Return to Forever vs Brand X - Progressive Rock Music Forum

These are two of my very favorite fusion albums. I've been a big fan of the Romantic Warrior album for some time, but I was blown away by Unorthodox Behaviour when I heard it for the first time a couple years ago. I'll go with UB...no, wait...RW...no...TOO CLOSE TO CALL! Absoluetely fantastic...can't go wrong with either pick...which do you like?

I've always preferred Brand X.

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.

For a single album, I like Romantic Warrior better than any single Brand X album. But for a body of work, I like Brand X much better than Return To Forever. RTF has some real stinkers out there.

Trust me. I know what I'm doing.

Unorthodox Behaviour, easily for me

Moroccan Roll is better than both!

Romantic Warrior... I've been listening to it all day. The title track is incredible, as are the rest .I haven't heard Brand X though.

That's really too close to call.

Romantic warrior

Neither are masterpieces of their respective genre, but I will almost always choose RtF over any Brand X album any day.

"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

Romantic Warrior- the instrumentation/songwriting on that album is truly amazing!

"Science is all metaphor"-Timothy Leary

[IMG]http://freespace.virgin.net/martin.jones10/amonpic.jpg">[IMG]http://imagegen.last.fm/red/artists/Yeti316.gif">

Romantic Warrior is way too over the top for me. I loved the early RTF sound with the bubbling Fender Rhodes, lilting yet peppery horns, percussion all over the place and Flora's melodic voice...didn't matter that she was singing drivel. Warrior is all flash, a clone of hundreds of fusion/prog albums that came before, a definite attempt to crossover to that rock 'n' roll market. To me, it's blindingly shiny and hard on the ears - by far the worst LP RTF produced.

On the other hand, the early Brand X stuff is full of life...organic life. They didn't break any new ground and are by no means as influential - or as talented - as Chick Corea's band, but they sound like they loved what they were doing. I prefer the second Brand X LP to the first, but both make it on my turntable a lot more frequently than Romantic Warrior.

I can't recommend the first two RTF albums enough...I think they're the pinnacle of the jazz fusion genre. The second wave of RTF (with Connors and then DiMeola on guitar) was more expirimental and much more electric, sort of laying over the path set by Mahavishu but still a lot to enjoy and also recommended.

I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there.....

Poll Question: Which album do you enjoy more?
Poll Choice	Votes	Poll Statistics
Romantic Warrior	27	[54.00%]
Unorthodox Behaviour	19	[38.00%]
To Close To Call!	4	[8.00%]
This topic is closed, no new votes accepted

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DolphinFan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 05 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 143	Topic: Return to Forever vs Brand X Posted: March 18 2006 at 18:37
	These are two of my very favorite fusion albums. I've been a big fan of the Romantic Warrior album for some time, but I was blown away by Unorthodox Behaviour when I heard it for the first time a couple years ago. I'll go with UB...no, wait...RW...no...TOO CLOSE TO CALL! Absoluetely fantastic...can't go wrong with either pick...which do you like?

Bj-1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: June 04 2005 Location: No(r)Way Status: Offline Points: 31663	Posted: March 18 2006 at 18:40
	Unorthodox Behaviour, but Romantic Warrior is a very close 2nd!
	RIO/AVANT/ZEUHL - The best thing you can get with yer pants on!

Man With Hat Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Collaborator Jazz-Rock/Fusion/Canterbury Team Joined: March 12 2005 Location: Neurotica Status: Offline Points: 166183	Posted: March 18 2006 at 18:44
	I've always preferred Brand X.
	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.

A'swepe Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: December 08 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 590	Posted: March 18 2006 at 20:31
	I can't believe I'm the first to vote for Romantic Warrior. What an incredible album. DeMiola's Majestic Dance, is my favorite on that album although the entire album is excellent.
	David - Never doubt in the dark that which you believe to be true in the light. http://www.myspace.com/aardvarktxusa - Instrumental rock http://www.soundclick.com/aardvarktxusa

Evolver Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Crossover & JR/F/Canterbury Teams Joined: October 22 2005 Location: The Idiocracy Status: Offline Points: 5493	Posted: March 18 2006 at 20:39
	For a single album, I like Romantic Warrior better than any single Brand X album. But for a body of work, I like Brand X much better than Return To Forever. RTF has some real stinkers out there.
	Trust me. I know what I'm doing.

ANDREW Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: November 21 2005 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 3064	Posted: March 18 2006 at 21:15
	"Romantic Warrior" is my favourite jazz-rock/fusion album of all times!!!

NetsNJFan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: April 12 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3047	Posted: March 18 2006 at 21:31
	Unorthodox Behaviour, easily for me Moroccan Roll is better than both!


memowakeman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: May 19 2005 Location: Mexico City Status: Offline Points: 13033	Posted: March 19 2006 at 18:36
	Romantic Warrior!!
	Follow me on twitter @memowakeman

Rising Force Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: January 09 2006 Status: Offline Points: 439	Posted: March 19 2006 at 20:40
	Romantic Warrior... I've been listening to it all day. The title track is incredible, as are the rest .I haven't heard Brand X though.

grandoleopry Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: June 12 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 85	Posted: April 03 2006 at 07:47
	Brand X does not have an answer for Al Di Meola. For that reason I'll take RW by a razor's edge...
	Dreams. Gabor Szabo (1968)

Moogtron III Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: April 26 2005 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 10616	Posted: April 03 2006 at 07:57
	That's really too close to call.

JayDee Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member VIP Member Joined: September 07 2005 Location: Elysian Fields Status: Offline Points: 10063	Posted: April 03 2006 at 09:25
	OK, i wont kiss Phil's arse this time Romantic Warrior


Kord Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 23 2006 Location: Italy Status: Offline Points: 329	Posted: June 05 2006 at 11:43
	Romantic warrior

dabaynton Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Groupie Joined: May 07 2006 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 66	Posted: June 05 2006 at 14:02
	Unorthodox behaviour is good, but Moroccan Roll is better.
	Shines On Brightly, Quite Insane.......

Zac M Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator Joined: July 03 2005 Status: Offline Points: 3577	Posted: June 06 2006 at 22:13
	Neither are masterpieces of their respective genre, but I will almost always choose RtF over any Brand X album any day.
	"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

BaldFriede Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Prog Reviewer Joined: June 02 2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 10266	Posted: June 07 2006 at 00:00
	I don't like the guitar style of Di Meola, though he certainly knows how to play it. So I'll vote for Brand X.
	BaldJean and I; I am the one in blue.

Erpland316 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: October 30 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 359	Posted: June 07 2006 at 00:27
	Romantic Warrior- the instrumentation/songwriting on that album is truly amazing!
	"Science is all metaphor"-Timothy Leary [IMG]http://freespace.virgin.net/martin.jones10/amonpic.jpg">[IMG]http://imagegen.last.fm/red/artists/Yeti316.gif">

Legoman Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: October 21 2005 Status: Offline Points: 306	Posted: June 07 2006 at 01:26
	Come on! Unorthodox is a masterpiece!

Intruder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 13 2005 Status: Offline Points: 2211	Posted: June 12 2006 at 00:13
	Romantic Warrior is way too over the top for me. I loved the early RTF sound with the bubbling Fender Rhodes, lilting yet peppery horns, percussion all over the place and Flora's melodic voice...didn't matter that she was singing drivel. Warrior is all flash, a clone of hundreds of fusion/prog albums that came before, a definite attempt to crossover to that rock 'n' roll market. To me, it's blindingly shiny and hard on the ears - by far the worst LP RTF produced. On the other hand, the early Brand X stuff is full of life...organic life. They didn't break any new ground and are by no means as influential - or as talented - as Chick Corea's band, but they sound like they loved what they were doing. I prefer the second Brand X LP to the first, but both make it on my turntable a lot more frequently than Romantic Warrior. I can't recommend the first two RTF albums enough...I think they're the pinnacle of the jazz fusion genre. The second wave of RTF (with Connors and then DiMeola on guitar) was more expirimental and much more electric, sort of laying over the path set by Mahavishu but still a lot to enjoy and also recommended.
	I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there.....

King Crimson776 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: October 12 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2779	Posted: January 09 2008 at 21:15
	Romantic Warror by far. Brand X aren't masters like Return to Forever.