Glass Hammer!!
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Music Lounge
Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11827
Printed Date: February 21 2025 at 15:38
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Glass Hammer!!
Posted By: Tiresias
Subject: Glass Hammer!!
Date Posted: September 20 2005 at 18:02
|
Proof that there is now hope for classical symphonic prog!!! I just got the Inconsolable Secret and Shadowlands. I cried.... I seriously wonder why these guys aren't held up with higher classics such as SB, Transatlantic and The Flower Kings.. ------------- Wh'ghal ng'fth mglw'y Ry'leh, Cthulhu fhtagn... 
|
Replies:
Posted By: progaeopteryx
Date Posted: September 20 2005 at 18:16
| I certainly have enjoyed what I have bought from them. I would put them in the same league as those others you mention. I can't wait to get the new one. |
Posted By: KeyserSoze
Date Posted: September 20 2005 at 18:24
Oh yes, I have always thought that Glass Hammer are a very underrated band too. Everything since Chronometree is just perfect 
|
Posted By: Nipsey88
Date Posted: September 20 2005 at 18:24
Yeah, don't miss out on The Inconsolable Secret, I've really fallen in love after only 2 listens, it may be their best.  ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Nipsey88/?chartstyle=myspace02" rel="nofollow"> 
|
progaeopteryx wrote:Posted By: elpprogster
Date Posted: September 20 2005 at 19:36
|
Hi Gang, The new album The Inconsolable Secret is a killer and perhaps their best one to date. All the ELP/YES influences are still present in the first disc (the Emersonic hammond solos are great) and the second offers very charming tracks. GLASS HAMMER = EXCELLENT CURRENT KEYBOARD DRIVEN PROG
|
Posted By: Zac M
Date Posted: September 20 2005 at 19:45
They are from my hometown , where my family still lives while I am away at college.
------------- "Art is not imitation, nor is it something manufactured according to the wishes of instinct or good taste. It is a process of expression." -Merleau-Ponty |
Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: September 20 2005 at 20:17
|
Great stuff ------------- Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect. |
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: September 20 2005 at 20:19
|
From Chronometree onward I really like them.The only problem I have with The Inconsolable Secret is that I think disc 2 has a little too much filler.Shadowlands is an absolute masterpiece. -------------  |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 02:57
|
Shadowlands is superb! At first I was a bit dubious that an American band should want to play such 'English' sounding symphonic prog, why not celebrate their American-ness, but they are excellent at what they do, so why not?! I have have the one album so far, but there are several more, including Lex Rex and the latest one (Inconsolable Secret?) on my to get list. I'm glad I found this band, and it's thanks to Prog Archives that I did. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 03:56
I have both Lex Rex and Chronomotree; the first I really like, the second I can take or leave to be honest; although I really appreciate the musicianship, the vocals on this one grate with me a bit...does anyone feel the same? ------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |
Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 04:00
|
I bought the inconsolable Secret last week and my initial impressions
is that I like what I've heard so far. I will say that the mix sounds a
little flat in places but hey, that's just my opinion. I bought the
Live DVD as well and the sound on that sucka was much better. Like most
bands in a live concert environment, the sound and the songs had a lot
more 'edge' to them which I love. More power to you ladies and gents in Glass Hammer. ------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 05:12
|
Fandango: I would agree that the male lead vocals are the weakest part of the Glass Hammer machine. But I love the female harmonies. Sigod: The first negative thing that jumped out at me about 'Shadowlands' was some flaws in the production, or at least what I regarded as flaws. Certain things too loud, some things too quiet etc. Not a duff track on the album IMO, but they could have been better with a better producer, but hey, a good song will always be a good song whoever the producer. Besides I've heard worse. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 05:28
|
They are one of the best modern symphonic prog bands and fast becoming one of my very favourite bands along with ELP,Yes etc.Fred Schendel is a masterfull keyboard player..great chops! They write music with striking melodies and containing excellent compositional qualities.Production is also flawless on all the CD's I have.I can't help but go back and listen to them time and time again. btw don't forget the Lex Live DVD..its a real gem along with all the albums. |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 05:33
I've more of their work to get, but they could become one of my favourite bands too Maybe, I'm too critical when it comes to production. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 09:01
|
I've always thought GH had the potential for greatness but were let down by flaws in the production (as Blacksword says) e.g. the annoyingly loud keyboards in "Run Lisette". I reckoned they've cracked it with the Inconsolable Secret though. A double prog concept album with a Roger Dean cover - what more can you want? Great keyboard, great drumming, could do with more of the female vocals. As long as you don't mind the lyrics ("Once upon a time there were three knights and a king") then it's great. |
Posted By: arcer
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 12:09
|
Indeed, a recent discovery for me and now I've snapped up everything from Chronometree on. I do have to say though that in keeping with a lot of modern prog the lyrics are abysmal. As mentioned the 'Once upon a time there were three three knights and a king' is pretty hideous but Lex Rex is troubled by the same awful wordsmithery. Funnily on Shadowlands it doesn't bother me as much, maybe it's cause the tunes are better. I think, though, that I'm one of the few who has reservations about Inconsolable Secret. There's some outstanding playing on the album and the melodies are really good in places but I do think they overstretched themselves. I find it meanders a bit and the long, long songs lack structure in places. Also I reckon the second CD is largely a waste of time. If I wanted to hear a sub-par soundtrack to Lord of the Rings, I would have gone out and bought the Lord of the Rings OST ( ), or GH's dreadful Middle
Earth album. To me the stuff on the second CD of Inconsolable sounds
like a cross between bad Clannad and Gryphon (without the good parts of
either). In fact I think all those little instrumentals sound like a
demo CD GH made for movie producers. i'm sure they're mail-shotting
studios with it as we speak. It would have made a great one CD set. By contrast Shadowlands is a great album, solid, to the point, no filler. They should learn the lessons of that album - and judging by the comments above many people feel this is GH's best. I agree that the production is sometimes a little obvious and a little slapdash but it doesn't really affect my enjoyment too much. I will say though that the addition of a drummer with real drums has really given them the credible edge they needed. All those sampled drums on the earlier albums really suck. They've nicely addressed the vocal problems too. On Chronometree they're terrible./ On Shadowlands and Inconsolable they're, for the most part, excellent. It sounds like I'm dissing them completely but they only have a few failings and along with the Flower Kings, I think they're the best contemporary retro symphonic outfit out there. I never get the ELP comparisons though. To me they sound most like a mix between Yes and Kansas. |
Posted By: greenback
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 12:12
|
glass hammer is a very underrated band! i have shadowland, and i always found it very "yes-going for the one" oriented, especially Run Lisette! shadowland is definitely among my top albums of the third millenium! greenback ------------- [HEADPINS - LINE OF FIRE: THE RECORD HAVING THE MOST POWERFUL GUITAR SOUND IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF MUSIC!> |
Posted By: goose
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 12:14
| Maybe the most unoriginal sounding prog band I like, but I do like them, certainly! |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 15:41
I don't think their music is particularly ELP-like, but it's the organ sound that does it. There are a couple of solos on The Inconsolable Secret that could be from Tarkus. |
Posted By: arcer
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 15:59
Tarkus you say? ELP-like organ you say? I shall have to edit out those sections using Soundforge then and write a stern letter of reprimand to Mr G Hammer. And BTW.... who'd have thought that this guy Glass would have such wonderfully opposing musical taste to that of his baggy-trousered brother MC.... wonders will never cease. |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 16:13
I've looked at the cover of The Inconsolable Secret and I can't work it out - which one's Glass? |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 17:13
|
It never really occured to me that the production is any way weak on their albums As for the 'sampled' drums?? Mr Schendel actually plays a small electronic kit..and plays it very well on Shadowlands,Lex Live and Chronometree.Check out the bonus features on the Lex Live DVD showing just that...its worth getting!!...oh did I mention that before??! I also rather fancy the girls that sing with them |
Posted By: Simkim
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 18:15
| This is one the bands that I've not heard yet. What albums do you recommend me for starting? |
Posted By: Cinema
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 18:22
Definitely check out: Chronometree Lex Rex Shadowlands The Inconsolable Secret Moreover, you might want to check out their sampler page at the following URL: http://www.glasshammer.com/pages/features/samplers/ album_sampler.html |
Posted By: chessman
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 18:23
| I too have all the albums from Chronometree onwards. Each one is tremendous, with excellent melodies and superb keyboard work. Let's not forget Steve Babb's driving, Squire-like bass work too. And Schendel's guitar work is more than adequate too! Of the last four, I think Lex Rex is the least effective - it is still an excellent album, but the second half lets it down somewhat. I think the guitar mix on it is too whiney and tinney in parts. But still a good record. Chronometree is superior music wise, for me, but, like most people, I find the vocals very second divisionish. It's as if they dragged some passerby in to sing for them. Shadowlands is probably their strongest, very Yes like in parts with superior guitar work too. The Inconsolable Secret rivals it for their best work, although it is different. The first disc is classic Hammer, but the second is wonderful too for me, with no filler. the best American band I have heard, and I agree, they are right up there amongst the modern greats, along with Flower Kings and Kaipa. What all three bands have that others lack is consistency. Always strong on melody and technically brilliant. And each of them has a number of class albums to choose from! Glass Hammer v ELP? No contest, Hammer leave Emerson's boys for dead each time. Yes, it is derivative of the 70's sound, but so what? I love that sound, so that is a bonus for me. |
Posted By: Simkim
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 18:42
|
Thanks, I'll try one of these |
Posted By: MarkCsigs
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 19:08
|
Well, this thread inspired me to tack Lex Rex onto my most recent music order ... that'll be my first Glass Hammer album. Hope it's everything you say! ------------- I repeat myself when under stress. |
Posted By: Damen
Date Posted: September 21 2005 at 22:58
|
Good stuff, The Inconsolable Secret second disk has a bit of filler, but I still like it, but not as much as some of their older work. ------------- "It's amazing that we've been able to put up with each other for 35 years. Most marriages don't last that long these days." -Chris Squire |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 01:58
|
As people have already said there isn't that much of a comparison to be made between ELP and Glass Hammer.Just because they both have a strong keyboard sound doesn't make them the same.I'm a fan of both bands and neither is in a hundred metre sprint to get to the line..although Emerson would leave anyone for dead in a Hammond race! |
Posted By: sigod
Date Posted: September 22 2005 at 12:21
The ladies of Glass Hammer (for Richardh and indeed...me too!) ------------- I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision. - Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
Posted By: Christian
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 03:50
| Doeas anyone know if and how to find Glass Hammer lyrics on the web? |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 07:57
|
Don't know but the lyrics to "Inconsolable Secret" are included as a .pdf file on the first CD. |
Posted By: Lliusion
Date Posted: September 23 2005 at 10:24
|
www.ghfan.net |