What albums did you listen to today?

The Alan Parsons Project - Gaudi.

Sankt Otten - Messias Machine

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: OK, I'm copying and pasted from my comments for that conversation, Sam! Also, there's a story I mentioned in it that I'm pretty sure Nick and Sagi have read before, so sorry for the repetition, fellas! Now don't get me wrong, I really like `Red', but I don't think there is a lot of depth of it. It's clanging and noisy and cool on a surface level to me, but not much more than that. Most of their other albums take endless plays to discover their secrets, but to me `Red' was instantly good but never one to go back to much except for an adrenaline blast. I was going through a vendors items at the Camberwell Record Fair a year or two back, and a guy standing next to me asked could he look over my shoulder as I flipped through the prog vinyl. We started chatting and commenting on all the albums as we went thought them, and when we got to `Red', he said "sigh...f**king `Red'...it's the youngies and metalheads that like that one so much....". Now, I don't agree with his instant dismissal of it, but I kind of know what he was getting at." ***** Anyway, do go back and get `Islands', I love the dark jazz sound to much of it, lots of quiet sedate subtle moments and then noisy outbursts!

This is a great discussion. I really feel like RED is an album that is full of heavy expression and its a very important album in their discography. I know I'm no stranger to metal, but like you Michael I do see the guy at the vinyl shop's point even though it was kind of a flippant/over generalizing thought.
Anyway, remember when dream theater set out to create their Train Of Thought album to be their full-on Ballz to the Walls album? They actually said that. Lol. Anyhow the RED album is king crimsons 'balls' album. But even still, they had STARLESS on that album which added some nice versatility and mood.
RED is a winner for me. Definitely more than just insilant noise. Lol.
Good discussion though for sure.

Today ( my last day of holidays)

Arena-- 7th degree of separation
Fields of the Nephilim--Earth Inferno
The Alan Parsons Project--Live extended rarities
Nightwish--Angels Fall First
My dying Bride--Turn loose the swans
Anglagaård-- Hybris

Cheers for the `Red' thoughts, lads! Just making we want to give it another spin in the next few days!

Lots of Arena love lately, I see! Carry on then! Guys, what do you think of `The Visitor'? I think it's got plenty of tasty moments, but considering it's often regarded as not only their masterpiece, but a Neo Prog overall standout as well, I sure listen to it much less than all their other albums! I'd go as far as saying that I find Paul Wrightson's vocals a little overdone on it. Now, I might be committing a sacrilegious comment there for you, Nick, because I know how much you adore `Pride' (which is still the only Arena album left I need to buy). How do you find him on this album?

What did you think of the Secret Tales, Sam?

Nick, playing the mighty MDB!! Probably my favourite metal band...although I've noticed recently there's about three or four albums of theirs I need to catch up on.

Here's my choices for the last two days:


Tangerine Dream - Melrose, Force Majeure, Franz Kafka: The Castle
Spock's Beard - Snow
Mystery - The World is a Game
Logos - L'engima Della Vita
Ozric Tentacles - Erpland
Arti e Mestieri - Live 2000
Eccentric Orbit - Creation of the Humanoids
Ashra - New Age of Earth
Panna Fredda - Uno
Glass Hammer - Ode to Echo, The Inconsolable secret (second disc)
Thought Guild - Third Voyage, Electric Curios

Meltdowner wrote: ^ I listened 'The Visitor' for the first time yesterday and I really liked it but I didn't seem masterpiece material to me. I actually liked the first two albums better, but it's only my first impression. That Secret Tales album is very good, but I think it might get better with more spins. I think I'll spin it more when I'll have something that really spins, like vinyl  How cool is the 'Echoes' guitar effect on 'Il canto delle sirene'?  What do you think of Melrose?

Are you thinking of getting the vinyl of Secret Tales, Sam? If you haven't bought any LP releases by the Black Widow label before, I can tell you that you are in for a treat. They always to a beautiful job. Secret Tales is not an album that's instantly grabs you, but repeated listens reveal how varied and classy it is. A very nice album!

I've now been able to listen to `Optical Race', `Lily on the Beach' and `Melrose' a few times. I lump these three in together as they all kind of have a pretty similar sound (but `Optical' is the most enjoyable for me). I think there is a ton of very strong melodies constantly popping up throughout them, and they're very easy to enjoy on a surface level. Not a lot of depth, but certainly nice undemanding albums.

I actually accidently discovered that they are also perfect albums to play on my Ipod while I've been going to the gym! They're very beaty and up-tempo, really urges you on!

Nick, you're a bit of a fitness guy, have you tried `Optical Race' at the gym?!

Aussie-Byrd-Brother wrote: Tangerine Dream - Melrose, Force Majeure, Franz Kafka: The Castle Spock's Beard - Snow Mystery - The World is a Game Logos - L'engima Della Vita Ozric Tentacles - Erpland Arti e Mestieri - Live 2000 Eccentric Orbit - Creation of the Humanoids Ashra - New Age of Earth Panna Fredda - Uno Glass Hammer - Ode to Echo, The Inconsolable secret (second disc) Thought Guild - Third Voyage, Electric Curios

Fire! Orchestra - Enter

Atmosphera - Lady of Shallot

The.Crimson.King wrote: Atmosphera - Lady of Shallot

Frank Carducci - Oddity