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AtomicCrimsonRush 
Special Collaborator 
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
 Posted: April 29 2011 at 23:17 |
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Part 41: Prog Poll through the years 2007
Top 15 - Here is the prog poll for definitive albums of 2007. This was one of the hardest years to choose from such was the quality of the albums but I have come up with hopefully a list that captures the spirit of the year. Prog was right on top again. Snakes and arrows - Rush  Rapid eye movement Riverside
 In rainbows - Radiohead
 Paradise lost - Symphony X
 The sum of no evil Flower Kings  Sound of the apocalypse Black Bonzo
 Sleeping in traffic pt 1 Beardfish
 Empires Never Last Galahad  Ziltoid The Omniscient Devin Townsend  Sola Scriptura Neal Morse
 Night Gazpacho
 A Gentlemans Hurricane Minds Eye
Fear Of A Blank Planet Porcupine Tree
Doomsday Afternoon Phideaux
Indegina Mar de Robles
 The Results:
The Others:
Ulver - Shadows of the Sun
 Time Control - Hiromi Uehara
 Aranis II - Aranis
 Circus of Life - Magic Pie
 Blessed are the Bonds - The Pax Cecilia
 Prominence/Demise - Winds
 Anekdoten - A Time Of Day
 Someone listed their personal top 10:
1-Porcupine Tree- Fear of a Blank Planet 2-Satellite- Into the Night 3-Galahad- Empires Never Last 4-Xang- Last of Lasts 5-Gazpacho- Night 6-The Gourishankar- 2nd Hands 7-Knight Area- Under a New Sign 8-Nemo- Si Partie 2 9-Singularity- Of All the Mysteries 10-The Gift- Awake & Dreaming But after a lot of twoing and froing there was a definite winner:
AND THE WINNER IS...
This concept album has certainly made an impact in the prog community, hailed as one of Porcupine Tree's finest and for good reason. There is so much on offer on this excellent project. The actual concept of the album was heavily influenced by Bret Easton Ellis' novel "Lunar Park", a story told from the perspective of a father, and the difference here is the album tells the story from the perspective of the 11 year old son, Robby. The lyrics are often taken directly from the novel, focussing on the themes of two typical neurobehavioural developmental disorders that affect modern teenagers, namely bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder. As I work with some kids with these disorders the album definitely touched a few chords with me. A member of my family has suffered in one of these mental illnesses and I know how hard it is to cope with this even from a third party perspective. The lyrics also deal with the youthful aspirations of attempting to escape by turning to drugs, or X box games, I-pods and technology that cause social alienation. The mass media gets a real serve on this album as the cause or part of the cause of this disassociation and I think the album has some potent remarks on the harm that is being done with the mass appeal of technology based infomedia. The album begins with the killer title track that pounds along at a brisk pace and has some absolutely wonderful melodies. The song is unforgettable and is the best on the album. I always liked how the lyrics mention X Box as a symbol of techno addiction. 'My Ashes' sounds like 'No Quarter' by Led Zeppelin at some point, perhaps noticeably the keyboard sound encapsulates the psychedelic atmosphere. It is a song filed with pathos and pain but with dark beauty. The lyrics are quite downbeat as is most of the content of the album. There is a melancholy feel throughout, and it really punches a hole into the consciousness as one listens to the album. It seems to get darker and more intense in mood from track to track. 'My Ashes' is a homage to the last chapter of the novel where the ashes of Bret's father are scattered effectively burying the memories of his life. 'Anesthetize' is the multi movement suite masterpiece that drew me to the album in the first place. A 17 minute epic with incredible guitar interplay and powerful synth lines. The melody is brilliant and the lengthy instrumental section is prog bliss. A track to be heard over and over. 'Sentimental' is a very gentle sad song with sweet melody lines, similar to the chords used in 'Trains'. 'Way out of here' is another of the masterpiece songs that deal with some very tough issues. The lyrics are full of mystery and intrigue; "Out at the train tracks, I dream of escape, But a song comes onto my i-Pod, And I realize it's getting late, I can't take the staring, And the sympathy And I don't like the questions: "How do you feel? How's it going in school? Do you wanna talk about it..." These sentiments seem to capture the teenage angst experienced in adolescence when one does not feel understood and loses track of communication with others. Steven Wilson explained partially some of the content of the album in "Revolver" music magazine when he stated, that the protagonist of the tale was a "terminally bored kid, anywhere between 10 and 15 years old, who spends all his daylight hours in his bedroom with the curtains closed, playing on his PlayStation, listening to his i- Pod, texting his friends on his cell phone, looking at hardcore pornography on the Internet, downloading music, films, news, violence." This is why the lyrical content mentions these technological mediums, though it does not attack them as much as one may expect, at least not as much as Wilson who has infamously smashed i-Pods and MP3s many times. 'Sleep Together' is a popular live track and although I look upon it as one of the weaker tracks here it still works as a good way to close the album, putting the protagonist to rest as he searches for love in an interminably cold faceless world. My final thoughts are that this is an album that gets better over the years like a fine wine. On first listen I was impressed with about 3 tracks but the rest kind of washed over. Later on returning to the album after a long break, I began to appreciate the material as a whole concept which is hauntingly melancholy and bleak, and yet imbued with an uplifting ray of hope entrenched within. It certainly is one of the best albums of 2007, even winning Collaborator's album of the year on this humble site, and it is a thought provoking master work from a brilliant band.Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - October 20 2014 at 02:41 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: January 27 2011 at 02:15 |
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Part 40: Prog Poll through the years 2006
Top 15 - Here is the prog poll for definitive albums of 2006.
This year saw some very good albums although the list was full of similar styles, namely prog metal. It seemed that prog had a new face in the new millennium, and was firmly establishing itself in the heavy metal genre, even reinventing the genre by adding new elements such as orchestration and unusual instruments.
Score: 20th Anniversary World Tour Live with the Octavarium Orchestra Dream Theater  In A Flesh Aquarium Unexpect
 Posthumous Silence Sylvan
Stati Di Immaginazione Premiata Forneri Marconi
 Synchestra Devin Townsend
 For The Love Of Art And The Making Beyond Twilight
 Amputechture The Mars Volta
 The Butchers Ballroom Diablo Swing Orchestra
 10,000 Days Tool
 A Place In The Queue The Tangent
 The Dark Third Pure Reason Revolution
 Milliontown Frost*
 Blood Mountain Mastodon
 Paradox Hotel The Flower Kings
 Om - Negura Bunget
 The Results:
The Others:
Many other albums were mentioned as follows:
Ashes Against The Grain - Agalloch
 Dowsing Anemone With Copper Tongue - Kayo Dot
 Ewas Vader - One Shot
 Heart full of Sky - Mostly Autumn
 Perpetuum Karma - Nexus
 Wild Orchids - Steve Hackett
 Surface to Air - Zombi
 Spock's Beard - Spock's Beard
 Enter - Russian Circles
 It was as close as it gets with a deadlock between Tool and The Tangent.
But after a last minute poll the winner was decided.
AND THE WINNER IS...
My Review:
**** Tool blaze a trail of glory on "10, 000 Days" with raucous metal riffing precision and powerful song structures. The riffs are like machines in factories churning out iconic metal prog, check out that machine gun attacks on 'Jambi' for example. It begins with a blast of riffing elegance on 'Vicarious' with the Tool signature sound, razor edge riffs and emotive raspy vocals that echo more anger than the average screamer. The attitude of the band has always been to attack at the jugular vein of society and reveal the uglier side of humanity. The lead breaks are as well executed as the distorted riffs, such as the wah-wah vocoder effects of Adam Jones' lead guitar on 'Jambi'. Tool have a relentless rhythmic pace that is familiar to all Toolaholics, from previous albums "Aenima" and "Lateralus." The angular guitar phrases and odd time signatures are a key feature and the dark lyrics sung with so much passion by Maynard James Keenan. On 'Wings for Marie (Pt 1)' the droning ambience of layered guitars and extended vocal intonations are ethereal and atmospheric. Justin Chancellor's bass drones menacingly and then the percussion explosion of Danny Carey augments the chilling soundscape. '10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2)' is where the complex musicianship really comes into effect and all in 11 glorious minutes. This is a masterful track beginning with stormy distant thunder and a guitar picking phrase. The clean low key vocals speak of a river, the tales of a saviour, trials and tribulations, "a congregation gather round spewing sympathy, spare me", and "blinded by choices" you are "safely on your way". It builds with looming menace as the thunder gets closer and some violining guitar swirls, sounding like Pink Floyd's 'Empty Spaces'. Eventually loud thunder crashes lead to a fast hypnotic motif and some more forced vocals. It kind of sits on the one note musically but is very effective with its brooding atmosphere. It breaks into a loud instrumental break powered by phased guitar and a vibrant bassline. The lead break has sustained feedback and some wonderful string bends with soaring elegance. It gets heavier at the end until the whispered portentous vocals "never lived a life, never took a life", capping of a masterful track. 'The Pot' is next beginning with a capella vocals "who are you to wave your finger you must have been out of your head". The tribal percussion and strange guitar effect is soon joined by a chugging riff, as heavy as distortion can get. The melody on this is more accessible than previous track and has the repeated phrase "you must have been high". I like the pulsing riff that locks in at the end as a snarling guitar blasts over; it is an enduring track. Keenan's guitar is interminably locked into a D minor pentatonic scale but it is recognizable as trademark Tool, and the sound really haunts well after the album is over. 'Lipan Conjuring' is one of the short Tool tracks with tribal vocal intonations and a mystical percussion feel with some guitar. It is a transition into 'Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann)', a track that really made me sit up and take notice when I first heard this album years ago. It is dominated with sustained lead notes feeling very dark and downbeat. A nurse's voice converses with a doctor about a situation of concern. They have a patient who is experiencing some kind of catatonic state. We hear his breathing and then the band launch into 'Rosetta Stoned'. This is an 11 minute prog metal blaster, with chunky riffs and speed rapping. A very weird vocal is soon heard, overlayed growls and phased vocals enhance the ominous atmosphere. It builds eventually to the zinging guitar effects done by slashing a pick over the strings, and an excellent time sig change moves the track into a new direction. The polyrhythmic riffs are mesmirising and inspiring, and the bassline solo on this is incredible. One of the best tracks on the album without a doubt. The last three tracks are linked well making the album culminate in some intricate riffs and time sigs. 'Intension' follows on with a weird intro of shifting glass and leaves with an stoned atmosphere of loneliness, and the air is intense with whispered rage. The bass emanates nicely and there are harmonised vocals, so effectively layered over. It is one of the quietest moments on the album, but threatens to break out any moment. When the rhythms stop a lone guitar echoes in the night, before a bass joins and then percussion. It builds to more power until the melodic vocals return. The guitar is beautiful on this song, understated and melodic. 'Right In Two' has a similar rhythm, slow and patient with soft vocals. I like Tool when they are in their melancholic mood but at times I long for a blast of distortion to keep things interesting. This one has some psychedelic textures but is overall replete with chilling lyrics such as the "2001: A Space Odyssey" inspired verse; "Monkey killing monkey killing monkey over pieces of the ground, Silly monkeys give them thumbs, they make a club, and beat their brother down, How they survive so misguided is a mystery, Repugnant is a Creature who would squander the ability, To lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here." It builds to a heavier section, with the repeated "cut and divide it right in two." Tool finish albums with disturbing material, such as the Area 51 rant on "Lateralus", and here is no exception with the esoteric 'Viginti Tres', Latin for 23. After a cosmic pulse sounding like a planetary signal, a deep voice is heard uttering a mystical phrase, and then it emanates into oblivion. As scary as Tool like to get and one that has been interpreted over the years as leaving the body into some state of transcendental realm. The uttered phrase "asisco" apparently means to "take-in" or "accept", spoken in the angelic language known as Enochian. It makes more sense understanding that the album was dedicated to Maynard James Keenan's mother, who died prior to its recording, and the voice may be taken as a means of God inducting his mother into Heaven. The pulse then may be the life machine she was plugged into prior to passing over. Interestingly enough if one syncs this track up to 'Wings For Marie (part 1)' it makes even more sense, as many have discovered. This form of syncing two tracks also has significant meaning along with the stereographic album artwork with the use of the special stereogram binoculars. The track has developed a cult following for all these reasons. Tool again have produced an intriguing album with masterclass musicianship, driven by angular guitar riffs and powerful vocals. It has some of the most innovative album design art ever, complete with those unique glasses making everything jump out in real 3D. The psycho-drama concept is heavy and hard to grasp as always but it is the music that really makes Tool such an endearing act. "10, 000 Days" is as good as "Lateralus", forever my favourite of theirs, and this is well worth a visit now and then; a wonderful example of the band as inventive metal geniuses.
Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - October 20 2014 at 02:43 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: January 26 2011 at 20:23 |
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^^^^ I can arrange that.... he he
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Triceratopsoil
Forum Senior Member 
Joined: April 03 2010 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 18016 |
Posted: January 26 2011 at 20:18 |
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This thread needs more pictures
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: January 26 2011 at 20:05 |
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Part 39: Prog Poll through the years 2005 Top 15 - Here is the prog poll for definitive albums of 2005.
The new millennium was off to an excellent start with new bands adding their own style to prog. 2005 was a good year for prog and some of these albums are highly revered in the prog world. A great list to choose from, as good as it gets for some bands. Rockpalast Porcupine Tree
 Second Life Syndrome Riverside
 ? = Neal Morse  Ghost Reveries Opeth
 Room V Shadow Gallery
 The Art Of Navigating By The Stars Sieges Even
 The Way Up Pat Metheny
 Deadwing Porcupine Tree
 The Fullness Of Time Redemption
 The Black Halo Kamelot
 Frances The Mute The Mars Volta
 The Dreams Of Men Pallas
 Present Van Der Graaf Generator
 Peppers Ghost Arena
 Octavarium Dream Theater
In a very strong year for Prog there were many choices for other:
Blood Inside - Ulver
 Catch 33 - Meshuggah
 Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV: from Fear Through the Eyes of Madness - Coheed and Cambria  S.U.S.A.R - Indukti
 I Am - Tomas Bodin
 Believe - Pendragon
 Wall Street Voodoo - Roine Stolt
 Rapture of the Deep - Deep Purple
 Chupacabras - Phideaux
 AND THE WINNER IS... Deadwing - Porcupine Tree
My introduction to Porcupine Tree began here and I was overwhlemed by the blend of heavy crunching guitar riffing and mellotrone ambience. I believe I was hooked from the moment I heard 'Shallow' which remains my favourite PT track even after getting hold of their last few albums and DVD. One of the greatest example of neo-progressive heavy rock by arguably the best in the business. Wilson's voice is mesmirizing on every track. Barbieri's keyboards are a beautiful touch that permeate the album from beginning to end. It is a masterfully produced work that deserves all the attention it has garnered. Streets ahead of previous Porcupine Tree material and a real turning point after 'In Absentia' which was also masterfully produced, though not up to this standard. The melodies remain in your head well after the CD has ended in particular 'Mellotron Scratch', 'Start of Something Beautiful' and 'Lazarus'. The production and art work are worthy of note too, a juxtaposition of sound, visual images and symbolism to paint a picture that is powerful enough to remember. The album artwork seems to point to a disaster in a car crash resulting in the ghostly apparition of one of the deceased. I am not entirely sure but the enigma and mystique is evident and quite compelling. One reason to get hold of this album is the wonderful mini epic 'Arriving Somewhere...' that has some innovative melodies and an incredible instrumental section featuring great guitar riffs and relaxing keyboards. The time signature shifts are classic prog rock. The Pink Floyd and Yes influences are evident. There are undoubtedly huge influences from classic prog bands in this music. The entrancing and mesmirising atmospheric slow moving tracks at the end of the album use techniques of minimalism and a huge wall of sound builds up to a crescendo. 'Open Car' for instance is simply hypnotising. The ghost track is an old favourite but well executed here and a pleasant surprise when you are not expecting it. All the tracks are unique, inspired and demonstrate the musical complexity that is essentially Porcupine Tree. Many tracks appear on the live DVD 'Arriving Somewhere...' but the studio versions presented on this album are the best versions. I have no hesitation in awarding this incredible album 5 stars. The musical dexterity exceeded my expectations and I systematically was compelled to get hold of everything else the band has done. Porcupine Tree are keeping the neo heavy prog dream well and truly alive and are hailed today as masters of the genre! Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - October 20 2014 at 02:33 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: January 26 2011 at 19:13 |
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DamoXt7942
Special Collaborator
Joined: October 15 2008 Location: Okayama, Japan Status: Offline Points: 17493 |
Posted: January 26 2011 at 12:21 |
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Scott, welcome back.
Sooooo glad everything around you has got better. |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: January 26 2011 at 08:48 |
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Part 38: Prog Poll through the years 2004 Top 15 - Here is the prog poll for definitive albums of 2004. Bear in mind of course I cant place every album but these are the ones that seem to find their way into best of lists and are discussed by progheads. Metal was still progressive but many symphonic bands made an impact in 2004. The albums were of exceptional quality with a few becoming absolute essential prog classics. 12:5 Pain Of Salvation   The Human Equation Ayreon  K.A. Magma  Isa Enslaved
 Back To Times Of Splendor Disillusion
 Be Pain Of Salvation
 Of Natural History Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
 Mabool-The Story Of The Three Sons Of Seven Orphaned Land  Seven Magenta
 Abydos Abydos
 One Neal Morse
 Marbles Marillion
 Dark Matter IQ
 Leviathon Mastodon
The World That We Drive Through - The Tangent
 In a Safe Place - The Album Leaf
 Fripp & Eno - The Equatorial Stars
 L'Infinito - Le Orme
 Guapo - Five Suns
 A lengthy List was mentioned:
Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains Big Eyball in the Sky, The
Medeski Martin and Wood End of the World Party (just in case) Belew, Adrian side one Netkar Evolution Muffins, The Double Negative Frith, Fred and Arditti String Quartet, Uwe Dierkson, William Winant Eleventh Hour Hackett, Steve & The Underworld Orchestra Metamorpheus Happy The Man Muse Awakens, The Manzanera, Phil 6pm Ozric Tentacles Spirals In Hyperspace Phideaux Fiendish Phideaux Ghost Story Umphrey's McGee Anchor Drops Big Big Train Gathering Speed Marilion and IQ battled it out for a while deadlocked but eventually one winner in a great year for Prog:
AND THE WINNER IS... Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - October 20 2014 at 02:27 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: January 26 2011 at 07:42 |
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OK I will get busy and post the next year in this blog. Its been a while but I think the time has come...
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: January 05 2011 at 04:22 |
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Ok So what are we up to 2004?
I will get busy collating that now then, still 20 mins to vote though if you have not in that poll thread.
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: November 27 2010 at 06:34 |
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Part 37: Prog Poll through the years 2003 Top 15 - Here is the prog poll for definitive albums of 2003. If I missed any that you believe are essential, place them in other section. Bear in mind of course I cant place every album but these are the ones that seem to find their way into best of lists and are discussed by progheads. Some excellent albums in 2003 and a real impact on many new bands with the likes of some of the more popular bands releasing exceptional albums. Rush In Rio Rush  Deloused In The Comatorium The Mars Volta  Out Of Myself Riverside  Choirs Of The Eye Kayo Dot  Last Epic A.C.T.  The Power To Believe King Crimson  Testimony Neal Morse  Effloresce Oceansize  Damnation Opeth  Epica Kamelot  Gravity Anekdoten  Accelerated Evolution Devin Townsend  Train Of Thought Dream Theater  Passengers Mostly Autumn  Underworld - Adagio
Results:
Others:
Muse - Absolution  From Land to Ocean by Galleon.  A Blessing In Disguise Green Carnation  Seven Reizh Ys Triskadenn  Virus Carheart  Volapuk - Where is Tamashii?
 AND THE WINNERS ARE... very close but here are the top 3 separated by a vote 1 Mars Volta 2 Opeth 3 King Crimson fantastic!
Reviews!
Deloused in the Comatorium
**** One of the most ferociously original heavy prog bands of the new millennium.
The Mars Volta blazed onto the scene with this incredible debut album that was unlike anything we had ever heard, borrowing elements from free form jazz, to heavy riffing and psychedelia, every track becomes part of the whole. The conceptual framework is based on the heavy sense of alienation and loss of sanity. The intro, Son et Lumiere, is a rather hypnotic guitar motif that introduces the next track. Inertiatic ESP includes the repetitive vacals, "Now I'm lost..." over fast guitar work and raucous off kilter drum patterns. The lead instrumental section is strange and frenetic and became a signature trademark of the band's inemitable style. Roulette Dares (The Haunt of) is a lengthy track that twists and turns in a myriad of musical directions. The vocal performance of Cedric Bixler-Zavala is monotone and estranged, at times sounding like Led Zeppelin or Muse, and hard to pin down in sections. There is a complexity of musical styles underlying each track that rises and falls in crescendos. The lyrics are non sensical but become part of the performance as we hear of 'exoskeletal judges at the railroad...' whatever it means, it becomes an extension of the soundscape. Drunkship of Lanterns is a highlight with the abrupt guitar riffs of Omar Rodriguez-Lopez and quirky jazz drums and metrical patterns of Jon Theodore that would send any metronome into overdrive. At times the pace is chaotic and this is balanced with moments of quiet beauty. "Is anybody there.. nobody's hurt" Bixler-Zavala wails in desperation. The invigorating display of group dynamics is evident on the excellent Eriatarka, with an interplay of guitar and bass and unexpected elements of jazz fusion thrown in the mix. It begins with bird calls and ends on a long somber note. Cicatriz ESP is the killer 12 minute mini epic that begins on one riff and ends on another, frenetic and immersed in clanging guitars and bass. The surging keyboards add to the effect of guitar heavy sounds feeling at times like free rock improv. Televators is another highlight and a softer track than the others almost entirely acoustic. This prepares us for the intensity of Take the Veil Cerpin Taxt. The sound is very unfriendly at times and not for all tastes but its a wash of heavy guitars and screaming vocals with many abrupt stop and starts in the music. The electric modalities are undisputably progressive and their are virtuosic leaps of guitar mastery that express the chaotic atmosphere. It all becomes isolated in a drone towards the end The conclusion is this is a debut album any progger would be proud of. It set the scene for great things to come with 'Frances The Mute', the best of the band, and the excellent 'Amputechture'. The Mars Volta should not be ignored and this would appeal to anyone who love their prog unusual and heavy and laced with lashings of the psychedelic. Damnation
**** Damnation is a beautifully crafted melancholy Gothic work that has some of the best of the mellower side of Opeth. The influence from Porcupine Tree is evident as there is a lot of tracks that are a similar style due to Wilson's input. The excellent Windowpane starts the album on a positive note, merging very quiet vocals and virtuoso guitar riffing.
In My Time Of Need is my favourite track on the album that features a melody that really captivates the listener. Death Whispered A Lullaby is another excellent track that is brooding and full of emotive lyrics. Other highlights include To Rid The Disease and Weakness. Overall this is the best Opeth I have heard so far and without the death metal vocalisations and chugging metal riffs, it is a pleasant surprise, and well sung and played. A brave move for a death metal band to record this, but it is so masterfully produced, it is captivating from beginning to end. The Power To Believe
***** This King Crimson album gave me the power to believe that there was more to offer from these quintessential prog legends. The album is very different than other Crim releases but that makes it all the more endearing. It opens with a cappella and moves to some odd xylophone and percussion reminiscent to the opening of 'Larks' Tongues In Aspic Part One'. There are Arabian flavours in the music and it is very off kilter on 'Level Five'. It is Part 5 in essence of the continuing Larks' saga, but way better than Parts III and IV. This segues seamlessly into 'Eyes Wide Open', with Adrian Belew sounding clear and pleasant on vocals. The melody is catchy, Fripp's riff is complex, the harmonies are perfect, and it veers the album in a new direction; this is one of the Crim's more consistent albums and is accessible for the majority. 'Elektrik', follows with an intro of pseudo brass, and then Fripp's guitars burst with chiming polyphonics. There is a passage of competing rhythms as the guitarists execute unusual figures with eighth and sixteenth bars. These instrumentals are stunning, very irregular patterns over crunching off beat rhythms. The symphonic strings are drowned out by a cavalcade of guitars and drums that pound like sledgehammers. This is one of the greatest King Crimson instrumentals. 'Facts of Life' is one of my favourites on this release, with a separate intro sounding like the coming of a storm, then it is blitzkrieged by a tempestuous percussion outburst by Pat Mastelotto. There are returns to the trademark polyphonic or mixolydian style that have made the band unique, and the guitars ascend during the chorus in contrast to the monotone melody. I love the raspy vocals akin to the style of '21st Century Schizoid Man' in some respects; "six million ants crawling on a plate" and "it doesn't mean you should just because you can". The lead solo has the guitar fuzzed up to maximum distortion and it grinds along with powerful strokes over the quirky tempo. This is one of the best King Crimson songs, a wonderful dark blockbuster with an infectious melody and intricate playing. The next track segues immediately to 'The Power To Believe II', that is a sparse instrumental with Arabian influences, Oriental and Eastern sounds. Trey Gunn on rubber bass is an incredible force here joined by the masterful drumming of Pat Mastelotto. The music is liquid like dripping over those course Arabian vocal intonations. The bassline over the Oriental guitars is effective. 'Dangerous Curves' is played in 12/8 signature, and is simply astonishing musicianship. It is more keyboard driven than others here, and has a chilling edge. It builds up then releases with some creepy sonic atmospherics. 'Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With' reminds me of the terrific 'The World's My Oyster Soup Kitchen Floor Wax Museum', with the humorous word play and uptempo melodic rhythms. The lyrics are sung through a distorted box, as the lyrics state; "Then I'm gonna have to write a chorus, We're gonna need to have a chorus, And this seems to be as good as any other place to sing it till I'm blue in the face". 'The Power to Believe III' is more processed vocals, and a soundtrack fractured into industrial noises, clanging and banging. Fripp's guitar work is out of the box, he is really vibrant throughout this recording, the band seem inspired and it is a pleasure to listen to when they are in this mood. The monochromatic basslines and sporadic drumming are complimented by the screaming axe of Fripp. It is followed by 'The Power to Believe IV: Coda' which is an instrumental bookending the opening of the album with the same style, and it reminds me of the sweeping synth style of Vangelis, with elongated synth pads and high string sounds, decidedly spacey and celestial. Overall, this is a powerhouse album from King Crimson and surprised me somewhat as I had been a bit disillusioned by the efforts of the last three albums such as "The ConstruKction of Light" that were not easy to digest. King Crimson are always a challenge but if it is not compelling and entrancing my ears soon give up. On "The Power to Believe" everything strikes the right chord and it has a style all of its own, unique to the band and a musical journey that will give you the power to believe. Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - October 20 2014 at 02:21 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: November 27 2010 at 04:58 |
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Part 36: Prog Poll through the years 2002 Top 15 - Here is the prog poll for definitive albums of 2002. More prog metal than you can poke a stick at but some other classic proggers were inspirational as this list shows, and this was a very difficult list to choose from as the albums were high quality overall. A great year for prog again at last! Remedy Lane Pain Of Salvation
In Absentia Porcupine Tree
Contagion Arena
6 Degrees Of Inner Turbulence Dream Theater
The Sham Mirrors Arcturus
A Nod and a Wink Camel
Up Peter Gabriel
The Odyssey Symphony X
A Night At The Opera Blind Guardian
Yanqui U.X.O. Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Unfold The Future The Flower Kings
( ) Sigur Ros
Snow Spocks Beard
Deliverance Opeth
Vapor Trails Rush
The Results:
The Others: Such Fine Particles of the Universe Bubblemath
Nebelnest - Nova Express  Sotos' Platypus
After a lot of voting there was a clear winner!
AND THE WINNER IS...  My Review:
****One of the greatest example of neo-progressive rock by arguably the best in the business. Porcupine Tree have triumphed with their unique blend of soft acoustic melodica merged with heavy crunching killer guitar riffs. Wilson's voice is mesmirizing on every track. Barbieri's keyboards are a beautiful touch that permeate the album from beginning to end. It is a masterfully produced work that deserves all the attention it has garnered. Streets ahead of previous Porcupine Tree material and the best was yet to come following this album. But 'In Absentia' is an excellent way of being introduced to this important heavy prog band. They are complex in parts but never over excessive. And the melodies remain in your head well after the CD has ended. The production and art work are worthy of note too; a juxtaposition of sound, visual images and symbolism to paint a picture that is powerful enough to remember.
Highlights include the wonderful 'Blackest Eyes' with the inspired riff that propels it to its sudden conclusion. The time signature shifts are classic prog rock. 'Trains' is an excellent acoustically driven track that even sounds at one point like a train on a track, especially the ending. A lot of this track, and others, sound curiously like Pink Floyd meets Yes. There are undoubtedly huge influences from classic prog bands in this music. 'The Sound of Muzak' has a very catchy melody and Wilson is in full voice, as are the harmonies from other band members. Check this song out for a great example of melody and awesome musical interludes. 'Collapse the Light Into Earth' is a mesmirising slow moving track that uses techniques of minimalism and a huge wall of sound builds up to a crescendo. The track sends you to another place, and has the power to entrance the listener. Close your eyes and let it take you. It is as relaxing as anything the band were producing in their early days. All the tracks are unique, inspired and demonstrate the musical complexity that is essentially Porcupine Tree. Many tracks appear on the live DVD 'Arriving Somewhere...' but the studio versions presented on this album are the best versions. A real surprise! I was blown away by the musical dexterity and depth of this album. Following this was 'Deadwing' which is even better! Both are recommended! Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - October 20 2014 at 02:12 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: November 13 2010 at 06:55 |
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Part 35: Prog Poll through the years 2001 Top 15 - Here is the prog poll for definitive albums of 2001. The new millennium was replete with experimental progressive metal and it began with a lot of well executed albums. Had to miss a lot out as at least 50 received high ratings! The Perfect Element Part 1 Pain Of Salvation
Terria Devin Townsend
Blackwater Park Opeth
Leaving Your Body Map Maudlin Of The Well
Lateralus Tool
Bridge Across Forever Transatlantic
Light of Day, Day Of Darkness Green Carnation
Burn The Sun Ark
The Towers Of Avarice Zero Hour
The Last Bright Light Mostly Autumn
In Search Of Truth Evergrey
Imaginary Friends A.C.T
Live Scenes From New York Dream Theater
Operation: Livecrime Queensryche
The results:
The Others: Karda Estra - Eve
Magnification Yes
Return of the long list too: 2001 an odd space city. You have not listed a single album that I have from that year. I offer up some others: Interesting posts: I think that Metanoia by Nexus deserved at least a place on the candidates. As I've said several times, one of the best South American prog releases ever.
It was dead even for a while: I posted Its dead even vote please
Then this happened:
Then this result 4 months later: Lateralus Tool 16 [20.25%] Bridge Across Forever Transatlantic 18 [22.78%] THE WINNER IS:
Bridge Across Forever - Transatlantic
 Review coming:
Followed Closely By:
 My Review
***** Tool's 'Lateralus' is neo progressive at its darkest.
Tool compacts metal staccato riffs of varying metrical patterns with cynical lyrics to produce an album of exceptional quality. 'The Grudge' blazes from beginning to end and features very off-balance guitar riffing and time signature changes reminiscent of the best of symphonic prog such as ELP's 'Tarkus' and Yes's 'Long Distance Runaround'. Tool stands alone as an edgy, industrialized prog metal. Highlights include 'Patient', 'Schism', 'Parabola', 'Lateralis', 'Reflection' and 'Triad'. Of note is the guitar riffing and percussion tremors that pound incessantly. How do you end an album of this grand scale? Why, with a quirky monologue of course. The monologue in 'Faaip De Oiad' features a filtered voice over an ethereal atmospheric soundwave. The voice explains as follows: I, I don't have a whole lot of time. Um, OK, I'm a former employee of Area 51. I, I was let go on a medical discharge about a week ago and, and... I've kind of been running across the country. Damn, I don't know where to start, they're, they're gonna, um, they'll triangulate on this position really soon. OK, um, um, OK, what we're thinking of as, as aliens, they're extradimensional beings, that, an earlier precursor of the, um, space program they made contact with. They are not what they claim to be. Uh, they've infiltrated a, a lot of aspects of, of, of the military establishment, particularly the Area 51. The disasters that are coming, they, the military, I'm sorry, the government knows about them. And there's a lot of safe areas in this world that they could begin moving the population to now. They are not! They want those major population centers wiped out so that the few that are left will be more easily controllable. Creepy stuff and unforgettable once it penetrates the conscious. The soundwave of sonic white noise is incredible. The same approach is revisited on '10,000 Days' closing track. In conclusion 'Lateralus' is a prime example of prog metal genius. Overarching themes and huge wall of sound metal. It is Tool's finest album, never bettered. Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - October 20 2014 at 02:08 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: November 13 2010 at 02:47 |
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Part 34: Prog Poll through the years 2000 Top 15 - Here is the prog poll for definitive albums of 2000. A new millennium and a new phase for prog with the birth of new sub genres and a plethora of up and coming bands the genre was never better since the Golden Era of the 70s. The first year of the 2000s was full of great albums like this list of 15. Live Archives 70,80,90s Steve Hackett
In The Flesh Live Roger Waters
The Shaming of the True Kevin Gilbert
V: The New Mythology Suite Symphony X
Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Disconnected Fates Warning
V Spocks Beard
SMPTe Transatlantic
Lightbulb Sun Porcupine Tree
The Seventh House IQ
Kid A - Radiohead
Immortal? Arena
Space Revolver The Flower Kings
The Fourth Legacy Kamelot
The Universal Migrator part one: The Dream Sequencer Ayreon
The results:
The Others: Perdition City Ulver (3 votes)
Situation Dangerous - Bozzio, Levin & Stevens
Iona- Open Sky
Lost and Found - KBB  Strong mention for: Robotobibok - jogging
Interesting Posts: (after I had posted 1967-2000 polls non stop) Suddenly the polls from AtomicCrimsonRush have stopped. I'm guessing he crashed and burned after the caffeine wore off. And: Minstrel 's Faust, Janos Varga Project- Wings I , Odyssice- Impressions, Grandstand's debut album and After Crying's Struggle for Life. And this: Shaming of The True... easily. If you don't already have this MASTERPIECE by Kevin Gilbert, go out and buy it today. I'm not joking. AND THE WINNER IS...  My Review: **** 10 songs that made a million...
Porcupine Tree's "Lightbulb Sun" ages well like fine wine, and listening back to this after a long hiatus from Porcupine Tree and indulging in so many other artists and styles was sheer bliss. The relaxing feel of the band, the powerful melodies and Steven Wilson's brilliant crystalline vocals were outstanding. The songs that jumped out and brought instant satisfaction include 'Lightbulb Sun' with such a wonderful melody and serene atmosphere. The heavy guitar riff is never overbearing but such a mark of excellence. The quality of the sound is a high point of the album. '4 Chords that Made a Million' has such an infectious tune that is was hard to get out of my head. 'Shesmovedon' is absolutely moving and of course had featured on other Porcupine Tree albums following this such as 'Deadwing' and many live albums. The lead break is incredible and rises to a crescendo. It segues into an acoustic jangly passage and Wilson's vocals are mixed to the front, more intimate and not so distant and spacious as usual on the memorable title 'Last Chance To Evacuate Planet Earth Before It Is Recycled'. Barbieri's keyboards are a beautiful chiming augmentation and the starman alien narrative is a nice touch adding to the atmosphere. The album is the 6th studio album and, after some intricate lengthy spacey projects with huge epic pieces focussing on instrumentation over lyrics, this was a much more mature offering. The songs are short and memorable and I believe it was the beginning of worldwide success for the band. The floodgates well and truly broke open after this 2000 album with the likes of 3 masterpieces in a row, "In Absentia" 2002, "Deadwing" 2005 and "Fear of a Blank Planet" 2007. The band were exploring new territory from "Signify" onward discarding the massive epic length tracks which had to happen in order to break into a more profitable market. The shift in style worked for the band and of course they have become one of the most well know bands in the prog circuit. The DVD "Arriving Somewhere" features a lot of past songs from the band's history and from "Lightbulb Sun" the intricate 'Hatesong' is chosen, a song showcasing the heavier side of the band especially the repeated awesome 7 note riff that drives the song with the odd time signature. The musicianship is always exceptional. The band have extraordinary talent and this album is the first truly consistent work in terms of musicianship and song structures. The dreamier side of Porcupine Tree with strong acoustic flourishes is a major focus such as the lightweight 'Where We Would Be', the catchy 'How Is Your Life Today?' and the ethereal 'The Rest Will Flow'. The longer than 10 minutes track on the album, that became obligatory on Porcupine Tree works in more recent years, is the 13 minute 'Russia On Ice'. Unlike 'Arriving Somewhere But Not Here', or 'Anesthetize', that are both works of brilliance and indispensable in Porcupine Tree's catalogue, 'Russia On Ice' is not as well known. In any case it still is a song with some epic playing and very powerful sections. It begins with spacey keyboards and a heavier guitar, slow and brooding, creeps along the temperate drums. Wilson's vocals sound like the post "In Absentia" tones, reflective and distant; "Can't stop myself drinking, can't stop being me, if I call will you come and will you save me?" The slow cadence is very relaxing but melancholic especially the guitars. The bassline becomes the main instrument in the mid section, and then a crunching metal distorted guitar enters. The rhythm locks in and the song changes into a metal style which is jarring, given all the ambience previously. The sound that follows is industrial like Gary Numan, with mechanised percussion and effects, and even the guitars are machinery like, especially at 10 minutes into it. A bell begins to toll after this lengthy instrumental section and the ambience returns. The album closes with 'Feel So Low' which is lulling and dreamy. Wilson sings quietly "I can laugh about it now, but I hated every minute I was waiting for your email, and each day that you forgot to call, just made me feel so low, so low". Once again Wilson injects modern technology into his lyrics such as emails and later on "FOABP" the X-box. It is a soothing way to close the album, though Wilson is singing about a broken relationship. At the end of this album one comes away feeling refreshed and satisfied as the music is uplifting and pleasant ear candy throughout. The best was yet to come but this is a solid album worthy of many repeated listens. Edited by AtomicCrimsonRush - October 20 2014 at 02:06 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: November 10 2010 at 06:56 |
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I will continue this blog soon, when I can collate the poll results that is.... |
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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 02 2008 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 14258 |
Posted: October 27 2010 at 08:41 |
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 Thanks so muchVery kind words, makes it all worthwhile to read things as you posted...
i will indeed keep the prog flame burning!
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moshkito
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 04 2007 Location: Grok City Status: Offline Points: 17524 |
Posted: September 24 2010 at 18:37 |
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Hi, There is only one problem with all that stuff that Atomic posted ... the SOB has now fatten'd my list from 110 albums to 435 albums ... and I have no idea how the fudges I can afford all that or when I'll be able to listen to half of that!
And I'm not a "song" listener ... I have to hear the whole album! .... so things like youtube is crap for me!
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Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com |
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Catcher10
Forum Senior Member
VIP Member Joined: December 23 2009 Location: Emerald City Status: Offline Points: 17847 |
Posted: September 17 2010 at 23:15 |
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AtomicCrimsonRush.....you are my hero!! I have read this blog probably 4-5x but this is my first post here. It is eye opening to see how the voting has gone, you certainly get a pretty good feel of who the main prog artists are. Not only from a popularity stand point, but as you have pointed out in your reviews from a musical, lyrical and stylistic point of view.
I'm 46 and certainly can relate to all the "changes" in prog since the mid 70's. Some of the years you can feel the prog mood just disappearing in general...but then there are a few bands that did an amazing job of keeping the prog flame burning.....and still today are putting out some amazing material.
I have tried to keep an open mind in the blog, and because of that I really have no critique of your work.....Its well done, well thought out and complete...in my mind.
Look forward to more........fantastic job!!!!
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moshkito
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 04 2007 Location: Grok City Status: Offline Points: 17524 |
Posted: September 09 2010 at 16:31 |
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1967 for me ... was a very rough year.
What helped me make through it was ... you guessed it ... music!
Madison, Wisconsin! Small city with big university with 50k students ... that take over for 9 months out of the year. The city jumps and dances and is active like crazy and has so many arts and music coming and going ... never stops! And the albums at the time I had were, Beatles (of course), Rolling Stones (stopped after Exile), Moody Blues (I guess this was the poetic version of music then for me!), Jimi Hendrix and Arthur Brown and Jefferson Airplane and Doors. And of course ... Creedence! So let's play Foreign Son and Epitath back to back shall we? ... ohhh add Jimi and the anthem right after it and then Toni's Amazing Grace! ... and if we're bored, Willie Nelson's right behind it!
Of all these albums, I would agree that The Beatles was the best known and certainly the most ... outrageous thing out there ... that really got people's motors running ... because it was so different ... and since it sold gigantic, radio had to play it. And as soon as it did, you immediately heard about the White Rabbit, and the one about the Lighting the Fire, and the one on Purple Haze ... which btw was not the original hit ... Foxy Lady was because too many people thought that a drug reference was bad!!!!! .... and the odd one was the God of Hell Fire! I also had heard Jethro Tull but it was not on the radio ... it was at a party where everyone was very ripped and it was there that I also heard Fairport Convention and Pentangle.
It was a time when ... it was cool and far out to listen to new things and no one sat there tripping on "prog" or "jazz" or "rock'n'roll" ... people appreciated the music and a lot of the words that were used for the lyrics.
Looking back in time, I agree that The Beatles are the biggest of the albums and most important ... it blew out the tires in popular radio and opened the waves to new music ... that otherwise would have had a very hard time being heard. Not to mention that one big song out there was out right about tripping ... Purple Haze!
To me, when things like Vanilla Fudge and Deep Purple got there, it was already a come down from the quality of the music. It was more unabashed rock music and less "art" in my book, and I have never thought that these bands were important and one would be hard pressed to match any DP lyric next to Epitath ... and try to find any relevancy in between ... it simply was not that important and was more loud instrument bashing (at the time Deep Purple were known to be one of the loudest out there) ... which turned me off completely since when you listened to almost any of these albums above, with the exception of one of them, the fidelity and quality of the work did not require "loudness" ... but ... it made your ears ring when you were ripped and that had the effect fo rmaking you think that the trip was even better!
(more later - I'm at work)
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Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com |
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moshkito
Forum Senior Member
Joined: January 04 2007 Location: Grok City Status: Offline Points: 17524 |
Posted: September 09 2010 at 15:50 |
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Thx so kindly for the nice words.
I'll try to add more as time allows, and the German and French scene is the one I want to go after more than anything else ... but, it really scares me to write some of these things, since I came with "all the arts" and was in theater and film along with music. And being in a literature house (45k books of portuguese, spanish and brazilian literature) ... should give you a pretty big idea of where I come from when I am writing these things. And some of the comments I get in this board ... is scary at times ... like history is not important and that we're old codgers that don't know music!
I am passionate about the "quotidian" studies of these things. Most music doesn't make sense on its own out in the middle of the universe right by Pluto in the 24 1/2 century! But when you place the White Album next to London at the time, or KC, or Pink Floyd and Soft Machine ... and check out that one movie that has so little and yet has so much in it ... all the names ... and the artists ... all the writers ... and ... the music ... and Robert Wyatt standing up and doing an ABC in the middle of all that "cavalry" ... could almost be considered "insolence" ... but the open'ess of the time and the arts involved made other points about the music that we dismiss ... like we take "jazz" too seriously?
A million bands would love to have the guts ... to be relevant and make a name for themselves in art history ... but only those that stand up to be counted will ever be remembered ... and this is the legacy of "progressive" music ... and the larger part that we miss and need to add to make this music more important and visible. Edited by moshkito - September 09 2010 at 15:52 |
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Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
www.pedrosena.com |
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A look at the best prog albums through the years
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DamoXt7942 wrote:
