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micky
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Topic: 2nd Round Classics: Zarathustra v. Days of Future Posted: July 25 2015 at 09:12 |
ouch man... two beloved favs here in the near corner. One of the greatest of ALL prog albums. As noted so well by one of the greatest of all PA'rs..
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Rock Progressivo Italiano
4.29 | 612 ratings
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From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website
maani
Special Collaborator Founding Moderator
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I am notoriously stingy with 5-star reviews. Thus, I want to explain
carefully why I am
ready to put "Zarathustra" in the same pantheon as "In The Court of the
Crimson
King," "Piper at the Gates of Dawn," "Foxtrot," "Close to the Edge,"
"Thick as a Brick,"
and "In A Glass House," among others. Although it is not a "seminal"
album like those noted above - and although it has some minor "flaws"
(for example, the production is dated) - it nevertheless has a few
things in its favor that far outweigh any minor quibbles, and definitely
point to a legitimate "masterpiece." Most important is its early
arrival on the prog scene. Released in April 1973, the album was
actually written during 1972: according to a Museo Rosenbach web site,
all the tracks had been completed by mid- to late 1972. Thus, although
the band claims Genesis as one of its major influences (along with
Gentle Giant and Jethro Tull), it is highly unlikely that "Zarathustra"
was influenced by "Foxtrot," given that the latter was not released
until October 1972. This means that the "Zarathustra" suite - all 21
minutes of it - was not a response to "Supper's Ready," but was written
contemporaneously with - and independent of - it. Based on this, and
after numerous listenings, there is no question in my mind that
the "Zarathustra" suite is every bit as creative and brilliant (re
composition, musicianship, etc.) as "Supper's Ready." Yes, I realize
this will sound like "blasphemy" to many; however, although I, too,
believe "Supper's Ready" (along with "Thick as a Brick") to be perhaps
the earliest, most important and influential "conceptual" prog "suite,"
the originality and execution of "Zarathustra" is every bit as
creative, and proves itself worthy of the comparison. Indeed, had MR
been as "well-known" as
Genesis at the time, "Zarathustra" would probably have been just as
influential as "Supper's Ready." Also important to consider is
that "Zarathustra" was MR's debut album. It took Gentle Giant three
albums to get to their first conceptual "quasi-masterpiece" ("Three
Friends"), Genesis four albums to get to "Foxtrot" (and "Supper's
Ready"), and Jethro Tull five albums to get to "Thick as a Brick" - and
none of the debut albums by any of these bands was anywhere near the
masterpiece that "Zarathustra" is. Indeed, of the eight "seminal"
progressive groups (Crimson, Floyd, Moody Blues, Genesis, Yes, Gentle
Giant, Tull and ELP), only Crimson's "Court" and Floyd's "Piper" are
equally great debuts (with ELP's debut coming pretty close). "Zarathustra"
is certainly influenced. Indeed, one can even discern the exact
influences: Genesis' "Trespass" (1971), Giant's "Acquiring the Taste"
(1971) and "Three Friends" (June 1972), and Tull's "Thick as a Brick"
(March 1972). Yet Museo Rosenbach not only "filters" those influences
beautifully to create something both creative and compelling, but
"Zarathustra" also clearly influenced those bands' later work (as well
as many other bands). That is, "Zarathustra" both draws from and adds
to some of the earliest works of Genesis, Yes, Gentle Giant, ELP,
Crimson and Tull - an extremely rare, if not unique, occurrence in
prog-rock, especially given the comparative obscurity of MR. The
"Zarathustra" suite itself is one of the most beautifully and
"carefully" crafted compositions in the history of progressive rock, and
I use the word "carefully" in its literal sense: i.e., that great care
was taken. The band neither rushes into things, nor lets things "sit"
for too long. Every section - whether soft, smooth, slow and simple, or
"hard," rocking, fast and complex - is constructed for maximum effect,
with minimal (if any) "down" time. And although the vocals are not
always as "immediate" as a
Gabriel or Anderson (Jon or Ian), Stefano Galifi moves between soft and
subtle and "immediate," using the natural raspiness in his voice to
evoke a sense of "urgency." (There are also some very nice "choral"
parts, sung entirely by the group.) Perhaps most remarkably, Galifi and
the band are able to convey the story of Nietzsche's "Superman" (in
both lyrics and music) quite well even if one does not understand
Italian. For all of these reasons, "Zarathustra" stands on its own as
an
incredibly creative, often brilliant, and extremely early (if not
seminal) concept suite. The other three compositions (all of which
are related, to one degree or another, to the Zarathustra story), vary
in length from 4 to 8 minutes, and are all equally well-written and
executed. (Indeed, the album is set up almost as a "reverse" of
Foxtrot: i.e., imagine putting "Supper's Ready" first, and following it
with "Watcher of the Skies," "Get'Em Out by Friday" and "Can Utility and
the Coastliners.") What makes any album a "masterpiece?"
Obviously, there are the compositional, lyrical, musicianship,
production and general execution elements. However, that is not enough.
It must have something else: a quality that makes the album not only
an exceptional achievement "in its time," but also an achievement that
"transcends" its time - and, indeed, makes the album "timeless."
Although, as noted, the production on "Zarathustra" sounds somewhat
dated, it nevertheless "transcends" its time, and is not only a timeless
masterpiece - in the truest sense of that word - but an exceptional,
historically important album, and an absolute must-have for any serious
prog-rock collection.
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and in the other corner.. one of the most influential of all prog albums reviewed by the master writer and slayer of TORMEN MAXT himself Russell!!!!!
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Crossover Prog
4.15 | 603 ratings
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From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website
russellk
Prog Reviewer
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One of the most important precursors to progressive rock, 'Days Of
Future Passed' is notable for the number of innovations it introduced to
popular music. It's not THE MOODY BLUES' first album, but it's the
first after they re-formed in 1966, having shed their gentle R&B
image and embraced psychedelic
sensibilities. That they should have issued this record as their first
of the new formation is nothing short of astonishing. To put out a
concept album of
wistful tunes about 'a day in the life' sandwiched between pop
orchestral colourings hardly seems a recipe for success, but it worked
extremely well. Of particular note to me is the way the band
operated. Each member apart from GRAEME EDGE composed songs for the
band, (and even he did poems, most
of them rather poor) and thus in a very democratic fashion THE MOODY
BLUES incorporated a stunning variety of voices, vocalists and talents.
This served to
keep the band alive far longer than most of their contemporaries, and
echoed THE BEATLES' method of working. MICHAEL PINDER is worth
noting. One of the very earliest adopters of the mellotron, his work was
soon imitated by keyboardists the world over, and within
three years the mellotron was the ubiquitous face of progressive rock. At
this point I must confess I do not much like this album. I'm a keen
classical music fan, and it pains me to listen to what the LONDON
FESTIVAL
ORCHESTRA played here. These simple pop stylings do nothing for me. The
crescendos are overwrought and unearned (the one following 'Nights In
White
Satin' is simply ghastly), and any instrumental virtuosity is sacrificed
in favour of triangles and other mock-orchestral touches. Of all the
music here, I'm
interested only in the hits 'Tuesday Afternoon' and 'Nights In White
Satin'. Overplayed they might have been, especially the latter, but they
are both glorious
amalgams of psychedelic rock and JUSTIN HAYWARD'S achingly beautiful
voice, setting the scene for what THE MOODY BLUES would offer in the
1970s and
beyond. The rest of the album is dated now, and was bland even when I
first heard it. It receives a fourth star out of respect for its place
in history. By the way, this is one album you should listen to on
vinyl. Not only is the sound so much warmer, the CD mastering changed a
number of aspects of the
album for the worse. Oh yes, JOHN LODGE'S falsetto is atrocious (listen
to it on 'Evening'). Thankfully he used it less and less as time went
on. Overall, as everyone says, this is an album any serious
devotee of progressive rock should listen to, even forty years later.
Our prog metal friends will scratch
their heads, as will our avant-prog fans, and wonder what the fuss is
about. But this is part of your history too.
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Meltdowner
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 09:14 |
Zarathustra
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Kirillov
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 03 2011
Location: Wales
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Points: 700
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 09:22 |
^ And me
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zravkapt
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Location: Canada
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Points: 6446
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 09:44 |
Not big on either album but I'll give it to the Moodies I guess.
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Magma America Great Make Again
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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer
Joined: August 27 2006
Location: The Beach
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Points: 12938
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 10:00 |
Easy pick for the Italians.
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"The wind is slowly tearing her apart"
"Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN
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micky
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 10:02 |
Mellotron Storm wrote:
Easy pick for the Italians. |
yeah same here. But for once won't go into a conniption if a popular English knocks out a superior but lesser known Italian. Both great and much loved and deserve to advance. However Zarathrustra is as good as anything .. anyone did. Not bad for frickin debut album.
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Mellotron Storm
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Points: 12938
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 10:09 |
micky wrote:
Mellotron Storm wrote:
Easy pick for the Italians. |
yeah same here. But for once won't go into a conniption if a popular English knocks out a superior but lesser known Italian. Both great and much loved and deserve to advance.
However Zarathrustra is as good as anything ..anyone did. Not bad for frickin debut album.
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I'll go into a conniption for you Micky if Moody Blus win. The orchestral crap between the songs makes me cringe but I get that many feel it's possibly the first Prog album and has historical relevance. Still that Museo album is a dark and heavy monster with plenty of mellotron no? I think so.
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"The wind is slowly tearing her apart"
"Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN
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micky
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Joined: October 02 2005
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 10:13 |
yeah John.. but for some reason.. though I appreciate it, respect it, and enjoy the HELL out of playing it.. at very loud volumes. It never 'hit' the way other beloved RPI albums did... since that is obviously the root of passion.. just how they hit me in the heart and soul.. I wouldn't be able to get worked into a tizzy. It doesn't hurt that .. that particular reason.. hitting right in the heart and soul.. is exactly why I love DoFP so much. Such beauty in that album.. after how many years.. 40+ I've had that playing.. or played for me as a child (a parental fav).. I still TO THIS DAY.. tear up and the shear beauty and majesty of that music on that album.
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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GKR
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Joined: January 22 2013
Location: Brazil
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Points: 1376
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 10:19 |
Moody Blues for me. I have a difficult relationship with Museo Rosenbach.
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- From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
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sleeper
Prog Reviewer
Joined: October 09 2005
Location: Entropia
Status: Offline
Points: 16449
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 10:39 |
Zarathustra, I seem to be voting for all the Italians this time around.
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Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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The Bearded Bard
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Joined: January 24 2012
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Points: 12859
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 11:21 |
Zarathustra, but it's close.
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The-time-is-now
Forum Senior Member
Joined: November 05 2008
Location: Belgium
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Points: 2060
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 11:29 |
Days of Future passed.
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One of my best achievements in life was to find this picture :D
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akaBona
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Joined: September 15 2010
Location: Finland
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Points: 2082
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 15:04 |
Moody Blues
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Andrea Cortese
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 16:07 |
The Moodies are more important in the history of prog evolution but Zarathustra is Zarathustra. It can't be denied. Can it?
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micky
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 16:11 |
anything is possible at PA's...
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The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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tszirmay
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Joined: August 17 2006
Location: Canada
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Points: 6673
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 16:31 |
Bloody Moohs !
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I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth.
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Andrea Cortese
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Joined: September 05 2005
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 16:34 |
...Noooooo my mobile battery is dead. night guys
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Olape
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Joined: July 28 2013
Location: Chile
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Points: 2033
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 16:50 |
Zarathustra without any doubt!
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Wanorak
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 09 2006
Location: Canada
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Points: 4574
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 18:46 |
The Moodies.
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A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!!
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TornadoTongue
Forum Newbie
Joined: June 20 2015
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 34
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Posted: July 25 2015 at 19:05 |
Moody Blues
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