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vaportrail View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Which Spock’s beard?
    Posted: March 14 2005 at 15:58

 Hi everyone

 I got Beware of Darkness a week ago and its pretty awesome, which one should be my next choice?

 Anyone know ofn any other bands with the same Yes-ish Sound?

 Thanks!

 

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Metropolis View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2005 at 17:32
Hmm, prolly V, or The Light, or Snow, aagh, its so difficult, I'm gonna say V, then get Snow after that
We Lost the Skyline............


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2005 at 18:14

I came into Spock's Beard from their debut, The Light.  Had I come in through any other album, I do not think I would be as into them as I am.  I very highly recommend that you get that one and hear them fropm the beginning.  You might also want to read my review of The Light to see why I am recommending it.

Peace.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 14 2005 at 18:23

 Thanks guys,

 Maani's reveiw has convinced me, though V and Snow seem equaly promising, i cant wait to hear an impressive debut by the beard.  

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 02:29
snow or V to brillaint albums!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 04:57
I recommend you buy something from a better band. 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 04:59
Originally posted by chorus of one chorus of one wrote:

I recommend you buy something from a better band. 


Oooh, dems fightin words chorus

And see previous thread for some hard hittin' discussion Vapour.

http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1921&a mp;a mp;KW=spocks+beard




Edited by sigod
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 06:01

Originally posted by sigod sigod wrote:

Originally posted by chorus of one chorus of one wrote:

I recommend you buy something from a better band. 


Oooh, dems fightin words chorus


 

Sid Smith in a Krimson diary entry about  3 weeks ago, drew a metaphor which I'm attracted to, with respect to 2nd, 3rd and xth generation progressive rock bands - and note in his piece he was drawing the metaphor wrt  Gentle Giant!

Smith stated that when listening to recent prog bands, there was always a risk of hearing their antecedents. However, given time, with further exposure to some of these bands and he could hear the changes, the evolution, what they were bringing new to that particular style of prog. He liken these bands to seedlings, and a gardener having taken the parent plant (of earlier sounds  as the roots, trunk, trunk, branches, leaves and twigs),  shredded (pun?) them into a mulch. I took from this the idea: you could bearly recognise the original source but having spread the mulch over the ground it would initially protect the saplings, and then fertilise them - some eventually growing into strong healthy trees (well, shrubs anyway)!

Taking Smith's analogy, I've  been tempted to apply it to Spocks Beard and would suggest the mulching machine has not been working as effectively as it could, regularly spewing out unshredded pieces of roots, branches and trunks, amongst the heap of tiny pieces. Further, large branches have been grafted on the Spocks Beard sapling trunk from elsewhere, becoming set and growing vigorously! As an old fart, walking through this forest of prog trees, I find as I approach Beard, I keep  tripping up over the unshredded roots (e.g. from Yes, Genesis, Gentle Giant, nay even Deep Purple - for instance along the Snowy path), which younger and mor einnocent listeners with more agile legs would leap over and not even notice. Kindness of Strangers, is the only path I found  to Spock which is free of large lumps, and instead consists of the best fine mulch.

And all the best rhubarb grows in horse dung.......................................

 

 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 06:04
I got V for my first Spock's Beard album just few days ago and it really hasn't grown on me yet. I try to give it few more listens, but something really bothers me in it, I especially dislike the second song "Revelation".  Maybe it is a record which needs a lot of listens, but I have my doubts...
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 06:33
after listening to all my spocks beard albums i would say any album they are brillaint!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 07:31
V & Snow are both first class, the Live album Don't Try This at Home is also well worth a listen
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and why not....
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 12:56
Originally posted by vaportrail vaportrail wrote:

 Hi everyone

 I got Beware of Darkness a week ago and its pretty awesome, which one should be my next choice?

 Anyone know ofn any other bands with the same Yes-ish Sound?

 Thanks!

since you think that Beware Of Darkness is pretty awesome get The Kindness of Strangers next. I think you will like that as well.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 13:54
Originally posted by gdub411 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.

 I dont get Morse's vocals and lyirics. Is he trying to add humour or are his lyirics and vocals just not up to the standard of the musical ability of the group as a whole?

 

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 14:15
I first heard Spock's Beard through a sampler tape they had sent my brother for the bands appearing at that years Los Angeles Progfest. I believe that was 1995. Anyway, the moment I heard the song "The Light", I was blown away. In their show they performed the whole "The Light" album as well as the song "Thoughts". Again I was just amazed at this band. Not too often do I like US prog bands but this one really grabbed me. Unfortunately for my tastes, everything after "Kindness Of Strangers" was not up to the high quality of their first three albums. So to answer your question, grab "The Light" next. Also pick up Transatlantic "SMPTe", which is better than all the SB albums except "The Light".
"The fate of all mankind I see is in the hands of fools.
If we make it we can all sit back and laugh.
But I fear tomorrow I’ll be crying."
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 15:28

Originally posted by Chris Stainton Chris Stainton wrote:

Also pick up Transatlantic "SMPTe", which is better than all the SB albums except "The Light".

Just listening to Transatlantic- Mystery Train, Its fantastic. Sounds a bit like Conspiracy (Chris Squire, Billy Sherwood)

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 15:32
Bridge Across Forever is SOOOO much better than SMPTe, if you;re gonna get a Transatlantic album, get Brisge Across Forever, its a masterpiece
We Lost the Skyline............


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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 16:29
While I don't share Metropolis' opinion, I do think it is a good album as well.
"The fate of all mankind I see is in the hands of fools.
If we make it we can all sit back and laugh.
But I fear tomorrow I’ll be crying."
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 16:48
I'm liking "Octane" at the moment.
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 16:56
'Snow' is my favourite by a long way. All the other albums are good too though.

Edited by Richardw
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 15 2005 at 16:57
Originally posted by vaportrail vaportrail wrote:

Originally posted by Chris Stainton Chris Stainton wrote:

Also pick up Transatlantic "SMPTe", which is better than all the SB albums except "The Light".

Just listening to Transatlantic- Mystery Train, Its fantastic. Sounds a bit like Conspiracy (Chris Squire, Billy Sherwood)

I have to agree that Transatlantic is a step above most of the SB discography. Bridge before SMPTe.

 

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