Obviously some divided opinions here. As for me, I love TH’s voice! Powerful and charismatic. Also, the combination of his and JP’s voice brings a great flavour to the POL albums. The last POL was great. The title track, for example, is smoking. Toby’s first solo album is a (Mårtensson) classic!
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I agree that a concept album must be seen as a whole. And I’m sure it’ll be a great album. That being said, I found the first single «just OK», which is seldom by NM standards to say the least. Even he has his «hits and misses». «Gibberish», for example, on the «hit side», and «Agenda», for example, on the «miss» side. Anyhow: One thing I really like about Neal is his musica
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This should have been the first single! Good song with character! The keyboard melody starting at 7:51 is pure gold. Also: Sound, arrangement and performance wise, this album seems to have more «rough edges and first takes» than, say, the last NMB albums. Not necessarily a bad thing, just different.
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What a pleasant surprise! Good song writing, great vocals and guitars. Fave song so far is the title track: What a chorus!
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Great news, replacement and fit! As long as Clive Nolan sticks, Arena is Arena!
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Agree that it’s worth the wait when all is «taken in». But even then, sometimes, 15 minutes or so could probably have been cut out. That’s the case with some NM-related albums, as well as The Flower Kings. So I’m glad the new album is a single one. That being said, I’d rather have «too much» than «too little». My fave double album (a bit off topic though) is Ayreon ITEC. Perfe
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Legend! In the last years I’ve enjoyed his mellow albums (Life and Times +++) as much as his prog stuff. He’s just an amazing song writer, among all his other qualities (singer, multi-instrumentalist, arranger +++). Looking forward to the new album. Though, a single album (60 minutes) will do. Those double albums can be a bit much sometimes.
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Love it! Consistend band!
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Loved the debut! Great songs and a very different vibe than most of «the traditional AOR stuff». A good mix of Norlander’s proggy background and Payne’s melodic rock. The new single is great! Only thing I didn’t like is the semantics in the chorus: «We’re the monitors, we monitor you». But that’s just me being picky. Looking forward to the new album!
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Terry K. Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Guess what,DA....those albums back when were all > produced/mixed/mastered much better (not to > mention analog). So there weren't alot of sonic > issues back when. I realize our individual > listening enjoyment is all subjective. We've > mentioned this a few times over the long haul. For > me--
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The Stealer Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You point doesn't really make sense > > Tons of records in the 70's and 80's had really > good or great production, so there was no need to > focus less on production. > > Production and mastering has gotten far worse in > more recent times. Partly because of the ear bud > generati
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My take (in general, NOT about MB’s DG, which I’ve only heard a couple of songs off): If an album can be «ruined» with bad mastering, well the «bad mastering» is not the real problem. That’s just a bad excuse or a contributing factor along with subpar songs, bad arrangements, sloppy performances etc. Take for example Dream Theater’s debut, WDADU. Not exactly state of the art pro
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Fantastic!
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Al Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Bob Catly solo albums. Second that! Especially «Middle Earth».
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I always make the first song and the first album an occasion when we at 00:15 return home from watching the fireworks. Song: Magnum/Les Morts Dansant Album: FM/Indiscreet Both on vinyl of course!
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Sounds fantastic! Can’t wait! They’re obviously on a roll =)
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Fantastic singer and performer! Seen him live several times (Ayreon, Threshold). His live performance on «And the druids turned to stone» on Ayreon Universe is the benchmark for any live performance. Just magnificent. The Wilson/Wakeman albums are also recommended listening. Great song writing and lyrics. Check out the lyrics for Weir keeper’s tale, for example.
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Only had one spin, but sounds great so far. Diverse, melodic, progressive. And SONGS. «Last train home» is my favourite so far. Perfect mix of melody and prog! Looking forward to explore it further.
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Impossible to choose, but: SKYDIVING from Unfinished Business. What a gem!
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Just horrible. He went out still at the top of his game. Makes me sad to think about all the great music he still could have graced us with. Unfinished business, if there ever was any. Tonight I’ll blast a selection of his vast and fantastic discography, and remember this great, great singer and composer. Rest in peace, Tony.
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Great, fitting voice!
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Yet another good album! And GREAT storytelling in Road to London! Agree!
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Good song and band! Beyond Daylight is still my favourite album of theirs, along with Kuntz’ brilliant solo album, Abydos, featuring members of VP.
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Lynchomaniac Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > DimensionAct Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Lionsheart > > - Portrait > > > I'll take that thank you, and what a song - and an > even better riff! :) Couldn’t agree more :) It’s massive! And that guitar solo. One of those songs
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the gooch 2 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ...John Waite - 'If You Ever Get Lonely', or > 'Missing You' Agree regarding «If you ever get lonely». Brilliant and heart breaking lyrics. «Thanks for calling...»
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peteaor Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Magnum - Dont wake the Lion , Les Morts dansant > Saxon - Dallas 1pm , Princess of the night > > > @dimension we must have posted these at the same > time !! Fantastic! Indeed! Just goes to show how great those two Magnum tracks are =)
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Again, too many to mention, as I’m a sucker for conceptional stuff. Here are SOME (excluding ALBUMS, which are maaaany): Chris DeBurgh: - Spanish Train - Last Night - The Mirror of the Soul - Shipboard Romance Magnum - Don’t wake the lion - Les morts dansant Lionsheart - Portrait Marillion - The Party Fish - The High Wood suite
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Too many and too hard to mention just a few. But I’ll try. Here’s SOME of ‘em, in NO particular order. They all play an important soundtrack to different eras and parts of my existence. «The prog stuff» Dream Theater: Images and Words Ayreon: Into the Electric Castle Rush: A Farewell to Kings Marillion: Misplaced Childhood Queensryche: OM «The thrash stuff» Annihilator: Set
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Great band! Seen them live 3 times (Sweden Rock x2 + Subtacto Progfest), and very good live band as well! That being said, I prefer their 2 first albums. Not to take anything away from their more recent outputs, just a sound/style preference I guess. Looking forward to the new one, first day buyer here!
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Lynchomaniac Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > DimensionAct Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Norway. The northern part, that is, among > northern > > lights, snow and a landscape to die for. > > "They came from the land of the ice and > snow....." > > > Great t
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