Magenta

I'm not sold on Magenta yet.  I bought "Revolutions", "Seven" and the "Broken" ep, and have given each one a good number of spins.  Nothing's jumping out at me yet -- you know, that one song or that one little fragment that catches on with you and draws you in.  Any ideas or suggestions?

mjf85maf wrote: I'm not sold on Magenta yet.  I bought "Revolutions", "Seven" and the "Broken" ep, and have given each one a good number of spins.  Nothing's jumping out at me yet -- you know, that one song or that one little fragment that catches on with you and draws you in.  Any ideas or suggestions?

If you already have those discs, then I would suggest getting their DVDThe Gathering. All the songs are performed better live IMO. The guitar and vocals shine in this performance for sure. Stand out tracks for me are: "King of the Skies", "The White Witch" and "Pride".

You know, it's strange...I kind of gave up on them too, but for some reason I was drawn back to Magenta after I saw Narnia: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe in the theatres. I was reminded of the track "The White Witch" after seeing the movie and it just took off from there. Then I boughtThe Gathering DVD and Another Time, Another Place live album as well. They also have a new studio album coming in 2006, titled Home.

I actually find I enjoy Magenta more than say, Mostly Autumn, when it comes to female prog outfits. Magenta is more to my liking, and I didn't care much for Mostly Autumn's new album, Storms of Still Water either.

Just keep listening, Magenta is bound to please.

 

Hierophant wrote: Those guys are a band???

A fine band indeed!

Edited by necromancing777

mjf85maf wrote: Storms Over Still Water isn't knocking me out either.  I've always had a thing for female fronted bands, and I imagine that this will catch up with me sooner or later.  Passengers took a few listens, too.  Karnataka drew me in right away.  Guess I'll try and track down that DVD...

I don't think you'll be disappointed withThe Gathering DVD. Especially if you enjoy "watching" female fronted bands.

Edited by necromancing777

stonebeard wrote: I've thought numerous times about getting Seven, but keep forgetting to.  Would you mind giving me similar bands?

Surely!

Magenta: I'd first get Revolutions and Seven. If you like those, then check outThe Gathering DVD. http://www.magenta-web.com/

Mostly Autumn: Passengers  and Catch the Spirit (a two disc "best-of" collection). Then if you like those, go for Storms Over Still Water. They also have some great in concert DVDs available. http://www.mostly-autumn.com/

Karnataka: They add a certain celtic/world music flavor to their sound, more than prog I would say. But the haunting melodies and music do reference prog in many ways. Storms or Delicate Flame of Desire. They also have a live DVD, but it's hard to get nowadays. http://www.karnataka.34sp.com/new/indexb.htm

Glass Hammer: very "prog" in the Yes/Genesis sense. Check out Lex Rex, Shadowlands and the latest, Inconsolable Secrets (with artwork by Roger Dean of Yes fame). They also have a DVD Lex Live which is worth checking out. http://www.glasshammer.com/index.html

If you like your prog with female vocals, these are four good bands to start with.

Edited by necromancing777

chopper wrote: I've only heard "Seven" so far, but it's an excellent album and I would recommend it to any fans of modern prog, especially if you like female vocals.

A related suggestion, if you like a "heavier" sound, you may enjoy these femme metal/female fronted metal bands as well: The Gathering (the actual band; not to be confused with the Magenta DVD of the same name), Nightwish, Within Temptation, Lacuna Coil and Epica.

I always found it strange that in the 1970's, besides Renaissance and Curved Air, no real female fronted prog bands existed.  I think that's why modern bands like Magenta and Mostly Autumn are important in the prog world.

Edited by necromancing777

eugene wrote: I've got Seven. I acquired it after reading some good reviews on this site. The album disappointed me big time. I find very little interesting in it, and nothing new whatsoever. Female vocal on it is very ordinary one. Composition, although being long are not complex enough, melodies are rather primitive and simple. I cannot even brand this album "typical Neo-prog", as typical Neo-prog is much better. I don't know, Seven is supposed to be their best. If so - I am not interested in this band anymore... It might be good though for fans of Mostly Autumn and Karnataka.

Hmmm....I guess we can agree to disagree. All I can say is, check out Magenta'sThe Gathering DVD for all the non-believers!

Also, check out erik neuteboom's review of it in this great thread: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20855& amp;PN=1

eugene wrote: necromancing777 wrote: eugene wrote: I've got Seven. I acquired it after reading some good reviews on this site. The album disappointed me big time. I find very little interesting in it, and nothing new whatsoever. Female vocal on it is very ordinary one. Composition, although being long are not complex enough, melodies are rather primitive and simple. I cannot even brand this album "typical Neo-prog", as typical Neo-prog is much better. I don't know, Seven is supposed to be their best. If so - I am not interested in this band anymore... It might be good though for fans of Mostly Autumn and Karnataka. Hmmm....I guess we can agree to disagree. All I can say is, check out Magenta'sThe Gathering DVD for all the non-believers! Also, check out erik neuteboom's review of it in this great thread: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20855& amp; amp; amp;PN=1 If I by chance come across the DVD you mentionned, I'll give it a spin, and, you never know, my opinion about this band might change, but I will not chase it, that's for sure... Erik Neuteboom's review was probably the one I read (amongst others) before I bought Seven. So what? It shows you that tastes differ and nothing else. If Erik and you and hundreds of other people like this album - it's good for them - enjoy. Unfortunatly I cannot share your excitement about it, and consider this purchase as waste of my money. And, really, we don't have to agree to disagree, really, we do not have to, we can just disagree, really, I guess, not a big problem....

I suppose I sound like a promoter from the band's record label.  To each his own indeed. Maybe Magenta should be paying me for this!

ShrinkingViolet wrote: Have tried Magenta sometime ago and for me it didnt really grasp me , for me at times it sounded like they were trying too much to sound Yes like. But i will give them ago again. as for mostly autumn they are one of the finest bands around today . *p.s * did anyone know that Fish is dating the lovely heather findlay but as i said i will give magenta another try !

Wow! Thanks for the news Shrinking Violet. Indeed it is true.

http://home.hetnet.nl/~nickgielkens/who_mostly.htm

As a fellow fan of Mostly Autumn, please give Magenta another spin!

necromancing777 wrote: I actually find I enjoy Magenta more than say, Mostly Autumn, when it comes to female prog outfits. Magenta is more to my liking, and I didn't care much for Mostly Autumn's new album, Storms of Still Water either.

Actually "Storms" is easily the worst Mostly autumn album so that is not a fair comparision,I don't think Mostly autumn and Magenta should be compared at all because Magenta is much more
complex than Mostly autumn.

I know "Seven" from Magenta and i still don't have a definite opinion on it. Due to the
crystal clear vocals it seems like an easy album but it isn't.

 

And he bloody well is Heather is simply gorgeous.And a very fine singer.