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Ludjak 
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Joined: August 31 2008
Location: Croatia
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Points: 73
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 Posted: March 27 2012 at 14:17 |
 frippism wrote:
I personally also like the jazzy drumming more somewhat... sometimes... I think. But yes! I'll give you examples for good modern, jazzy drummers: Keith Abrahms (check out the stuff with Pak, he's probably my favorite drummer), Ches Smith, Frank Grau is a rockier drummer, but he's insane. And also Guy Shechter with Kruzenshtern & Parohod... yeah and more.
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Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check them out! 
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Cesar Inca
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Joined: May 19 2004
Location: Peru
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Points: 4888
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Posted: March 27 2012 at 14:10 |
DisgruntledPorcupine wrote:
My verdict: great album. Exceeded my expectations by a lot. Obviously didn't compare to the 1st, but complaining about that is just plain silly. |
Considering how well some bands have been aging (PRESENT, VDGG, LE ORME, PRESENT, THINKING PLAGUE, HTM through OBLIVION SUN), it is reasonable and not silly to complain about how badly (or not so well) other bands do.
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infandous
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Joined: March 23 2006
Location: United States
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Posted: March 27 2012 at 13:45 |
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Well, speaking as someone who only owns one Tull album (Thick As A Brick) and who likes some of the early albums but was never a big fan; I think it sounds pretty darn good. I can't speak to the production, as I heard it on the Sirius XM "boom box" thing, so not the best sound reproduction (though honestly, I didn't hear any problems).
Obviously, it's lacking that 70's experimental nature and enthusiasm, but I was surprised as just how good it all sounded. I didn't care for the spoken word parts, but I almost never do for that sort of thing in music anyway. The vocals were surprisingly good, though obviously not like the old days.
I feel like his making it Thick 2 was a mixed blessing.........if it had just been an Ian solo album with some other title, I probably never would have become interested in hearing what it sounds like. So in that regard, it actually makes me wonder if I should be hearing some of his other solo stuff, not to mention the many Tull albums I've never heard. Still, there is no question that this is not in the same league as the original, but I'm not sure what is anyway. As stated previously, it's hard to top a classic, especially after 40 years.
Edited by infandous - March 27 2012 at 13:47
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Vibrationbaby
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Joined: February 13 2004
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Points: 6898
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Posted: March 27 2012 at 12:58 |
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I hope Ian hasn't gone and done something dumb here. I've been a Tull fan since the mid 16th century and was kind of dissapointed to see that Aqualung box setfor $181Canadian in the French record store last weekend.. I have to eat too. TAAB 2 ust seems to be a cash cow to me. I dunno. Give me another beer.
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Warthur
Prog Reviewer
Joined: January 06 2008
Location: London, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 617
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Posted: March 27 2012 at 09:34 |
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Not heard it yet, but... are they seriously going with that album artwork? I get the concept, that it's meant to look like a website, but they could at least go with a website that doesn't look like a shoddily designed Geocities page from over 10 years ago...
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Vibrationbaby
Forum Senior Member
Joined: February 13 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 6898
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Posted: March 27 2012 at 09:32 |
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I thought the freaking fracking thing only came out next Tuesday.
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frippism
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Joined: July 27 2010
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Posted: March 27 2012 at 09:29 |
I personally also like the jazzy drumming more somewhat... sometimes... I think. But yes! I'll give you examples for good modern, jazzy drummers: Keith Abrahms (check out the stuff with Pak, he's probably my favorite drummer), Ches Smith, Frank Grau is a rockier drummer, but he's insane. And also Guy Shechter with Kruzenshtern & Parohod... yeah and more.
IMO, of course, drummer's are everything. A good drummer can lift an entire record. Also, a bad mixing can ruin one. I won't deny the moments of good songwriting here, as they were plenty, but from the quality of mixing from the stream, the mixing in my opinion lacks energy. But hey, maybe there's still hope, and maybe my initial reaction was too harsh. Maybe I'll even buy the album (maybe).
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There be dragons
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Ludjak
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Joined: August 31 2008
Location: Croatia
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Points: 73
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Posted: March 27 2012 at 09:09 |
frippism wrote:
^ dear god what drumming were you listening too? There's so much fluid, insane drummers today. I'm sure Ian could've found someone better for this. |
I certainly agree with the latter (he could have used Doane Perry for a start  ), but there is something about rock drumming today that just leaves me with an impression that it's all played against a metronome track (not that I like sloppy drumming, but, in my opinion, perfect punctuality in tempo changes or speeding up and slowing down always in the same fashion isn't something a drummer should be aiming for), and also produced very badly, like all drums are recorded in a barrel and then heavily compressed, making the drummer sound as if he has no sense of dynamics and is just thrashing away in the background. Rarely do I listen to a contemporary rock album and think "Hey, this drummer is really clever", getting the feeling that the drummer is there just to either keep time or show off without real artistic value (not to use the vulgar term ). I find this relatively (but not completely) absent in modern jazz (or jazz-influenced) drumming, so I do appreciate jazz-influenced rock drummers (although, to my knowledge at least, their number has decreased significantly since the 60s and 70s). I'm probably (as I've said before in another thread) just being snobbish and picky, though (I'm one of those people who complain about rock concerts being "too loud" ). ^^
But I digress. Probably the main reason why the drums sound like they do on this record is because Ian Anderson himself wanted them to sound like that, and we've seen how that turned out on Under Wraps.
I will refrain from making other production-related verdicts until I get my vinyl copy (which will hopefully be released by September/October). As far as music is concerned, I really like this one.
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Slartibartfast
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Joined: April 29 2006
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Posted: March 27 2012 at 06:52 |
I think I haven't listened to it yet in fact I am quite sure of it. OK OK my ear is thirsty. Got through the first couple of tracks and it sounds decent.  You can't top a prog classic.
Edited by Slartibartfast - March 27 2012 at 07:07
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Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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frippism
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Posted: March 27 2012 at 06:38 |
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^ dear god what drumming were you listening too? There's so much fluid, insane drummers today. I'm sure Ian could've found someone better for this.
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There be dragons
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Ludjak
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Joined: August 31 2008
Location: Croatia
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Posted: March 27 2012 at 04:39 |
For me, the album really works, musically consistent and lyrically fitting. Sure, the drumming sounds stiff in places, but so does all contemporary rock drumming, imho
I was quite sceptical when I heard that it was coming out, but having heard it in its entirety, I must say that Ian Anderson has shut me up. Hats off to him for pulling off such an ambitious project with such confidence. I'm now seriously considering going to Austria or Italy to catch the tour.
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Barbu
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Joined: October 09 2005
Location: infinity
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Points: 30855
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Posted: March 26 2012 at 22:33 |
DisgruntledPorcupine wrote:
My verdict: great album. Exceeded my expectations by a lot. Obviously didn't compare to the 1st, but complaining about that is just plain silly. |
Good news. 
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Textbook
Forum Senior Member
Joined: October 08 2009
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Points: 3281
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Posted: March 26 2012 at 22:29 |
An eight out of ten quails review. Best rating system ever btw
Edited by Textbook - March 26 2012 at 22:29
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DisgruntledPorcupine
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Joined: January 16 2010
Location: Thunder Bay CAN
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Points: 4395
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Posted: March 26 2012 at 22:12 |
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My verdict: great album. Exceeded my expectations by a lot. Obviously didn't compare to the 1st, but complaining about that is just plain silly.
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Textbook
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Joined: October 08 2009
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Points: 3281
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Posted: March 26 2012 at 17:14 |
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I'm worried to hear about crappy lyrics though- Anderson's other talents may have deserted him with age but still having good lyrics is the one thing I would've counted on.
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Cesar Inca
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Joined: May 19 2004
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Posted: March 26 2012 at 17:08 |
Textbook wrote:
As a raging Tull fan I will buy before I hear but my expectations are very low. I will be happy if it's just decent. I am not even faintly expecting something that justifies the title TAAB2. |
Same here. The torch of prog royalty has long been passsed to the bands from the 90s onwards (or at least, some of them). All we can reasonably expect from to the older generations of prog bands (except for notable exceptions such as UZ, VdGG, Le Orme and a few more) is good albums with some particular gems in them. It looks like TAAB2 won't be an irregular effort such as Yes' "Fly From Here" or a mini-reprise of old days gone such as Locanda Delle Fate's comeback EP, so it might be OK. I'll buy it but I can't promise it will be in my Top 10: bands like Kotebel, Thinking Plague, Cartel Carnage and Forgas Bandf Phenomena are more likely to fit in, IMHO.
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DisgruntledPorcupine
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Joined: January 16 2010
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Posted: March 26 2012 at 15:41 |
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That being said, I think I love the drum sound more than anything.
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DisgruntledPorcupine
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Joined: January 16 2010
Location: Thunder Bay CAN
Status: Offline
Points: 4395
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Posted: March 26 2012 at 15:39 |
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Like I said in the other thread, NEVER judge the mixing until the release of the CD.
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The Bearded Bard
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Joined: January 24 2012
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Posted: March 26 2012 at 14:48 |
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As I said, in the other thread, I didn't find it all that bad. Some interesting parts, and some not so interesting. It could've been worse, but it should've been better. It didn't live up to it's name IMO, at least not after just a few listens. Will buy it though, eventually. Highlights IMO: 'Banker Bets, Banker Wins', 'Adrift And Dumbfounded', 'Old School Song' and 'A Change Of Horses'.
Edited by The Bearded Bard - March 26 2012 at 15:52
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VanVanVan
Prog Reviewer
Joined: October 08 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 756
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Posted: March 26 2012 at 14:43 |
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I didn't think it was terrible, but of course it's a let-down compared to the original Thick as a Brick. Music sounded generally quality, if occasionally a bit forced, and Ian's vocals weren't bad, but it definitely seemed like he was singing with less power than he used to be able to.
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What did we think of Thick As A Brick 2?
