Forum Home Forum Home > Progressive Music Lounges > Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - IQ Appreciation Thread
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedIQ Appreciation Thread

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 1314151617 25>
Author
Message
richardh View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 28039
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 17 2014 at 06:33
Originally posted by TheOcean TheOcean wrote:

I Remember that i discovered the band about only two years ago on Spotify. I was really stuck for the "Ever" album from 1993 i think and it is my favorite album with IQ today. Definitely one of my all-time favorite prog rock band! I really wish that i will be able to see them live!

My top 5 album list would be the following: 
1. Ever
2. Subterranea 
3. The Seventh House
4. Nomzamo (I Really think that P. L. Menel did a great job on that album)
5. The Wake



Interesting choice. I remember listening to Subterranea endlessly on headphones when it came out. For a while I was convinced it was the best prog album ever. Now I would not include it in my top 5 IQ albums. No 1,3 and 5 in your selection would be in mine though.

Paul Menel did a great job as you say standing in for Nicholls and recently made a solo comeback releasing a pop album last year. Its very good. He still has a great way with words and his voice hasn't changed at all.



Edited by richardh - May 17 2014 at 06:34
Back to Top
geekfreak View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 21 2013
Location: Musical Garden
Status: Offline
Points: 9872
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 17 2014 at 08:45
I`ve been listening to more rock/blues lately.
Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake."



Music Is Live

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.



Keep Calm And Listen To The Music…
<
Back to Top
deafmoon View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 24 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 462
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 18 2014 at 05:00
This thread has survived a long time now. It's time for me to add Road to Bones on my list. Love this new album. Knucklehead is so kick a--!
Deafmoon
Back to Top
geekfreak View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 21 2013
Location: Musical Garden
Status: Offline
Points: 9872
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 18 2014 at 06:02
that is a kick a*** song its also a kick a*** album too!.
Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake."



Music Is Live

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.



Keep Calm And Listen To The Music…
<
Back to Top
infandous View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 23 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2447
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 19 2014 at 15:14
Originally posted by rushfan4 rushfan4 wrote:

They were asking for $35 for it on US Amazon.  I decided to pay $7 and download from eMusic.  If and when the price comes down I will probably pick up a physical copy.


$26 is the cheapest I've been able to find the 2CD version in the US.  Still more than I want to pay, since I'm not a huge fan of IQ, but do enjoy their music when I'm in the mood (I have all their albums except for the two Paul Menel albums and Frequency........I've heard Frequency and will be picking it up eventually).
Back to Top
M27Barney View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 09 2006
Location: Swinton M27
Status: Offline
Points: 3136
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 19 2014 at 15:32
It was an expensive CD (by prog standards) - I don't know how much mine cost because I told my youngest son to get me it for my name-day, but he bought me another (probably cheaper) CD (Anaesthesia) instead and got his big brother to buy the IQ one for me!!! My Mrs, and in laws just gave me Amazon monies so that I can pick what I want...
Anyway - Just given the IQ spin 2 - and CD 1 is a definite grower - as I think that each track has something to offer - though I still feel that CD II has the better tracks overall!!! Some lovely Mellotron and moog stuff, the end of the epic is typical IQ and has a delightful moog riff...still spoiled by the fade out as the hammer-on , hammer -off solo is cut out just as it starts to get bombastic!!!! When I am Master of the universe - I will ban all fade outs and pass a law that a band cannot call itself progressive unless every CD has one track over 30 minutes!!!
Back to Top
Warthur View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: January 06 2008
Location: London, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 617
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 20 2014 at 07:35
Originally posted by TheOcean TheOcean wrote:

4. Nomzamo (I Really think that P. L. Menel did a great job on that album)
Heh, I don't rate that album very highly myself but Paul Menel's vocals are a high point for me. I think Nomzamo loses me because it has a slightly unsympathetic production job - certainly, the live versions of songs like No Love Lost (still in the setlist today!) I've heard sound far better. I never felt the need to pickup the spruced-up new editions of Lush Attic or The Wake but if the band chose to give the same treatment to Nomzamo or Are You Sitting Comfortably? I'd definitely be interested because I think those albums could really benefit from an updated mix.
Back to Top
richardh View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 28039
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 21 2014 at 01:19
Originally posted by Warthur Warthur wrote:

Originally posted by TheOcean TheOcean wrote:

4. Nomzamo (I Really think that P. L. Menel did a great job on that album)
Heh, I don't rate that album very highly myself but Paul Menel's vocals are a high point for me. I think Nomzamo loses me because it has a slightly unsympathetic production job - certainly, the live versions of songs like No Love Lost (still in the setlist today!) I've heard sound far better. I never felt the need to pickup the spruced-up new editions of Lush Attic or The Wake but if the band chose to give the same treatment to Nomzamo or Are You Sitting Comfortably? I'd definitely be interested because I think those albums could really benefit from an updated mix.

Although no updated mixes they both have received updated remasters with bonus tracks. Nomzamo has a live version of the excellent song Common Ground and an alternative (acoustic) version of No Love Lost while AYSC? has a live version of my favorite track from the Menel era Nothing At All. I can't say that the remasters are anything special though.
Back to Top
infandous View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: March 23 2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2447
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 21 2014 at 11:25
I've never heard the Menel albums at all.  Should I bother?  I'm really not a big fan of neo-prog bands in general, and IQ has been the one exception over the years, for reasons I can't really explain.  So I guess it's a question of whether or not it's worth my time to hear the few good tracks on those albums or not.  I'm thinking I'll probably pass.  (I probably should have got them 8 years ago when I worked in a CD store and could have got them with my employee discount.....probably for less the $10 each)
Back to Top
M27Barney View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 09 2006
Location: Swinton M27
Status: Offline
Points: 3136
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 21 2014 at 14:04
And the best thing about IQ - and the latest CD - The lyrics - not one use of the word "Angel", "Jesus", "Noah" in fact the only esoteric word is - Demon - and I think that Nichols is referring to the Daemons executing in the brain - as proposed by D.C. Dennett's multiple draft explanation of human consciousness...breaking on through way down low (in the subconscious workings of the brain!! - that were designed by the blind watchmaker that is evolution!!!) - YE-HAWWWW....

Edited by M27Barney - May 21 2014 at 14:05
Back to Top
richardh View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 28039
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 21 2014 at 14:24
Originally posted by infandous infandous wrote:

I've never heard the Menel albums at all.  Should I bother?  I'm really not a big fan of neo-prog bands in general, and IQ has been the one exception over the years, for reasons I can't really explain.  So I guess it's a question of whether or not it's worth my time to hear the few good tracks on those albums or not.  I'm thinking I'll probably pass.  (I probably should have got them 8 years ago when I worked in a CD store and could have got them with my employee discount.....probably for less the $10 each)

You presumably have already heard most of the best tracks from those albums Human Nature ,Nostalgia/Falling Apart At The Seams and No Love Lost on the Forever Live double CD with Nicholls back in the band so that being case I would say NO. 
Back to Top
M27Barney View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 09 2006
Location: Swinton M27
Status: Offline
Points: 3136
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 26 2014 at 06:23
I haven't heard the menel albums myself for a long while - I think both the CD's suffer with production problems to be honest! - I shall be reviewing Road of Bones shortly - the epic has grown on me...I think it's amazing now - still not impressed with the fade out though...

Edited by M27Barney - May 26 2014 at 06:23
Back to Top
richardh View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 28039
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 27 2014 at 01:12
Are You Sitting Comfortably isn't too bad production wise to my ears. Its a good headphone album if you want 'prog lite'. Sometimes I do.Smile
Back to Top
geekfreak View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 21 2013
Location: Musical Garden
Status: Offline
Points: 9872
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 28 2014 at 01:45
sometimes all of us do
Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake."



Music Is Live

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.



Keep Calm And Listen To The Music…
<
Back to Top
Timbo1961 View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: September 29 2013
Location: Snodland
Status: Offline
Points: 18
Direct Link To This Post Posted: May 29 2014 at 17:36
I'm actually surprised at some of the reaction to Road of Bones. I love it and can't stop playing it. 
Back to Top
geekfreak View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 21 2013
Location: Musical Garden
Status: Offline
Points: 9872
Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 03 2014 at 07:25
its a great album from IQ,
Friedrich Nietzsche: "Without music, life would be a mistake."



Music Is Live

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.



Keep Calm And Listen To The Music…
<
Back to Top
richardh View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: February 18 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 28039
Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 03 2014 at 14:44
Still struggling a bit with it. I would probably rate it overall at about 3 stars. Disc One is just far too safe almost like they are frightened of doing anything out of place. Disc Two just about saves the day.
Back to Top
M27Barney View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: November 09 2006
Location: Swinton M27
Status: Offline
Points: 3136
Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 03 2014 at 14:59
The Epic has grown on me - but as you say - it's basically following the party whip for symphonic prog.....
Back to Top
Xonty View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: June 23 2013
Location: Cornwall
Status: Offline
Points: 1759
Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 03 2014 at 15:26
Their newest album is their best for me. Deserves a place in the top 100, and I desperately need to buy it!
Back to Top
Roj View Drop Down
Special Collaborator
Special Collaborator
Avatar
Honorary Collaborator

Joined: July 02 2008
Location: Manchester, UK
Status: Offline
Points: 3126
Direct Link To This Post Posted: June 05 2014 at 08:15
I am an IQ fan of very longstanding (7 Stories Into 8 cassette version was my first IQ album) and whilst I enjoy the new album it's certainly not one of their best.  I've listened to it plenty of times to judge too.

There is some great material on there but it didn't all make disc one.  In particular I am absolutely gobsmacked that Constellations is relegated to the "bonus" disc - what were they thinking of?  That's one of their greatest tracks ever imho, classic IQ but with those subtle nods to W&W era Genesis that I love from this band.  I also love Hardcore, thus my two favourites are from disc 2.  The opener and closer on the "main" disc are excellent, but the epic is leaving me cold.  It appears disjointed, there's some nice passages but it just seems stuck together without cohesion.  It also has some parts which appear a bit close to the bone (pardon the pun) to The Last Human Gateway, although it doesn't stand comparison with the quality of that classic piece.

It has been opined that the absence of Martin Orford has had a negative impact upon the band's songwriting process for the album (whilst he had retired by the time it was released he still played a large part in writing the tracks on Frequency).  I fear there may be some truth in that theory.


Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1 1314151617 25>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.111 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.