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gdub411 
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 24 2004
Location: United States
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Points: 3484
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 Topic: Spocks Beard
Posted: October 22 2004 at 23:36 |
Today I recieved 2 cd compilations from a friend containing Spocks Beard material. This is only on a borrow basis so don't waste your time talking legalities.
After giving them a listen I was surprised how intricate and diverse their music was. Most neo-prog in the vein of Marillion is quite simple compared to the layers of complexity that the pioneers of prog established, but Spocks Beard was different. These are obviously well accomplished musicians!....God...I love the powerful bass in a couple of their tunes.
Now onto the criticism. The singer is terrible. His voice completely ruins the music and makes their good efforts sound candy assed. Top that off with preachy and lousy lyrics and all you have left with is unmitigated fluff. I mean he sings in this tone of voice that screams" listen to me,listen to me I have something really important to say." and then says nothing at all!!
He reminds me of all those christian rock singers who sing in that kind of exaggerated , annoying voice to let the listener know the passion he feels for Christ(a little like Kansas's singer but worse) It comes off as phony, pretentious gobbitygoop to me. The only parts of the vocals I liked is when they took a cue from Gentle Giant's Knots and sang in whatever that form of singing is called.
This is not a return to the forums. Just fulfilling an obligation.
Coming Soon: Porcupine Tree
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Peter
Special Collaborator
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Joined: January 31 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 9669
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Posted: October 23 2004 at 00:34 |
 Stay away from the evil, soul-sucking Archives Forums vortex, Gdub! Run , while there's still a chance! Don't look back!
Whoops! Anyone need a pillar of salt?
Welcome to my nightmare! Abandon all hope, ye who enter here -- thou art damned! 
(Cue "Hotel Progifornia")
Edited by Peter Rideout
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"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
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Pixel Pirate
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 11 2004
Location: Norway
Status: Offline
Points: 793
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Posted: October 23 2004 at 04:56 |
Even if you might not even see this,Gdub  I have to say I agree completely with what you said about Spock's Beard. The first time I heard SB I thought:"Wow,this is really great". And that feeling was sustained right up until the singer came on. It was the greatest anticlimax I think I have ever experienced in music. From the lofty and creative heights of the instrumental intro to the horrible,preachy,pseudo philosophy of the lyrics which sound as if they were written by a 14 old trying to sound grown up but failing miserably. And the awful quasi sincere quality of the voice reminded me of Bruce Springsteen and other idiots that think that just because they sing with a gravelly,tortured "sincerity",that means they have something important to say. SB could have been a band I could really get into but the terrible vocals actually made me switch off in disgust.
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Odi profanum vulgus et arceo.
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Dick Heath
Special Collaborator
Jazz-Rock Specialist
Joined: April 19 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 12818
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Posted: October 23 2004 at 05:49 |
 gdub411 wrote:
Today I recieved 2 cd compilations from a friend
containing Spocks Beard material. This is only on a borrow basis so
don't waste your time talking legalities.
After giving them a listen I was surprised how intricate and diverse
their music was. Most neo-prog in the vein of Marillion is quite simple
compared to the layers of complexity that the pioneers of prog
established, but Spocks Beard was different. These are obviously well
accomplished musicians!....God...I love the powerful bass in a couple
of their tunes.
Now onto the criticism. The singer is terrible. His voice completely
ruins the music and makes their good efforts sound candy assed. Top
that off with preachy and lousy lyrics and all you have left with is
unmitigated fluff. I mean he sings in this tone of voice that screams"
listen to me,listen to me I have something really important to say."
and then says nothing at all!!
He reminds me of all those christian rock singers who sing in that
kind of exaggerated , annoying voice to let the listener know the
passion he feels for Christ(a little like Kansas's singer but worse) It
comes off as phony, pretentious gobbitygoop to me. The only parts of
the vocals I liked is when they took a cue from Gentle Giant's Knots
and sang in whatever that form of singing is called.
This is not a return to the forums. Just fulfilling an obligation.
Coming Soon: Porcupine Tree |
Loved their early albums but they went sharply downhill for me after The Kindness Of Strangers,
(which I think is one of the best prog albums of the 90's - in deed I
played a long track off it on my radioshow on Thursday!!!).
I with you too wrt Morse's vocals - if I didn't know he was a Christian I'd think there was an ego-trip going on on the last 3 or so SB albums (and toss in Transatlantic
to the list). And to further prove my point (and to say how I've
persisted trying to get back into latterday Morse), I
bought the double CD Nick (D'Virgilio) and Neil (Morse): Two Separate Gorillas, Live in Europe
(Radiant Records)- with hindsight I'm glad I only paid the 2nd hand
price. It is painful here to listen to this record of unplugged Spocks Beards and other rock covers - the vocals in particular, are dire.
Edited by Dick Heath
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Panoramic
Forum Groupie
Joined: October 21 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 68
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Posted: October 23 2004 at 11:57 |
 ...Wow! That was the best review I have ever read. G'dub....you're a genius!!
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Dan Bobrowski
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Joined: February 02 2004
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Points: 5243
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Posted: October 23 2004 at 14:49 |
I call those vocal/Lyric lines by Neal Morse "the Dennis Deyoung" effect. He and Mr. Deyoung (Styx or Stynx) obviously went to the same school of over-dramatizing schmaltzy delivery.
I've said this a quite a few reviews, the problem with modern prog is the lack are good vocalists. I'm sure most of us, given the choice, would rather listen to Jon Anderson, Ian Anderson, John Wetton or Greg Lake's (and others... hope I don't piss anyone off by not mentioning them.) vocals, instead of James LaBrie, Neal Morse, Roine Stolt and a host of others. For me, many albums have been ruined simply because the singer is so irritating (Andy Tillson, anyone?)
Anyway, Seeing neal Live at Cal Prog was a great experience, he's very talented and I think he actually believes what he sings, however, it will never be liked by all. The subjective science of taste. IMO, of course.
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Prog_Bassist
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 29 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 830
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Posted: October 23 2004 at 15:02 |
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I like Spock's Beard. I think Neal is a pretty good singer, but I don't really think he fits the band very much.
I also hate his stupid lyrics. They are so dumb. I own (a burnt copy, sorry if im stealing) a copy of "The Light" and I really Really like it, it's an excellent cd, and neal's vocals are good, but the lyric's are rediculous.
I'd have to say the part I hate most on that album, is the FU/I'm Sorry part of "The Water", when he just starts screaming f**k YOU!!! out loud like a thousand times. It makes me think I'm listening to Nirvana or some other corny Teenage Angst type band. I hate that part with a passion. Loathe is more of the word for it. I actually fast forward through that part when I listen to it. I think in that part he is trying too hard to be cool.
In Conclusion: Spock's Beard is an excellent band, but their lyrics are stupid and a 10 year old child could write most of them.
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Reed Lover
Forum Senior Member
Joined: July 16 2004
Location: Sao Tome and Pr
Status: Offline
Points: 5187
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Posted: October 23 2004 at 16:20 |
Panoramic wrote:
...Wow! That was the best review I have ever read. G'dub....you're a genius!! |
A bit of morphing going on here?
Edited by Reed Lover
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Panoramic
Forum Groupie
Joined: October 21 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 68
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Posted: October 23 2004 at 18:47 |
Reed Lover wrote:
Panoramic wrote:
...Wow! That was the best review I have ever read. G'dub....you're a genius!! |
A bit of morphing going on here?
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gdub411
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 24 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3484
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Posted: October 23 2004 at 18:50 |
I don't know what you're tlking about Reed
Edited by gdub411
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sigod
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Joined: September 17 2004
Location: London
Status: Offline
Points: 2779
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Posted: October 25 2004 at 05:00 |
Stop it, Stop it now.....that's The Beard, you talking about, my life, my soul, my very essence (falls to the ground sobbing)....everything that I am is in that band, I love 'em to bits. 'The Light' is a fantastic album...
(Wipes snotty nose with sleeve of shirt)
Okay, maybe the later stuff wan't much good but...but....
(stops snivelling and straightens up)
Actually, now I come to think about it, the later stuff isn't much cop is it? Neal who? Yeah, those w*nkers, let me at 'em....
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I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision.
- Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill
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will
Forum Senior Member
Joined: March 13 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 223
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Posted: October 25 2004 at 09:19 |
I for one am a fan of spocks beard. I think the vocals may not be the best in prog but they sound just fine to me. The subject matter of their songs is abit trivial but music doesnt always have to be serious.
You say a 10 year old could have wrote them, but you could also argue a 10 year old could produce most of the modern art that is around today, which sells for millions. Just a thought.
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Long live progression.
Will
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Rogertron
Forum Newbie
Joined: October 12 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 8
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Posted: October 25 2004 at 18:04 |
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I dig S'sB, even though I only have one album, I'm already addicted to them.
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Dan Bobrowski
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: February 02 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 5243
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Posted: October 25 2004 at 18:15 |
Some good, some okay, some embarrassing....
Gibberish, Distance to the Sun, Chatauqua and a few harder edged, bass propelled tunes...
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Panoramic
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Joined: October 21 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 68
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Posted: October 25 2004 at 19:13 |
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Spocks Beard needs to fire their lousy singer , get a new one and hire Peter Sinfield on as their lyricist
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Dan Bobrowski
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Joined: February 02 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 5243
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Posted: October 25 2004 at 20:00 |
Panoramic wrote:
Spocks Beard needs to fire their lousy singer , get a new one and hire Peter Sinfield on as their lyricist |
They didn't fire him, but he is gone.... The drummer, Nick DiViglio is now the singer. Judging from "A Guy Named Sid," It ain't getting much better.
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Prog_Bassist
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 29 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 830
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Posted: October 25 2004 at 22:38 |
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Nick Dvigilio is way worse of a singer than neal morse.
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Dick Heath
Special Collaborator
Jazz-Rock Specialist
Joined: April 19 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 12818
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Posted: October 27 2004 at 08:52 |
Prog_Bassist wrote:
Nick Dvigilio is way worse of a singer than neal morse. |
Dvigilio is even worse than Morse on that album I mentioned above
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Sweetnighter
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Joined: October 24 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1298
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Posted: October 27 2004 at 19:29 |
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I just got "Feel Euphoria" today, it was on sale for $6 down the street and I figured I'd give SB a try.
Yeah, they're not horrible, but they have two main problems. First of
all, as has been stated many times, the vocals... suck, although I do
have to give them credit for trying to merge more contemporary vocal
styles with prog, which leads me to my second point: they're attempt to
merge alt rock styles vis-a-vis Matchbox 20, Barenaked Ladies, and
other assorted mid-life crisis rock with prog, the merger is too
artificial. One moment you hear metal with blaring synths, and the next
you might as well be listening to the local soft rock station. I'm not
criticizing that type of rock... but their attempt to merge light alt
rock with prog is just... too artificial.
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Bryan
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Joined: April 01 2004
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Posted: October 27 2004 at 22:48 |
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Feel Euphoria is actually their least well liked album, and doesn't feature their usual singer/songwriter Neal Morse, who had quit the band by that point.
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Spocks Beard
