Magenta Appreciation Thread - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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rushfan4

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Topic: Magenta Appreciation Thread
Posted: December 30 2011 at 08:52

A search of the database shows a number of pages regarding Magenta, but none appear to be an appreciation thread, so in honor of their new album Chameleon I have created an appreciation thread for their fans to discuss all things Magenta. I am curious to see if there are any fans here in PA and what tidbits that I might learn about them. I've had Metamorphosis for a while and love that album. I have recently ran through the remainder of their discography via the magic of the internet and find myself falling in love with this band.

Warthur

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Posted: December 30 2011 at 09:03

They've certainly grown a lot on me over the years. Not heard Chameleon yet though I'm sure I'll catch up sooner or later.

Snow Dog

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Posted: December 30 2011 at 09:09

The trouble with fan threads for lesser known bands is that they tend to be very short.

BTW I love magenta and have seen them twice.

rushfan4

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Posted: December 30 2011 at 09:10

This has been posted elsewhere within PA, but if you aren't familiar with Magenta and would like to check them out, they have a Collection album available for free download here. http://www.magenta-web.com/

rushfan4

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Posted: December 30 2011 at 09:13

Snow Dog wrote:

The trouble with fan threads for lesser known bands is that they tend to be very short.

It won't be the first thread that I have created where I spend most of the time talking to myself, and it probably won't be the last.

Snow Dog

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Posted: December 30 2011 at 09:16

Well I will help along.

I was a bit disappointed with Home but Seven and the first one are epic!

Snow Dog

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Posted: December 30 2011 at 09:17

Which is everyones favourite sin?

rushfan4

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Posted: December 30 2011 at 09:33

I've been guilty of all of them at one point or another. I've only listen to Seven the one time this week. Not sure which is my favorite. I'm most familiar with Gluttony and Anger which were on their The Collection and so I have heard both of those more than once.

colorofmoney91 View Drop Down

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Posted: December 30 2011 at 14:33

Magenta is cool because their female vocalist is cute. Their music is good too, though. I'm an idiot, so whenever I listen to them I imagine I'm listening to a more interesting incarnation of Paramore.

Hanashukketsu

rdtprog

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Posted: December 30 2011 at 14:51

They're quiet good and i love them because they reminded me of Genesis and Yes. But i didn't enjoy a lot "Seven" and "Home+NY Stories". I prefer "Revolutions" and "Metamorphosis".

timothy leary View Drop Down

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Posted: December 31 2011 at 10:52

Christina also has a solo album out called " Broken Lives and Bleeding Hearts".

richardh

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Posted: January 03 2012 at 14:55

I've seen them 4 times . First one was at the now defunct London Astoria when they opened a prog festival. That can be the kiss of death but with nothing better to do I went and checked them out and was hooked straight away. There were so few watching I even made eye contact with the gorgeous Christina. I'm in here I thought (ha ha). That was just prior to the release of Seven which I was quick to buy when it became available. Loved it straight away. People will complain there are obvious (self acknowledged tbf) references to Entangled and other Genesis tracks but Rob Reed (who is a fan of The Sound Of Music) makes sure that the music is tight and melodic. The other ace in the hole that Magenta possess is Chris Fry. Now if Fry is not the most underated guitarist in prog then I'm a monkeys uncle. This guy is seriously good and in the bracket of a Steve Howe (or Hackett) for technical brilliance.

After discovering Seven I managed to get hold of their debut Revolutions. I would rate this as one of the best debuts of the last 20 years. Massively ambitious and a joy for anyone who likes expansive symphonic prog. I suspect there are those that find Seven a little too condensed compared to the debut and that might explain why they have failed to make the impact their talent warrants. Rob Reed is a very clever arranger and excellent keyboardist but has not been able to develop the sound and style beyond the debut album. As much as I like Metamorphosis it isn't anything new. Chameleon is a bit of a disappointment. Starts so well with Glitter Ball but goes nowhere fast.

For me:

Revolutions - 4 stars

Seven - 5 stars

Home - 2 stars

Metamorphosis - 4 stars

Chameleon - 3 stars

The live albums and DVD's are also very good. Live At The Point is the one I have on my I-pod and features a nice spread of their songs from commercial stuff like Speechless and the more ambitious tracks like The White Witch.

To sum up - Very pleasant expertly played melodic prog with lovely female vocals.

Edited by richardh - January 03 2012 at 15:04

elbownut

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Posted: June 14 2013 at 15:47

Just stumbled on this old thread

Late to the party, but saw Magenta for the first time at the HRH prog fesitval in Rotherham, UK back in April

Very impressed with their set

Have so far only got Seven but I love it. Christina's vocals are excellent. Like the nods to Yes/Genesis , but still something modern sounding IMO

Checking out their back catalogue and planning to see them live in September at the Robin 2 in Bilston

A new fan here

"Music was my first love and it will be my last" - John Miles "Music"

richardh

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Posted: June 15 2013 at 09:37

^ They've just reissued the underrated Metamophosis with bonus material so I would recommend getting that. The bonus material includes Rob Reed being interviewed and talking about the comparisons with Genesis (Entangled especially) that you mention.Very interesting.

Great live band

dr wu23

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Posted: June 15 2013 at 11:10

I like what I have heard on You Tube etc...but never bought anything ......what's considered their best by Magenta fans?

One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin

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Posted: June 15 2013 at 11:22

Seven

richardh

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Posted: June 16 2013 at 04:15

Ditto

..and best to get the reissued version with the longer 'Directors Cut' of Pride and a bonus DVD with live videos, interviews and the 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround mix.

btw the whole album is actually 79 minutes and only one track is under 10 minutes. Meaty stuff.

Edited by richardh - June 16 2013 at 04:23

Aussie-Byrd-Brother View Drop Down

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Posted: June 16 2013 at 04:29

Yep, make mine another vote for `Seven', but their `Live at Real World' DVD is just superb, my personal favourite. The acoustic reinterpretations work perfectly, and Christina is simply divine!

I've got one of those blue Magenta t-shirts, and a guy at work asked quite seriously (and rather confused too!) `Why is that band called Magenta, yet their t-shirt is blue....?'

Can't say I'd ever given it a moments thought until then, but he might be on to something!