My opinions on various music I've recently heard

Oh...damn. Embarrassing....

10) Friday Night in San Francisco by DiMeola, Lucia, McLaughlin (Added September 9)
So, Friday Night in San Francisco, while definately an event I would like to experience, isn't as great as I thought. Its got tight (yet simple) arrangements, but its actually very much just them shredding away. Opening track is pretty cool, but its also mostly just shred soloing after the initial opening section. idk I'll have to listen to it again, but it doesn't seem like something I want to have anything to do with creatively speaking. I mean, Its definately something I want to be able to do ability wise, but even that (I know I have no place saying this because I haven't actually written anything like this yet) would be easy.

I'm speaking mostly from the experience I had learning the opening section of the opening track. Arguably (but not much) the best track from that album, and its pretty easy to learn minus the incredible speed.

Edited by DJPuffyLemon - September 09 2008 at 16:09

Personally, the simplicity and subsequent build in songs by bands like Tangent really appeal to me. Easy on the ears? Oh god yes, a lot more than something like Tool or Kayo Dot. What's wrong with that though? Nothing really. But it's all in personal opinion, some people just need their music to be complex. Personally, I just like what appeals to me. I thought the latest Tangent album was fan-freaking-tastic, and I feel it has a lot more longevity than some of the other bands you compared them to. But hey, that's my opinion. Ain't the world just full of them? Spice of life I say.

DJPuffyLemon wrote:   6b) Neo-prog + Modern Symphonic (Added June 29th) Okay, so I've put aside all my notions of these two genres and I've decided to give them another chance. (yay openmindedness). So here's my mindset: I'll go into this listening as though its a pop song or some sort of rock like Nickelback (ew nickelback?? yeah, nickelback).   Because that's basically what it is. the Tangent and FLower Kings are really nothing more than the pop of the prog world. Neo i guess i would call "art rock" but not quite as that would be an insult to art rock bands. So both are basically alternatives to normal rock which I won't try to give a name.

As far as being easy on the ears, Neo Prog does take the cake, pretty much. But I don't think you should go into it with any mindset. Just listen; you'll like it or not. But try not to be a drone and insult Neo like every other motherf**ker on the planet.

Yorkie X wrote: Cacho // I adore both Fish Marillion and Pendragon

Glad I have back-up.

Though, to the OP, beware that Nick Barret's voice is not that likeable, I must admit. Well at least for me. Though in time when you start to like the music you'll get pass the vocals. I'm not saying the voice is bad, but I don't think it's everybody's cup of tea.

Tell me when you got something by them. Remember check these ones:
The World (very good, but it gets better in the following albums)
Window of Life (my personal fave)
Masquerade Overture (OVERALL it's said to be their BEST)
Not of this World (haven't heard it. It has Mixed reviews. Some say it's their BEST some say it's their WEAKEST)

Also remember, as many Neo Prog bands, Pendragon has some notable influences like from Pink Floyd and Genesis. So in some songs you got some echoes, it doesn't make me any bad, but for some it does.

I don't see (hear?) how you can think "Fish Out Of Water" sounds more like Supertramp than Yes. But whatever...

As for Rialzu, you can read this review:
http://www.somnius.com/outermusicdiary/2008/04/19/rialzu-resan-zog/

and hear mp3's and buy through this link:
http://alain.lebon4.free.fr/soleil/rialzu-gb.html

As for Vangelis, I do like "Heaven and Hell", but "China" is even better.

DJPuffyLemon wrote: Ghost Rider wrote: The latter is one of my favourite prog albums ever, and in my review I gave it  5 stars. However, I don't agree about your statement that it doesn't sound like Yes. It does, yet doesn't... Never thought it sounded like Supertramp either. "Silently Falling" is in my opinion a masterpiece, though probably my favourite track is the jazzy "Lucky Seven". Superb musicianship, more than adequate singing by Chris, and THAT bass playing... No wonder he's my darling Micky's idol. Well dude look, it obviously SOUNDS like yes, but its not yes. Honestly while listening to it and coming to the conclusion that it sounded like Supertramp, I asked myself, which band would be more likely to put out an album like this? And believe it or not, from one listen it sounds much more like a supertramp album than a yes album. Ghost Rider wrote: As regards Italian Prog, if you think it sounds like British Prog on the basis of listening just to PFM and Banco, I'm afraid you are in for a surprise once you start to explore the subgenre. Though Micky would probably give you different recommendations, I'll start with a few albums that may help you revise your first impression of it: Have not heard these I'll have to check them out thanks! I had always thought tho that even by virtue of them both being symphonic prog, they'd have similar sounds. What would you compare the non-British prog sounding bands to?

ahhh. .nearly missed this...

first off... Ghost Rider is not a dude ... but is in a fact a remarkably beautfiul woman. With a great  ear for music.(years screening potential additions for this site prove that ) as well as for Supertramp... . FooW sure as hell don't sound more Supertramp than Yes.  In fact...  ideas and a full song from Yes's next album came from Squires's sessions for his album.



as far as the Italian stuff...  check the appreciation thread.. I can bump them for you if you wish.. but both Jim (Finnforest) and I have both posted recommendation lists.  Symphonic? What is symphonic... do Yes, ELP  and Genesis sound anything alike. Symphonic is one of the vaguest terms in prog.. next to...'prog' and the multitude of ways people see and define prog. Bo Hannson.. a strongly psych and Jazz influenced artist is in symphonic.. Kansas...  those groups have little in common.  As much as common as English and Italian prog...  dig a little bit into RPI.. and you'll see what I'm talking about. It is a complete different sound.. with different inlfuences than English prog.


Edited by micky - June 27 2008 at 21:58

DJPuffyLemon

You say that Marillion had 'bad' albums under Hogarth, which you 'haven't heard' How do you know they are bad if you've not heard them?? I'm not a huge fan myself, but I can assure you, albums like Brave and Marbles dont really resemble the acts you compare post Fish Marillion too.