IQ Appreciation Thread

As well as producing consistently good studio albums for the last 30 years, IQ are a superb live band. Their performance of the entire 1997 album 'Subterranea' at O13, Tilburg, Holland, on 4th April 1999 (released on DVD) and the wonderful 'IQ20' DVD from the Mean Fiddler in London in December 2001 are archived proof of this for anyone who has not been lucky enough to actually see them live.

Edited by yam yam - April 15 2014 at 03:58

AtlantisAgony wrote: IQ introduced me to neo prog too (beyond Marillion). Well, 80s neo prog anyways. To my ears IQ's Tales from the Lush Attic is the most 'proggy' of the neo-prog debuts. The Last Human Gateway is really an impressive track. :D I recently purchased the remastered anniversary version of 'The Wake'. Does anyone else actually prefer the first CD version? The treble is far too high, to my ears at least. Sometimes it's a bit unpleasant, which is something I don't often experience. On the other hand some things have been cleared up in this version. The drums sound clearer (they seemed to be a bit "muddled" before) and the instruments seem a bit more separated. It sounds broader and not as 'narrow' as the old version did.

In light of your comments I can strongly recommend 'The Wake Live' (think it was mentioned earlier in the thread). I was more than pleasantly surprised how good the recording and the performance is. There is a DVD as well.

I only have Frequency, and although I enjoyed it the first few times I listened to it, I havent gone back to it (mostly because of discovering so many other albums). I will need to re-explore this one soon.

I recently purchased the remastered anniversary version of 'The Wake'. Does anyone else actually prefer the first CD version? The treble is far too high, to my ears at least. Sometimes it's a bit unpleasant, which is something I don't often experience. On the other hand some things have been cleared up in this version. The drums sound clearer (they seemed to be a bit "muddled" before) and the instruments seem a bit more separated. It sounds broader and not as 'narrow' as the old version did. 

rushfan4 wrote: richardh wrote: rushfan4 wrote: I am lovin' me some Seventh House at the moment.  I reckon that to be Peter Nicholls best album for both lyrics and vocals.Very tight album which consolidates IQ sound and style. Do you like the track Shooting Angels? Seems to divide fans. I like it personally. I just gave Shooting Angels another listen since I am very bad at matching song titles with the actual songs.  Yes, I liked it.  I didn't have any problems with it at all  Good song.

rushfan4 wrote: I am lovin' me some Seventh House at the moment.

I reckon that to be Peter Nicholls best album for both lyrics and vocals.Very tight album which consolidates IQ sound and style.

Hober Mallow wrote: IQ have been a recent discovery and I am loving them. Next week I am getting Dark Matter in the mail, I'm very excited.

I'm sure you will enjoy it very much

I am listening to J'al Pollette D'arnu as I type this.  This has some decent songs on it.

richardh wrote: Solonine wrote: I am pretty new to, well, prog music. When I went to my local record store and asked one of the clerks (real prog freak) which albums he recommended, I went home a copy of Dark Matter. I haven't really explored it a lot since then, but I will be doing that the first thing in the morning. Wish me luck people, I am ready to love it. Good luck! Please let us know what you think (as long as its positive)

Dark Matter was my doorway into the world of IQ - cracking album!

Ah, Martin - we miss you...

I am pretty new to, well, prog music. When I went to my local record store and asked one of the clerks (real prog freak) which albums he recommended, I went home a copy of Dark Matter. I haven't really explored it a lot since then, but I will be doing that the first thing in the morning. Wish me luck people, I am ready to love it.