I've just read the very contradictory comments regarding the merits of the Ten release and frankly I'm very upset. I haven't bought the album yet but to this point I've loved everything by the band. And without wanting to get personal I'd like to know why some people particularly Surfpunk trash the band and then put in glowing reviews of "alternative" bands like Everclear etc. This is a MELODIC ROCK site and to say that Ten is rehashing a "dead genre" is ridiculous. And I ask Surfpunk, if Ten is "plagiarising Whitesnake" etc. what the hell are Everclear doing, Art Alexakis(the singer is a massive Cheap Trick fan, pity the songs are not worthy of the inspiration). I keep my ear to the ground with all the rock trends - alternative, grunge etc. but I only love MELODIC ROCK and TEN are one of our brightest hopes to revive a genre that is growing again and not atrophying as some suggest. And then the temerity of some people to complain about touring. Bands like Ten and Heartland would tour till the cows come home if given the chance! And I live in Australia and willingly travel overseas every year or so to support the scene. So Andrew and all the other "true believers" raise your consciences to keep our genre going whilst all the others grunge, alternative etc. wither Cheers to everyone. KAOS FAN...http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4665#msg-4665Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:15:10 +1000 Phorum 5.2.16 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4804#msg-4804 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4804#msg-4804And then in the case of a band like Danger Danger they've totally reinvented themselves - Gildersleeves, an absolute peach of an album bears very little relation to the early Ted Poley stuff and maturity wise is streets ahead.
This board is a democratic forum but let's not forget this is a MELODIC ROCK site and above all we should be boosting the fortunes of the Ten's, Firefly's, Heartland's, Danger Danger's etc. that are most representative of this site.
In any case, it's great to see that on this site 99 percent of the time we are all fair and civil to each other and respect each other's opinions without degenerating into slander and innuendo! Cheers. KAOS FAN!]]> KAOS FAN NoticeboardWed, 23 Aug 2000 17:06:09 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4764#msg-4764 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4764#msg-4764
There are people on this board whose recommendations I check out and there are those I'm more cautious of. I wouldn't expect anyone to treat my posts in any other way. But please, just because I like to 'mix up' the scene don't think my heart doesn't lie with melodic rock because it does.

To sum up, a quote from FUNKADELIC comes to mind...

"Free your mind and your ass will follow"

]]> Surfpunk NoticeboardWed, 23 Aug 2000 04:31:29 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4760#msg-4760 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4760#msg-4760
I think it's important that we DO talk about new bands on this board. If people check them out and think they suck then fine, but to ignore new talent on the basis that they don't precisely fit the traditional Melodic Rock/AOR criteria is a bit naive to say the least. I'm not suggesting that we discuss just any band but people need to be made aware of how good some of this new shit really is! The likes of MarsElectric, Marv3, Nine Days, to name but a few, are packed with big hooks and catchy riffs; they're just a little different!

Fact is, the scene should be proud of its roots but it must move with the times in order to maintain its appeal and credibility.]]> Gav NoticeboardWed, 23 Aug 2000 03:39:39 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4732#msg-4732 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4732#msg-4732And with reference to John Q, what's this constant reference about Ten being dated in sound and more bizarrely in looks. When I pay my hardearned cash to see a rock act I don't want to see 4 BALD GUYS on stage staring at their shoes in LUMBERJACK clothes! That's what killed the "grunge" scene - total absence of charisma and even more so an inability to cut it live. You know when you go see a band like Night Ranger, Heartland, Ten etc., you're going to see a performance and each time it's going to be different.
And it's utter rubbish that Ten couldn't be bigger! From what I've heard their last album was by far their biggest seller and with promotion bands in the melodic rock genre could only grow. The fact is there is a large disenfranchised rock community out there who like melody, catchy choruses and more positive lyrics than the mindless dance music out there and bands of a nihilistic, aggressive nature like Limp Bizkit and Korn.
I was at a party on Saturday night and I bought along some cds. I was amazed at the reaction of some people - as they heard some of the bands I played like Silent Witness, Heartland and Ten. Many of them loved it even though they earlier claimed "they didn't like rock". They "just haven't been exposed to it". Thus the promotion angle again.
Finally meldoic music is growing! Just look at the current scene in the States. Most successful tour - Poison. Bon Jovi selling well worldwide. Young bands like Hammerfall, Iron Fire and Edguy maintaining the metal traditions of standard bearers of melodic metal like Helloween and Iron Maiden. The next step is the mantle to be passed to new bands in the melodicrock/aor sphere. It's only a matter of time!
Cheers to everyone and keep the faith and to the Everclearians "so much for the afterglow"! KAOS FAN!]]> KAOS FAN NoticeboardTue, 22 Aug 2000 13:57:39 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4721#msg-4721 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4721#msg-4721 Kieran NoticeboardTue, 22 Aug 2000 10:32:48 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4720#msg-4720 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4720#msg-4720
I, for one, think you're dreaming if you think a band like Ten will ever go beyond the quite respectful success they're having now. They are very good at what they do, but they sound pretty dated in relation to where rock is right now, and they certainly date themselves with their image. The fact that they're probably all in their mid-30's doesn't help either - nobody ever hits it big at that age. Rock'n'roll is a youth business, always has been, always will be, and if you can't sell it to the kids via MTV and Teen Beat - it simply ain't gonna sell because there aren't enough people over 25 that care enough to go out and buy records by new bands.

Also, I think it it silly that 'true believers' like yourself get mad at others who have a broader view of what constitutes melodic rock and dare to take issue with certain things, such as stagnation within the genre. Every genre and sub-genre peaks sooner or later and after that it is generally downhill. That, IMO, happens to be the case with melodic rock as well as classic metal (when was the last time something as ass-kicking as the new Halfrod came out? Years ago...) and other styles. There's only so much that can be done before things get redundant and that's usually when people move on to other things, musicians as well as fans, or lose interest altogether. I'm not saying there aren't any good bands out there anymore, but nothing will ever have the impact that Foreigner, Journey, Boston, and all the 80's bands had when melodic rock was in its infancity or starting to peak.
]]> John Q NoticeboardTue, 22 Aug 2000 09:55:28 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4717#msg-4717 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4717#msg-4717Hi Surfpunk,

I don't mean to sound condescending or anything like that, but why on earth would you post messages HERE about Everclear considering the style of music they play?

Nothing wrong with the band...it's just that this is a melodic rock forum. There are loads of other alternative music forums on the Internet!

I don't think we should compromise the integrity of the discussion board just because we want to tell people about other cool jazz, blues, alternative bands, etc.

As for the plagiarism debate....can you tell me which rock bands are 100 percent original?

There isn't a single one that is 100 percent original (and thankfully so)

The fact is, Gary Hughes' style is very striking and quite original. Just listen to the vocal harmonies on "This Time" on his Precious Ones cd, and the way Gary arranged the lyrics. That is sheer brilliance and no one else could have pulled it off so well.

Or have a listen to "The Loneliest Place in the World" on Ten S/t, which shows off Gary's distinct songwriting style. For one thing, his phrasing is very unique and every time you listen to a Ten or Gary Hughes song you know it's them!

There is no doubt that Gary's influences show up in his music, but to say he is ripping others off is just plain false. If you believe this to be true, why not provide a detailed analysis of which song, which section, etc.

Then, and only then, can you claim that he is plagiarising

Cheers

Vince


Surfpunk wrote:
-------------------------------
Actually, if you saw the 'review' of 'Babylon' I posted a week or so ago you would have noticed that I said that it was, in the end, an impressive piece of work despite the way the result was achieved. (A reference to the plagiarism on offer).

I also said it would sit well in any TEN fan's collection and recommended that people get a listen to it themselves and make up their own minds. Sounds fair enough doesn't it?

The reason I post other recommendations on melodicrock.com is because I feel there is a whole world of music out there that some people on this board may be into if they actually heard it. I know other people have turned me on to some excellent new bands on this board and I hope I can do the same. I want to avoid this site becoming www.stuckinarut.com or www.tunnelvision.com and I believe Andrew has a similarly broad taste. I just think it's important that we all look forwards for the scene as well as backwards for inspiration.

And, for the record, both the TEN and....]]> Vince Viani NoticeboardTue, 22 Aug 2000 08:52:59 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4707#msg-4707 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4707#msg-4707
I also said it would sit well in any TEN fan's collection and recommended that people get a listen to it themselves and make up their own minds. Sounds fair enough doesn't it?

The reason I post other recommendations on melodicrock.com is because I feel there is a whole world of music out there that some people on this board may be into if they actually heard it. I know other people have turned me on to some excellent new bands on this board and I hope I can do the same. I want to avoid this site becoming www.stuckinarut.com or www.tunnelvision.com and I believe Andrew has a similarly broad taste. I just think it's important that we all look forwards for the scene as well as backwards for inspiration.

And, for the record, both the TEN and EVERCLEAR will be in my personal end of year chart, but EVERCLEAR will be higher. Sorry, that's just my opinion. No reflection on yours or anyone elses whatsoever.]]> Surfpunk NoticeboardTue, 22 Aug 2000 03:34:58 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4684#msg-4684 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4684#msg-4684
Having said that, I agree that overgeneralised comments about the state of melodic rock suffering from overplagarism are somewhat ridiculous. To some extent I´ll admit that I like my rock/metal sounding "a certain way" - but that to me is what makes it melodic rock!!! On the other hand, I don´t get off on blatent copying and I did feel there was a bit too much of that on Ten´s Spellbound. Their first two albums in particular are inspired but IMHO Spellbound was too derivative of other bands. In that light, I read certain comments on "Babylon" with a little trepidation but nonetheless will withold opinion until I hear it for myself. If it´s half as good as In The Name Of The Rose then I´ll be a happy man.]]> Steve, Denmark NoticeboardMon, 21 Aug 2000 20:56:10 +1000 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4665#msg-4665 http://www.melodicrock.com/phorum52/read.php?1,4665,4665#msg-4665Cheers to everyone. KAOS FAN...]]> KAOS FAN NoticeboardMon, 21 Aug 2000 11:26:17 +1000