Now Playing Thread

[PH]

Rush are one of the groups that clearly have gotten better album by album

I wouldn't really know, because I only have their studio albums from 1989 till 2012. But from those, indeed, I really only play "Snakes & Arrows" and "Clockwork Angels".
Is there anyone here who can recommend me any of their albums from "Presto" up to "Vapor Trails"?

Still, I think I should really check out classic albums like "2112" and "Moving Pictures" (and the albums in between).

Yes, I can follow you, except that I wouldn't say that they sound tired; instead that they're mature gentlemen who still wanna stretch their limbs, as well as they can.

Okay, than here's a question for you: why do you call this "slowness" by Yes maturity, and with Marillion you call it boring. What's the difference for you?

Anyway, "Heaven & Earth" is more like classic Yes indeed. It's more proggy than, say, "90125" or "The Ladder". Yet, I think I like those albums more.

I wasn't expecting something wild and crazy like Mayhem or Wintersun; I was hoping for some more Yes as I know and cherish them - and that's what I got

You are absolutely right there. But are trying wild and crazy, but failing.

And yes, Jon D does add a lot of youthful vitality. Of course he feels honored to be in the mix with such personalities - wouldn't you ?

I guess.

And it's probably the last "real" Yes album, as Chris carried the name - and ensured continuity - and Jon and Rick were gone.

So it does have a very special place in my heart

Makes me wonder what Yes will be, now that Chris is no more. Who is going to take the biggest role? For some reason, I think Billy Sherwood will. He has done good things for Yes ("The Ladder" was cool) but also some bad ("Open Your Eyes"), especially when taking more of a lead role (OYE was a Squire/Sherwood collaboration at first). So that worries me a bit. Perhaps Steve Howe steps up as creative force. Could be good. Geoff Downes will probably make another Asia out of it. The new Jon has actually (co)written a lot on H&E, and I think he did a good job, so I hope he'll remain in the writing team.

The best thing for Yes would be to ask Jon Anderson back. But of course, they should do as they please, because it's their band.

For what it's worth, I'm looking forward to Anderson/Wakeman/Rabin!

Amoral:  Fallen Leaves & Dead Sparrows

Fine album, melodic and exploratory; some Sieges Even, some Zero Hour, and other moods. The singer sounds very much like Arno, and harmonies like SE.

Hmm, not so bad! I listened to a few songs and it's alright. I'll put them on my list to check out. I don't think he sounds like Arno, but reminds me of someone else... Can't think of it now, but I'll let you know.

Tribulation:  The Children of the Night

Highly original and well crafted, melodic in a weird way. Tribulation have been added to my pantheon

This album was elected by the journalists of Sweden Rock Magazine as "Album of the Year" 2015 - deservedly

Listened to some songs on YouTube. Sounds a bit like Opeth in places. Which I like. But... I don't know. Will check it out, but make no promises.

[Teunis]

Arena - The Unquiet Sky

[PH]

Just finished playing:
Yes - "Keys To Ascension" (Part one and two, just the studio songs)

This is a really strange release, for a couple of reasons. 1996 and especially 1997 were not the best years for Prog. I can only think of Pendragon ("The Masquerade Overture") IQ ("Subterranea"), and Spock's Beard ("Beware Of Darkness"). Other bands released their most weak albums (IMHO) in these times: Arena's "Pride" (sorry, still a good album of course but not their best), Ayreon's "Actual Fantasy", Dream Theater's "Falling Into Infinity", Porcupine Tree's "Signify".

Even Yes themselves released "Open Your Eyes" in 1997. But still, they managed to write these very nice and, yes, very proggy songs.
I think this is Yes in their best line-up.

Now, it's only Steve Howe and Alan White...

Now playing:
Pure Reason Revolution - "The Dark Third"
Whoa, it's been a while since I listened to this.

[Teunis]

jp: Riverside - Rapid Eye Movement
np: Riverside - Voices In My Head (EP)

In memory of Piotr Grudziński, whose funeral was today .

[erik]

Just finished playing:
Yes - "Keys To Ascension" (Part one and two, just the studio songs)
(...)

Keys 1 really got me into classic Yes. I knew the album 'Talk' which I liked a lot and had a compilation tape with '70s era Yes, but this live album really got me hooked. The studio tracks, also released as Keystudio later on, are a bit of a lost Yes album that could have been a classic of later era Yes, especially comparing it to Open Your Eyes. The track Mind Drive is particularly good.

I wouldn't really know, because I only have their studio albums from 1989 till 2012. But from those, indeed, I really only play "Snakes & Arrows" and "Clockwork Angels".
Is there anyone here who can recommend me any of their albums from "Presto" up to "Vapor Trails"?

Still, I think I should really check out classic albums like "2112" and "Moving Pictures" (and the albums in between).

Counterparts is a good place to start from that period. It starts with what is probably my all-time favourite Rush track, Animate, and also the instrumental Leave That Thing Alone is delicious. Vapor Trails is great as well. Quite heavy and also heavily criticized for production. The new mix is more pleasant on the ears and reveals many subtleties that were buried in the original mix, but I must say I rather like the gritty sound of the original as well. I have them both now 

And indeed do check out their earlier work and do not overlook their '80s synth period, Grace Under Pressure is especially recommended!

Again like with Yes, I also really got into Rush with a live album, Different Stages, which is also highly recommended.

[PH]

Counterparts is a good place to start from that period. It starts with what is probably my all-time favourite Rush track, Animate, and also the instrumental Leave That Thing Alone is delicious.

I just listened to these two tracks you mentioned, and wow, this is really good! Especially like the instrumental track! I will investigate further. Next time I have the urge to listen to some Rush, I'll try this album.

Vapor Trails is great as well. Quite heavy and also heavily criticized for production. The new mix is more pleasant on the ears and reveals many subtleties that were buried in the original mix, but I must say I rather like the gritty sound of the original as well. I have them both now 

I have the remixed version. Since I like "Snakes & Arrows" so much, I figured that my next move would probably be "Vapor Trails", but when I initially tried it, I was disappointed. Then came "Clockwork Angels" and that was more to my liking. But I'll try it again someday. "Counterparts" first though.

And indeed do check out their earlier work and do not overlook their '80s synth period, Grace Under Pressure is especially recommended!

Again like with Yes, I also really got into Rush with a live album, Different Stages, which is also highly recommended.

Ok, so this is my Rush homework: "Counterparts" --> "Vapor Trails" --> "Grace Under Pressure"
I'll leave the live albums alone for now.

[Nicky007]

Still, I think I should really check out classic albums like "2112" and "Moving Pictures" (and the albums in between).

Definitely! Anything Rush is genius. But Rush is one of the few groups where it's so obvious that they progressed. Exactly S&A and CA are the best they've done - imo. Be happy ya'v got'm, Paxi

Okay, than here's a question for you: why do you call this "slowness" by Yes maturity, and with Marillion you call it boring. What's the difference for you?

Easy: Yes were genius from beginning to end, one of the ten most groundbreaking groups eva in rock history. Fish-Marillion were genius too, altho not Yes-league. With Fish gone, they lost their wizard, one could say, and they settled for less; H-Marillion is nice, but not stellar like with Fish - aint that so, Cap ?

Anyway, "Heaven & Earth" is more like classic Yes indeed. It's more proggy than, say, "90125" or "The Ladder". Yet, I think I like those albums more.

90125 is the most poppy Yes album. That's also why it was the most sold. There's an almost 100% complementarity (opposite) between quality and quantity these days - sadly

The Ladder of course is one of the best Yes albums. I too would from an objective pov choose it over H&E. But again, as H&E would appear at this time to be the last "real" Yes-album, it has a special place in my heart. And I DO find it gripping

You are absolutely right there. But are trying wild and crazy, but failing.

I don't see (or hear) that. Yes found their style, particularly in later years, and that's what they stuck to. And their late albums DO maintain a high quality.

One doesn't expect 60-, 70-year old musicians to revolutionise anything; that belongs to the youth. Those few groups who peak well at around 50 can keep their style and release some more quality albums for fans. There always is something new and interesting for fans (definitely with Yes).

It's sadder with Priest, who made a jump into the stars with Nostradamus - heavy, exciting, proggy, esoteric, perfectly played and produced, super graphics, all in one. Would've been tremendous to have another Priest-album like that, but instead they went back to the pre-Jugulator style - which is great, just not stellar

Makes me wonder what Yes will be, now that Chris is no more.

Don't really care. There are too many decisive Yes-dudes missing now: Jon A, Chris, Rick, Trevor. How can anything without them be called "Yes" ?

But of course if Jon A and Trevor got together again and created a Talk II 

Who is going to take the biggest role? For some reason, I think Billy Sherwood will. He has done good things for Yes ("The Ladder" was cool) but also some bad ("Open Your Eyes")

Billy is a great producer, but I wouldn't want to have him in on the composition. Open Your Eyes is lousy. Ms 007 liked it, so I even made an extra effort ... but NO, it IS lousy. Yes would be better off without it. And therefore it's the only Yes studio album that I don't own

Yes were, as we know, very experimental, man, there's a lotta whiddly-diddly on several of their albums but even that's intriguing, cuz you experience some of it on later albums in a more successful context

Yes are a formidable force. One can only fall down on one's knees in devotion

But of course, they should do as they please, because it's their band.

You could offer to become their new manager, Paxi

For what it's worth, I'm looking forward to Anderson/Wakeman/Rabin!

Me too. Well, Yes have been here and there, all over the place so, well, maybe those guys could conjure up something that genuinely could be called "Yes"

Question is what the Chris Squire Estate has stipulated ?

Hmm, not so bad! I listened to a few songs and it's alright. I'll put them on my list to check out. I don't think he sounds like Arno, but reminds me of someone else... Can't think of it now, but I'll let you know.

Listened to some songs on YouTube. Sounds a bit like Opeth in places. Which I like. But... I don't know. Will check it out, but make no promises.

Cool that your stretching out, Paxi

Yeah, let me know. I thought that he sounded pretty Arnoish, but then again, I've only listened twice to Fallen Leaves. Thought I'd mention it to you Roomies a bit prematurely

But now you're stretching, Paxi, you MUST do Wintersun - one of the real best

Man, there's SO much great music being created these days - more than ever, to my mind. Would be a pity to miss the best.

I can't really think of any other discipline where there's so much excitement. Films maybe, there's a greatie appearing now and then (like The Man From Earth). Philosophy is dead these days, getting lost in neurology, gotto go back to Kant, Fichte and Hegel to pick up. Christianity: I'm very much into Karl Barth these days, donno whether there's anyone after him who's in his league (of course, Neal Morse, poetically). Here's a tip for you btw, Paxi

And Thanx for revitalising the discussions in the Room. You've really gotten me into it again - didn't actually expect that


NP  Watain:  The Wild Hunt

Overwhelming, tremendous. Will take some listens to find out what's going on ... 

- Nicky

[Nicky007]

Yes I can! ...

Well, that's every bit Gelert as I remember him. Donno whether I'm any bit more knowledgable after reading his post

- Nicky

[PH]

NP:
Caravan - "In The Land Of Grey And Pink" on YouTube.
The song Nine Feet Underground is a masterpiece. Really like this song. Perhaps I should get me a copy.
Didn't Steven Wilson remixed this album recently?

[Teunis]

Gazpacho - Tick Tock 

[PH]

Mike Oldfield - "Ommadawn"

This is really unearthly music. And I don't think I've heard any other artist make music like this. (Except for Robert Reed, but that one doesn't count!)

[Nicky007]

Mike Oldfield - "Ommadawn"

This is really unearthly music. And I don't think I've heard any other artist make music like this. (Except for Robert Reed, but that one doesn't count!)

Mike Oldfield has made an incredible amount of beautiful music. Only very few other artists have made as many great albums as he. (David Bowie is one.)

To my mind, QE II is Oldfield's best, iac it's the one that has meant most to me. The live Exposed, with a tremendous upgraded version of the first Tubular Bells, is nb 2.

Mike Oldfield and David Bowie should also be reckoned among the ten most groundbreaking rock acts in history

Paxi, who is Robert Reed ?


NP  Doors:  An American Prayer

"An American Prayer is the ninth and final studio album by The Doors. In 1978, seven years after lead singer Jim Morrison died and five years after the remaining members of the band broke up, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore reunited and recorded backing tracks over Morrison's poetry (originally recorded in 1969 and 1970). Other pieces of music and spoken word recorded by the Doors and Morrison were also used in the audio collage, such as dialogue from Morrison's film HWY: An American Pastoral and snippets from jam sessions.

The album received mixed reviews and still divides critics, yet it has managed a platinum certification in the US. When the album was originally released, longtime Doors' producer Paul Rothchild labeled the album a "rape of Jim Morrison". Rothchild claimed that he had heard all of the reels of master tapes from both the 1969 and the 1970 poetry sessions, insisting that the three remaining Doors failed to realize Morrison's original intent for an audio presentation of the poetry. Morrison himself, prior to leaving for Paris, had approached composer Lalo Schifrin as a possible contributor for the music tracks meant to accompany the poetry, with no participation from any of the other Doors members. In addition, he had developed some conception of the album cover art work by January 1971, and was in correspondence with artist T. E. Breitenbach to design this cover in the form of a triptych (a three-paneled painting with various images embedded in each panel)."

- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Prayer

For Doors-fans, I would say, and then gripping; while The Doors (I), Strange Days, and Waiting For The Sun are must-haves for all rock-lovers. They still kick ass

If you're not familiar with them, you're missing some serious rock history, from Beatles to, say, Led Zeppelin

- Nicky

[Nicky007]

1996 and especially 1997 were not the best years for Prog.

Don't agree at all! From my LP - Classic songs:

Dream Theater:  Anna Lee                 (1997)
Dream Theater:  Hollow Years
Dream Theater:  Lines In The Sand
Dream Theater:  Peruvian Skies
Dream Theater:  Take Away My Pain
Dream Theater:  Trial Of Tears
Faith No More:  Stripsearch
Queensrÿche:  I Will Remember  (Unplugged)
Royal Hunt:  Long Way Home
Royal Hunt:  Message To God
Symphony X:  The Accolade
The Tea Party:  Temptation
Threshold:  Lake Of Despond
Glenn Tipton:  Baptizm Of Fire
Angra:  Carolina IV                  (1996)
Angra:  Deep Blue
Angra:  Holy Land
Angra:  Make Believe
Angra:  The Shaman
Angra:  Silence And Distance
Arena:  Empire Of A Thousand Days
Arena:  Fool's Gold
Arena:  Sirens
Bal-Sagoth:  As The Vortex Illumines The Crystalline Walls Of Kor-Avul-Thaa
Bal-Sagoth:  To Dethrone The Witch-Queen Of Mytos K'unn
Bal-Sagoth:  And Lo, When The Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud ...
Bal-Sagoth:  In The Raven-Haunted Forests Of Darkenhold, Where Shadows Reign And The Hues Of Sunlight ...
Bal-Sagoth:  The Splendour Of A Thousand Swords Gleaming Beneath The Blazon Of The Hyperborean Empire
Bal-Sagoth:  Starfire Burning Upon The Ice-Veiled Throne Of Ultima Thule
Bal-Sagoth:  Summoning The Guardians Of The Astral Gate
Nevermore:  The Sorrowed Man
Royal Hunt:  Epilogue
Tipton, Entwistle & Powell:  Crime Of Passion
Tipton, Entwistle & Powell:  Never Say Die
Tipton, Entwistle & Powell:  Searching
Steve Vai:  The Crying Machine
Steve Vai:  There's A Fire In The House
Steve Vai:  Warm Regards
Yes:  Be The One

Yeah, I guess you're right about Keys To Ascension, Paxi, I only got Be The One - but I could probably get one or two more Yes-songs in there ....

It's funny to see the Sagoth-songtitles, they even continue beyond the .... Yeah, one can't say that Byron is a man of few words

Hey, guys, it's a bit of an insult to me that you haven't listened (properly) to "my band"

Man, '96 and '97 have some of my fave albums: Bal-Sagoth's Starfire, Tipton, Entwistle & Powell's Baptizm Of Fire, DT's Falling Into Infinity, Angra's Holy Land (imo their best), Steve Vai's Fire Garden (one of his best), and Arena's Pride (which as you say, Paxi, is not one of their best, but still: an Arena album). And all of those great songs

Paxi, try out some of those songs ... and change yer mind

- Nicky

[PH]

Well, I wasn't talking about songs. I was talking about albums. Prog albums. And I was talking about them in relation to the rest of their discographies.

[PH]

Now listening to:

Frank Klepacki - "Grey Goo (Official Soundtrack)"
On YouTube

Not bad. Frank has done wonders for the "Command & Conquer" computer games. I also have all of his solo albums, too bad they aren't nearly as good as his soundtrack works, but still enjoyable. I've lost track of the guy since I was disappointed with the "C&C: Red Alert 3" soundtrack. He only wrote four songs, I think. And they were in fact more or less remixes of old songs. After that he did a couple of very traditional 'cinematic styled' soundtracks, instead of his very own brand of rock songs.
"Grey Goo" (what kind of title for a video game is that!) sounds like a mix of cinemtic style and his C&C style of Rock. A bit like "Tiberian Sun" or perhaps "Emperor: Battle For Dune".

But I guess none of you will know what I'm talking about. 

[erik]

Mike Oldfield - "Ommadawn"

This is really unearthly music. And I don't think I've heard any other artist make music like this. (Except for Robert Reed, but that one doesn't count!)

I really started to discover Mike Oldfield's work since a year or so. I had never really moved further than Tubular Bells, but finally got myself a record player and started to play the old records my mum no longer wanted to keep. Ommadawn and Hergest Ridge are simply beautiful. I have the deluxe reissues on cd as well now

[PH]

Angra:  Carolina IV                  (1996)
Angra:  Deep Blue
Angra:  Holy Land
Angra:  Make Believe
Angra:  The Shaman
Angra:  Silence And Distance

...

Man, '96 and '97 have some of my fave albums:
...
Angra's Holy Land (imo their best)

Ah that reminds me, I was impressed by that album. Just updated my "to buy list" again.

[Teunis]

The Pineapple Thief - Magnolia

Still impressed, even better on the stereo system .

[Nicky007]

Well, I wasn't talking about songs. I was talking about albums. Prog albums. And I was talking about them in relation to the rest of their discographies.

So was I:

Man, '96 and '97 have some of my fave albums: Bal-Sagoth's Starfire, Tipton, Entwistle & Powell's Baptizm Of Fire, DT's Falling Into Infinity, Angra's Holy Land (imo their best), Steve Vai's Fire Garden (one of his best), and Arena's Pride (which as you say, Paxi, is not one of their best, but still: an Arena album).

Btw my quote comes from Glenn Tipton's Baptizm Of Fire


NP  Bombus:  Repeat Until Death

A big name in the Swedish metal community these days. First listen - super!

- Nicky

[Teunis]

The Pineapple Thief - Magnolia
Subsignal - The Beacons Of Somewhere Sometime

[PH]

Steve Hackett - "Voyage Of The Acolyte"

Still like that album very much!

[PH]

Previously played:
Dream Theater - "The Astonishing"

and:
Arena - "Pepper's Ghost"

Now playing:
Amaran's Plight - "Voice In The Light"

So I guess this was just a one album project. I really like it!

[maddox]

Now playing:
Amaran's Plight - "Voice In The Light"

So I guess this was just a one album project. I really like it!

Not really fond of DC Cooper's voice, but this is an outstanding album. 

Last night I played the new.... Redemption!!!

Not sure what to think about it yet.
It's ....

[PH]

Not really fond of DC Cooper's voice, but this is an outstanding album. 

I quite like his voice. I don't think he's one of my favourite singers, but he's pretty good. At the core he is more of a hard rock singer, and you can hear that on this album.
Come to think of it, I find it very difficult to name any favourite singers... I have a lot of singers that I really like, though.

Last night I played the new.... Redemption!!!

Not sure what to think about it yet.
It's ....

...

Interesting. I have the 3-disc "Discovering Redemption" boxset on my wishlist.


Earlier I played:
Neal Morse - "Sola Scriptura"
For some reason, when I was listening to Amaran's Plight, I was reminded of this album. Now that I played it, I don't really know why. But I suspect it has to do with the composition of the instrumental parts within the songs.
Anyway, I like "Sola Scriptura" more. It's still my favourite Neal Morse album. (Probably something I say after every last played Neal Morse album. )

Now playing:
Vangelis - "El Greco"
Probably Vangelis' best album.
Well, you can't call this Prog Rock anymore, and I won't. But I recommend this album to everyone who is serious about music. And you need an open mind, because it's quite 'heavy' (no, not metal ).

[PH]

This early morning at work I listened to:
Marillion - "Holidays In Eden"
Porcupine Tree - "Stupid Dream"
Porcupine Tree - "Fear Of A Blank Planet"

And now I'm listening to:
Beardfish - "The Void" (first listen)

I'm four songs in, and hey! this is not bad! Really enjoy it!