Frost* - Day and Age
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=126380
Printed Date: December 04 2024 at 13:56
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Frost* - Day and Age
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Subject: Frost* - Day and Age
Date 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? |
Replies:
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: May 15 2021 at 08:11
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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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Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: May 15 2021 at 10:06
| ^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. |
Posted By: rushfan4
Date Posted: May 15 2021 at 13:05
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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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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 16:06
| 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! |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 16:14
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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Posted By: projeKct
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 16:33
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You can listen to the album https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ki5Y8jFcBhtIEQdBuMQoYLKLhj7ni1Aao" rel="nofollow - 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. |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 16:34
Please tell me why.Thanks for your comments and looking forward to your review.
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richardh wrote:Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 16:36
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Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 16:37
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 17:13
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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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 17:21
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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.
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Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 17:24
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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 17:27
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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Posted By: projeKct
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 18:10
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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: |
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: May 16 2021 at 18:55
| Thank you. That was much better. Now I will be able to sleep better knowing that I heard the little girl call me scum. ;) |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: May 17 2021 at 03:24
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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. |
Posted By: Rivertree
Date Posted: May 17 2021 at 03:34
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title track is excellent  ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Rivertree" rel="nofollow">  |
Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: May 17 2021 at 06:34
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. |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: May 19 2021 at 00:18
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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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Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: May 19 2021 at 00:50
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^Fair enough. Enjoy the new album. Agree about The Rockfield Sessions. 
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