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DamoXt7942 
Special Collaborator 
Joined: October 15 2008 Location: Okayama, Japan Status: Offline Points: 17493 |
 Posted: January 03 2009 at 07:26 |
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By the way, the last words of this textbook is written by Katsuhiko Hayashi, Mugen's leader.
He's a pride for us Japanese I wanna say!
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DamoXt7942
Special Collaborator
Joined: October 15 2008 Location: Okayama, Japan Status: Offline Points: 17493 |
Posted: January 02 2009 at 19:27 |
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Croce's Italian Prog, I've read, too.
It's absolutely a great book I'm sure...because not checked at his webpage.
As Todd's excellent(!!) review, the bonus CD includes some previously unreleased songs.
Indeed the songs are extra so maybe not so good, but for non-Italian-prog-senior like me they are fantastic and can let me feel much Italian flavour.
I love, particularly Gli Esseri's two songs.
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micky
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: October 02 2005 Location: . Status: Offline Points: 46833 |
Posted: December 20 2008 at 09:06 |
thanks for the review Todd... my question on the book was answered.. excellent job with the review  |
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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inrainbows
Forum Senior Member 
Joined: February 20 2008 Location: on a rainbow Status: Offline Points: 489 |
Posted: December 19 2008 at 16:28 |
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Thank you Todd, your review was very helpful for me too
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avestin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 18 2005 Status: Offline Points: 12625 |
Posted: December 19 2008 at 16:22 |
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Like Jimmy says, thanks Todd, that's very helpful!
You should post this as a Book Review in the Books Reviews section here in the forum. |
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jimmy_row
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 11 2007 Location: Hibernation Status: Offline Points: 2601 |
Posted: December 19 2008 at 15:44 |
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Thanks Todd for that detailed review, very helpful. |
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Signature Writers Guild on strike
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Todd
Special Collaborator
RPI / Heavy Prog Team Joined: December 19 2007 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 3472 |
Posted: December 19 2008 at 14:47 |
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Well the book arrived yesterday, and I've had some time to take a look at it.
It's a very nice hardcover, with a good looking format. Very well done! The first 650 pages are black and white, the last 120 in color.
The book is encylopedic in format, with tabs from A-Z for easy access. The information listed for the bands is essentially the same as on the Italian Prog website. Initially I thought there were a lot more bands included in the book than on the website, but after going back and clicking on "Entire Listing" under each letter, all the bands included in the book are available there (consisting of mainly minor bands). From what I've seen, there isn't really any significant new information given about the bands.
The format under the bands is the same as on the website, including personnel, history, collectors corner, and discography. The albums from all the bands are pictured together in the last 120 pages in order, rather than with the band information in the black and white section. The interview sections of the website are not included in the book. The Labels section of the book is essentially the same as the website also.
The book came with a bonus CD, which includes unreleased tracks from several bands, including RRR, EA Poe, Il Paese Dei Balocchi, Dalton, Estate di San Martin, members of Officina Meccanica, and others. Overall the production is not great, as you would expect. My opinion of the tracks are as follows:
RRR - Io e Iuio parts 1 and 2 - not very good, fairly bouncy rhythm, very pop
Il Paese - Note di Vietro - very lovely pastoral type piece with acoustic guitar and flute, then some drums
L'amore Innato - good song, with acoustic guitar and harpsichord, later organ and drums
EA Poe - Jaws Main - psych pop song
Jaws End - folk pop
Canzone dell'angelo - soft, melodic, electric piano with guitar
Barbati/Maioozi (guitarist and vocalist for Officina Meccanica)
Stai - funky rhythm, almost reggae, not very good
Vieni Via D Qui - nice song, good atmospheric use of synthesizers and drum machine
Overall lacks the quality of the Officina Meccanica compilation
Gli Esseri - 2 pop songs, the second with some psych influence, not much prog
Dalton - Riflessioni vocal version - not nearly as appealing as the album version
Latitudine 45 - who? Decent songs, more pop/rock with some okay keyboards
I Numi - 10 minute song Infiniti Mondi, just okay. Very slowly builds from mellow organ to drums/brass
Breznev Fan Club - who? strange vocals on these two songs, the first with a funky r&b groove with some jazzy breaks, the second with spoken vocals over soft guitar, then some harder rock
Estate di San Martin - the best bonus track of the CD - Sere d'Agosto - great use of atmospheric keyboards and drum machine (a la Duke), gradually building but never excessive. Live track.
So my overall impression is this: I like having the book format, because I like books. There are some bands I've discovered looking in the pages of the book that I wouldn't have if left to my own exploring links. But in terms of information, there is actually more on the website than in the book. I like the layout of all the albums of Italian prog in the last 120 pages. The bonus CD is okay, certainly not essential.
I'm glad I bought it, but it is a slight letdown. I was hoping for more of a general introduction (there is a 4 page introduction) or narrative discussion of Italian prog. But I learned more along these lines from Andrea's piece on this site than in the book. I think it will help me as I continue to discover the magical world that is Italian prog!
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Raff
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 29 2005 Location: None Status: Offline Points: 24429 |
Posted: December 18 2008 at 19:44 |
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No, it's not, and that is to be expected. The book is likely to have been printed in relatively small quantities, and additionally it includes a CD. Furthermore, books in Italy tend to be more expensive than in the USA, where paperbacks are extremely cheap, and even hardbacks are much less pricey than their European equivalents.
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inrainbows
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 20 2008 Location: on a rainbow Status: Offline Points: 489 |
Posted: December 18 2008 at 18:42 |
It's still expensive for Europeans, 76 euros for all countries out of Italy, is not a small amount  |
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Raff
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 29 2005 Location: None Status: Offline Points: 24429 |
Posted: December 18 2008 at 15:25 |
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BTF is cheap for Italian standards (CDs usually cost a couple of euros less than in mainstream music stores), but I doubt it is very cost-effective for people who live overseas. The exchange rate is not favourable at present, and the cost of shipping is usually rather high.
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Todd
Special Collaborator
RPI / Heavy Prog Team Joined: December 19 2007 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 3472 |
Posted: December 18 2008 at 12:50 |
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I ordered it along with several CDs, so I don't know how much the shipping would be separately. But he told me that his total was cheaper than BTF (not to mention faster).
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Finnforest
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 03 2007 Location: The Heartland Status: Offline Points: 16913 |
Posted: December 18 2008 at 12:44 |
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$95 total? If not, how much extra is shipping?
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Todd
Special Collaborator
RPI / Heavy Prog Team Joined: December 19 2007 Location: California Status: Offline Points: 3472 |
Posted: December 18 2008 at 11:52 |
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Greg Walker has some available for $95, still less than the total BTF price of $102 ($77+$25s/h). He got them in on Tuesday. I ordered it and expect it to arrive today. I'll let you know what I find!
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Raff
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 29 2005 Location: None Status: Offline Points: 24429 |
Posted: December 09 2008 at 14:12 |
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Try www.btf.it, if you don't care about the cost. The postage and packing will likely kill you
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Alberto Muņoz
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 26 2006 Location: Mexico Status: Offline Points: 3577 |
Posted: December 09 2008 at 10:15 |
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i do not care the cost i want this book!!!!!!
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Alberto Muņoz
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 26 2006 Location: Mexico Status: Offline Points: 3577 |
Posted: December 09 2008 at 10:15 |
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When i can buy this, guys??? help!!!!
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Raff
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 29 2005 Location: None Status: Offline Points: 24429 |
Posted: December 09 2008 at 07:03 |
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Very bad timing indeed... If it had come out a month ago, I would've been able to get it in Italy, and brief you all about the contents
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fusionfreak
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 23 2007 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 1317 |
Posted: December 09 2008 at 03:23 |
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One of my next buys but I confirm it will be expensive(76 euros for me)
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I was born in the land of Mahavishnu,not so far from Kobaia.I'm looking for the world
of searchers with the help from crimson king |
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Finnforest
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: February 03 2007 Location: The Heartland Status: Offline Points: 16913 |
Posted: December 06 2008 at 22:12 |
^^Assaf.....I heard it was a book form edition of his site for one thing, but given the size there must be more than just that. If I hear anything else concrete I'll let you know. |
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avestin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator Joined: September 18 2005 Status: Offline Points: 12625 |
Posted: December 06 2008 at 20:11 |
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I want this too. Hope it gets to some US vendor like you guys said.
Would be interested to read what people who have this already think of the book and describe its contents and format a bit. |
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Augusto Croce's "Italian Prog" has arrived!
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Todd wrote: