, but hey, that's Mikael Å 

That's my opinion as well.
It might be a good advice to first read the lyrics and interpret the way they are before reach to a conclusion.
Not everything is what it appears to be.

NP  Explorers Club  on  YouTube

Hey, real nice 

You read names like John Petrucci, James LaBrie, D.C. Cooper, Derek Sherinian, Steve Howe, Terry Bozzio, Matt Guillery (Dali's Dilemma), and Billy Sheehan in the mix. I say WHEW - talk about a supergroup !!!

Another group that's been doing super stuff that's basically gone unnoticed 

The basic outlines of the music are Trent Gardner's work - Trent is one of the two brothers behind Magellan - but all musicians are given a lotta room to express themselves, and they really blossom here 

Here guys, try this:

Explorers Club:  Age Of Impact (1998) / 02. Fading Fast

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzznvSdGpYk

Simply stellar 

Nicky.

Fine albums from the Explorers but I find the production of most Schrapnel albums to be the weak point.
Quite shallow.
Not even the Megalan albums are produced in that way.
Age of Impact is their best imo.
Their latest, Raising the Mammoth (basically two songs but the first song is divided into three parts) is also good but also it's an album with too much ideas stuffed into the album. (Like DT but them worse. )
Marty Friedman's contribution though is superb! 

[PH]

Now I don't know whether you guys think this stuff that I'm writing up is interesting 

I for one, think it's interesting! So please, don't stop! I always read those posts.

But now, I have nothing to reply. Don't really have that much time at this moment.

[Iggy]

Here are some youtube vids of the KScope Union Chapel Concert I went to last week

A night @ Union Chapel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDwdASYGEr8 Nosound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAtrun0bNSA Engineers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kCWutl_X9g Bruce Soord The Pineapple Thief
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2zSG-8avy4 ANATHEMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9CtDfXOVBc ANATHEMA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2oQMXaieE0 ANATHEMA 

[Nicky007]

I, for one, think it's interesting! So please, don't stop! I always read those posts.

Thanx, Paxi. Actually I expected that you would be least interested of all Roomies in my recent stuff, as it's mostly rather aggressive music, but you were one of the first to respond 

But now that I have you: You absolutely must listen to Explorers Club's Fading Fast ! It's the most fantastic new music (i.e. new to me) that I'v struck upon this year - and I'm not hyping. Like DT when they'r best - smooth and grandiose keys, passionate singing, poetic lyrics, and Petrucci at his finest - need I say more ?

The first three minutes are warmup - nice moods - but then it takes off ... and builds up ... and rises to the stars 

I didnt wanna say it before, but I actually inducted Explorers Club into my pantheon on the basis of this one piece - but what a piece !!!

Never did that before.

An interesting statement, which gives us room for some discussion. 

Given the fact that you like (old) Genesis, as well as acts like Pink Floyd and King Crimson, I would say that you of all people should like the music of Änglagård.

And I even understand the lyrics, as I'm fluent in Swedish 

I actually listened quite a long time to the Änglagård YouTube Mix. But I have the same problem with Änglagård as I have with Gentle Giant, Hawkwind, and much of KC, early Genesis, Yes, and Floyd: It simply doesnt take off. Let's just say: Noodling, or messing around 

Roomies might say "This guy Nicky sure listens to some weird music", but in truth I really go for atmosphere, melody, passion, and good lyrics ... and when I don't experience these, well, then I start losing interest 

Maybe you should give it another listen...

Yeah, Mad, I will. And real thanx for all your fine tips. Often enough they hit home, like with Dali's Dilemma recently. Man, I listen to Manifesto every day with utter joy 


NP  Explorers Club:  Fading Fast

I can settle for one 

Nicky.

[maddox]

Anthrax ~ Worship Music 

As if Joey never left, as if the Bay Area Thrash scene has always been here, as if time stood still.

[maddox]

Devin Townsend Project ~ Deconstruction

Madness!!!
The Devin we know, just like his previous projects/bands/albums.

[Nicky007]

Played:

Fates Warning:  Awaken The Guardian

Hm, kinda like early Anthrax and Metallica, and the first DT. Guess they were more into energy than melody in those days. And those screeching voices 

Already the next FW album No Exit (first with Ray Alder) was a lot better, and generally metal has progressed enormously since then 


Opeth:  Heritage

Right, Mad, this is a slow grower with a lotta hidden gems. Fabulous groundbreaking album 


In Flames:  Come Clarity

Not overly hot on this band, cuz there's not much variation, but what they do they do well, and played once in a while they'r quite energising.


Pearl Jam:  Ten

Their classic debut album, from when they were real grunge, and 


Radiance:  The Burning Sun  on  YouTube

This is of course an awesome album 

Wonder when it will be released as cd. Have it as nb 1 on my SL - might help 

Nicky.

[Teunis]

Very obvious:
Knight Area - Nine Paths

Heard it twice so far. A little bit too early yet, but it may become my favourite Knight Area album .

[maddox]

The Tangent ~ COMM

[PH]

Today I listened again to Star One - "Victims Of A Modern Age".
Well, it is nice music, but after four or five songs I got a little bored to be honest, so I stopped it. I think it's just a bit too much of the same. I had that problem with Star One's first album as well. When you listen to the songs individually they are really cool, but all of them on one album... I don't know.

Now I have a Pink Floyd moment. Just played "The Dark Side Of The Moon" and now I'm listening to "Wish You Were Here".
Brilliant music!

[Nicky007]

Now I have a Pink Floyd moment. Just played "The Dark Side Of The Moon" and now I'm listening to "Wish You Were Here".
Brilliant music!

  Paxi. Make sure you also listen to Meddle. That's the one that got me seriously hooked to Floyd 

And Atom Heart Mother is also worth an experience. The title suite has some pretty catchy passages 


And whilst you'r in classic mode, give Queen's third studio album Sheer Heart Attack a listen or two. Trueblood rock, quite different from their later more flamboyant stuff (which also had it's merits) 


And if you'r yearnin for more, then play some Sparks stuff from their classic period with the albums Kimono My House (1974), Propaganda (1974), and Indiscreet (1975). The thing about Sparks is that once them melodies get into yer head ..... 


NP  Explorers Club:  Age of Impact

OK, the other four songs on the album arent as fabulous as Fading Fast, but they'r fine prog, and there are lotta gems here and there, and great performances. Trent Gardner, who composed all of the music and wrote the lyrics, somehow succeeded in getting some of the finest soloing outta Petrucci 

I was happy to discover that the amazing singer on Fading Fast is Matt Bradley, who also was the lead singer of Dali's Dilemma 

Nicky.

[funkster]

The Hunter by Mastodon , album of the year , has been getting some heavy rotation as has Crack the skye and
now for some Blood mountain.

Also playing some Voivod - dimension hatross and nothingface. I feel that Voivod have been an influence
on Mastodon and they are a truly progressive metal band in the trust sense of being progressive. 

[Nicky007]

Played:

Genesis:  Foxtrot  &  Selling England

I have all Genesis studio albums from Foxtrot to Invisible Touch, plus the live album Seconds Out.

I'm not too fond of We Can't Dance and Calling All Stations, so I'm not planning to get them 

In fact, Abacab is the last Genesis album that I really like 

Re Foxtrot, the only piece that I enjoy - somewhat - is Supper's Ready. The other pieces I find insufferable 

However, I have Nursery Cryme and Trespass on my SL. I don't know how much I'l like'm today, but years ago I listened to'm quite a bit with much joy 

Today the only Genesis album that I know well is Duke - conversely, I know just about every note and sound of all the Floyd albums from Ummagumma to Final Cut - so that's why I decided to delve further into Genesis. Of course, this is a group that merits a lotta attention 

Nicky.

[funkster]

I agree about Foxtrot Nick but adore Nursery Cryme , love Trick of the tail but cannot stand Wind and
wuthering.

Have not got any of their albums post Genesis and do not feel i am missing out

[Nicky007]

OK, interesting, Funky 

Here's one for you:

Played:

Haken:  Aquarius

To-Mera:  Delusions

The two sibling bands from the London progmetal scene. Both are amazing 

Haken would be the more accessible one, quite like DT, lotta melody, imagination, top-league musicianship, and philosophical lyrics, but not "frighteningly" heavy - except for two passages with growl, which may frighten the growlophobes 

The same could be said about To-Mera, except that they are superheavy here and there, so they would be more for the advanced metalproggies 

Two very special and wonderful albums, must-haves for true metalproggies 

Nicky.

[maddox]

About Genesis;

They indeed made some questionable records but overall I think that the best work of Genesis can be found in the Gabriel-era minus From Genesis to Revelation.
The Collins-era has some pretty fancy stuff as well, like (here it goes ) Wind and Wuthering and a Trick of the Tail but I don't really like the sound, read; production of that era.
The Genesis album is good but from there on the sound becomes ... plastic. Hollow maybe. Don't know the exact word to describe it.
Too bad really because some of the albums are really good!


If I had to make a list of the Collins era it would be something like this:

1: Trick of the Tail
2: Wind and Wuthering
3: Duke
4: Genesis (s/t)
5: We Can't Dance
6: Abacab
7: And then there were three...
8: Calling all Stations
9: Invissible Touch

Especially the latter is, production-wise as well as music-wise, a total Genesis-disaster. 

Btw, note that on the two best albums, in my opinion of course, Steve Hackett was still the guitarist.

NP> and now for something completely different:

Airbag ~ All Rights Removed

Nice!

[Nicky007]

fancy stuff

note that on the two best albums, in my opinion of course, Steve Hackett was still the guitarist.

Steve Hackett seems to have kept them on a true progressive course. After he left, they became more and more mainstream 

My guess is that there are two reasons: 1) Phil Collins was devastated by the departure of his wife, and he therefore wanted to make it big. 2) Mike Rutherford was the bassist of the band and was focussed on rhythms. When Steve left, the band lost the adventurous spirit that was so strong in Peter Gabriel and Steve. Tony Banks had it too, of course, but I guess he let himself be swept away by the two others.


Played:

Genesis:  The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway

This is of course a masterpiece, gripping, full of adventurousness - and melody 

Genesis:  A Trick of the Tail

Yup, guys, I'm doin this systematically 

Weird, I couldnt recognise the songs on this album. I'm sure I'v heard it a few times before, but it doesnt seem to have made much impression on me.

Well, I'l dwell on it for a while .....

Nicky.

[funkster]

Machine Head's Unto the locust will accompany me on the bus journey home

[PH]

Metropolis, Part 2: Scenes From A Memory

by...

D R E A M   T H E A T E R
------------------------------

It's been a while since I gave this one a proper listen.

6. Act 1: Scene 4: Beyond This Life

A real good song!

[PH]

Now listening to "Black Clouds And Silver Linings" by Dream Theater.

I'm not going to listen to the whole thing, since I'm a little bit too tired and want to go to bed. But the first song is even better than I can remember (it's been a while).

Still... MP's vocals in this song make me feel very happy that he has left the band...

Tomorrow I'll do the rest.
And yes, I still have to do that review of "A Dramatic Turn Of Events" (already a classic in my opinion!).


Good night!