The Tangent Appreciation thread

i'm not a huge fan, but this new one sounds great.  

Been diggin' The Tangent lately, what with some people having heard the new album. Going through their discography, only listened to the first 2 albums so far. How is the new album, for those who have heard it? I see there's a couple of reviews, and with the lineup this time around, especially with Jonas back on bass, it seems like this is, once again, a great Tangent album (they're all great, of course)

Yeah, saw that news on their facebook page.  I wouldn't call it "terrible" news, as Andy seems to manage to best himself nearly every time.  I am sure he will find the best musicians around to form a more workable Tangent.  I am bummed I never got to see this lineup though, but the chances of that were never good since they never come to the US.

Thanks Infandous, I'll look into GOOO.

darkshade wrote: COMM has been out for a year now, how has the album aged for you guys? I've been on a bit of a Tangent kick for the last couple of weeks. The first 2 albums, especially the 2nd one, are more enjoyable than I remember them being, which is great. I've gone through most of their albums, except COMM which will be going on soon. I even listened to A Place In the Queue a few times because everything was clicking with that one. Great album. I'm thinking about checking out a live album of theirs. Anyone know which ones are the best? I'm curious about the first one with Roine and Jonas and they perform material from the first 2 albums.

Love COMM still, have been playing it just recently.  Also listened to Queue not too long ago.......still my favorite.  I guess I should give the first and second album spins, since it's been quite a while.  The second has just never really worked for me, except for a couple tracks (and the bonus track).

The first live album, Pyramids and Stars, may not be easy to get, as I think it was a limited run?  It was only available at the time from their web shop and at gigs, so I'm not sure if Greg Walker or other prog dealers will have it (I just checked Greg's site and it isn't listed in his catalog).  That's another one I should probably spin soon.  As I recall it's more of an "official bootleg" that got kind of rushed out.  I think the sound was good, but not necessarily as good as later live recordings.  There is no sax and flute player on it either, those parts were played on keys instead.  If I am remembering correctly, Roine also doesn't do any of his lead vocals because someone swiped his lyrics sheet before the show (he didn't bother to memorize any of the lyrics I guess).  I'll have to pull it out like I said and get back to you.

Going Off On One is well worth it.  Great set list and great performance all around.  Plus, it's the full Tangent, all 7 members (no Roine or Zoltan, of course, but you get Salazar and Reingold).  If you can find it, you should get the DVD/CD package for the full effect.  Good show.

The more recent Going Off On Two is fabulous, if you are okay with a very stripped down, live in the studio type performance.  That was a fan funded DVD though, so I'm not sure if there are copies of that available either.

Basically, Going Off On One is your best bet for being able to actually find it.


Edited by infandous - September 21 2012 at 14:29

COMM really is amazing. I'll have to revisit it soon.

As far as Beardfish, I'd recommend catching up before you get the new album. They've really progressed their sound, and their new one might be a shock to the system if you haven't heard the evolution.

For all you Andy Tillison fanatics, he makes an appearance on Beardfish's new album, reading a narration.

I love In Earnest.  It tells such an excellent story and it so reminds me of talking to my friend's father (RIP) about his days in World War II.

Horizons wrote: A Place in the Queue is a modern masterpiece.

This.

It's my favorite, with the rest of them falling in more or less reverse order, though I'd say World that we Drive through is my least favorite, sort of tied with Not As Good As the Book, with the debut being just above those two.  Basically, I think that since Roine Stolt left, with the exception of Not As Good As The Book, they just got better and better.  I say that as a huge fan of Roine Stolt, by the way.

Much like the Flower Kings, I like all their albums, it's just a matter of how much.

darkshade wrote: COMM is really good. I would say it's a top 3 Tangent album, up there with A Place In The Queue and the debut.