Frost* - Day and Age |
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Grumpyprogfan
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 09 2019 Location: Kansas City Status: Offline Points: 11649 |
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Posted: May 14 2021 at 12:54 |
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Just listened to the new Frost* and for me it's underwhelming. Jem mixed this and it sounds muddy, dead, over-compressed again! Nooooo! The lead vocals, which are sung mostly by John, are barely audible. A shame this wasn't mixed by John as his last Lonely Robot release sounded great. Solos, that make Frost's music special, are absent. The music is okay, but nothing grabs me. Of course this needs more spins but my initial rating would be 2.5 stars.
So, Frosties, what are your initial thoughts on this release? |
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rushfan4
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 22 2007 Location: Michigan, U.S. Status: Offline Points: 66290 |
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I've not heard the new album yet, but am a big fan of their older albums. This likely would have been an autobuy, but I might have to give it a listen or two on-line first; if I can find it.
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Grumpyprogfan
Forum Senior Member Joined: July 09 2019 Location: Kansas City Status: Offline Points: 11649 |
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^It's not on bandcamp, Zon has it if your a paid member. I just reviewed it, the best I can. Which is lame. Anyway, not their best for me - so far. The instrumental disc is more interesting to me than the vocal mix.
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rushfan4
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I found it on Spotify and am giving it a half-hearted first listen. Sounds good to me, but as I said only half-listening while I work.
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richardh
Prog Reviewer Joined: February 18 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 28126 |
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Seriously the best thing they've done but it's different to their previous releases. Falling Satellites was very Genesis sounding at times and very deliberately. I enjoyed it but this release is a lot heavier. It does have Jem's sense of humour coming through (the listener being called 'You scum' by what sounds like a little girl in the intro). Stylistically this will appeal to those like me that think Deadwing is the best Porcupine Tree album. There are no issues with the sound mix whatsoever imo. I've listened to it on my Echo Dot as well as the full blown Hi Fi with floor standing speakers and it's perfectly clear and very punchy on both. 5/5 easily for this 'Jem' of an album!
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AFlowerKingCrimson
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 02 2016 Location: Philly burbs Status: Offline Points: 18358 |
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I just listened to the opening track from the new album on youtube. It sounded pretty good but I didn't hear anyone calling me scum.
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projeKct
Special Collaborator Errors & Omissions Team Joined: November 03 2013 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 2916 |
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You can listen to the album here.
It's my least favorite Frost* album to date. Milliontown was fantastic, Experiments in Mass Appeal and Falling Satellites were excellent, this one is good enough. |
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Grumpyprogfan
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Thanks for your comments and looking forward to your review.
Edited by Grumpyprogfan - May 16 2021 at 16:40 |
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Grumpyprogfan
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Grumpyprogfan
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Edited by Grumpyprogfan - May 16 2021 at 16:38 |
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AFlowerKingCrimson
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He said it was in the intro which I assumed was the opening track. I didn't hear it there. I haven't listened to the whole thing yet and based on some of these reviews I'm not sure I want to.
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AFlowerKingCrimson
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Ok, I think I finally heard it now (after sampling pretty much every track) but it's not a little girl saying that it was a guy (maybe a drill sergeant). It was during the beginning of "repeat to fade." If it was supposed to bother me it didn't work; maybe because I already know I'm scum.
Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - May 16 2021 at 17:24 |
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Grumpyprogfan
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AFlowerKingCrimson
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No, I didn't hear it in the link with the whole album either. As I just said above though I did hear something that souned like it but it was a man's voice and not a little girls and not from the opening track. Well, it did sound pretty good to me but I'll get all the other albums first.
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projeKct
Special Collaborator Errors & Omissions Team Joined: November 03 2013 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 2916 |
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^ About the listener being called 'You scum' by what sounds like a little girl in the intro, you can only hear it on the long version of the "Day and Age" track (11:50). The Youtube version in an edit (4:35).
But the long version is available here: |
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AFlowerKingCrimson
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Thank you. That was much better. Now I will be able to sleep better knowing that I heard the little girl call me scum. ;)
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chopper
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I'm not that familiar with the Frost albums, I've only played them a few times but my thoughts on this one are that it's pretty good and I will be playing it again, but I can't say whether it's their best or not. It does sound quite "loud" but then I seem to remember Milliontown being the same. John's vocals are certainly not "inaudible" although they could probably come up in the mix a tad. I wouldn't say it sounded muddy either.
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Rivertree
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title track is excellent |
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Grumpyprogfan
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Also, when you play it again, pay attention to the cymbals. The sound is unnatural, there is no decay, it sounds like the drummer is hitting a metal pipe. This is a sure sign of a heavy hand in processing that destroys a mix for me. As I mentioned, John's Lonely Robot release from last years sounds much better than this. Shame he didn't mix it. For the record the following modernish bands have great engineering to my ears. The cymbals sound good. Helmet of Gnats, Sanguine Hum, Wobbler, Big Big Train, Spock's Beard, Thieves' Kitchen, Covet, All Traps on Earth, and Echolyn. Edited by Grumpyprogfan - May 17 2021 at 06:35 |
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richardh
Prog Reviewer Joined: February 18 2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 28126 |
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Alan (Chopper) is correct on Milliontown. It was bettered (soundwise) by The Rockfield Sessions version which is superb.
I do love this current album though. Tons of atmosphere and it grabs me emotionally. Powerful stuff and probably their most complete and cohesive recording. BTW Jem Godfrey is way too experienced to mess up a mix. 'Muddy'??! no way
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