Gazpacho as an instant classic?! |
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russellk
Prog Reviewer Joined: February 28 2005 Location: New Zealand Status: Offline Points: 782 |
Topic: Gazpacho as an instant classic?! Posted: May 02 2009 at 23:25 |
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I've just caught up with this thread.
I'm guilty/responsible for being the first prog reviewer to review GAZPACHO's 'Tick Tock'. I gave it 5 stars. Can I make a few points about this, please? Giving an album 5 stars does not mean I endorse it as one of the ten best prog albums of all time. I was careful in my review to note that it is the very best of its genre, in my opinion. I tried to indicate why I thought this. It's not the strongest 5-star album I've heard - if we had 10 stars it would have received nine. The anger and suspicion generated by this thread has come about because people put too much faith in the rating and not enough in the review. I am not a GAZPACHO fanboy - I cordially dislike their first three albums. I have not been approached by the band or any of their representatives to write a positive review. Because I was aware that such sentiments might arise, I was careful with what I said in the review. I purchased the album from iTunes on the day of its release, and listened to the album about 12 times before posting the review a week later. I've posted many reviews of albums based on fewer listens. I'm an experienced and knowledgeable lover of music and former musician, and feel confident I've assessed the album the way I saw it. Those who know my reviewing style know I do give quite a few 5-star reviews. All that said, I have ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT that many prog listeners will find the album uninspiring, boring and without merit. If you take the time to read the reviews for 'Night', you'll see this trend apparent. Music like this is by no means everyone's cup of tea. It's never going to achieve universal acclaim. Finally, surely it's the nature of things for good, newly-released albums to gain an initial very positive ranking? Fans buy the album early, and are inspired to write reviews early. Surely the casual reader ought to factor this in when considering making a purchase? |
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Soul Dreamer
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 17 2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 997 |
Posted: May 02 2009 at 22:45 | |||
And still it's a classic! 9 or 209 it remains the best album of 2009!!!
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To be the one who seeks so I may find .. (Metallica)
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Dean
Special Collaborator Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout Joined: May 13 2007 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 37575 |
Posted: May 02 2009 at 21:04 | |||
It's now 209th with 51 votes. See, we said it would sort itself out.
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What?
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Bodysnatcher
Forum Newbie Joined: April 18 2009 Location: Madrid - Espaņa Status: Offline Points: 22 |
Posted: April 29 2009 at 15:00 | |||
Yes, I second those words !
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Just cos you feel it, it doesnīt means itīs there....
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scudge1970
Forum Newbie Joined: March 30 2009 Status: Offline Points: 1 |
Posted: April 29 2009 at 10:43 | |||
Hi
I had been using PA as a resource for some time, and it was the release of 'Tick Tock' that inspired me to write my first review. I did not expect it to be greeted with such cynicism!!!
I submitted an honest review after listening to the album a number of times. I have since see them perform it live. And I ansolutely stand by my 5-star review.
To me this is a masterpiece as it ticks all the right boxes in terms of what I look for in progressive music.
I have since added more ratings for other bands and hope to add further reviews in due course, including some of the 'classics'.
Kind regards
Scudge1970
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AlanOB
Forum Groupie Joined: February 29 2008 Status: Offline Points: 40 |
Posted: April 29 2009 at 09:58 | |||
I think there's a bit of new artist bias going on here. Isn't it possible that Tick Tock may be in the Top Albums list entirely on merit?
I've listened to prog for a long time, and it's been a while since I've been this excited by a new act. Night was one of the freshest sounding albums of this decade, and to surpass it with their latest effort is truly astounding. I honestly think they're one of the bands who will inspire a legion of followers as their sound is unique, a rarity I'm sure you'll agree. As such they deserve the plaudits they are receiving. |
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demolition man
Forum Groupie Joined: May 26 2007 Location: Madrid Status: Offline Points: 67 |
Posted: April 26 2009 at 16:28 | |||
Still loving the new album.
Great driving music !
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sigod
Forum Senior Member Joined: September 17 2004 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 2779 |
Posted: April 22 2009 at 12:59 | |||
Edited by sigod - April 22 2009 at 13:00 |
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I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision.
- Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
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thornw
Forum Newbie Joined: April 21 2009 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 10 |
Posted: April 22 2009 at 12:18 | |||
Well, I know there are agencies that you can pay to generate plays on myspace and there are reviewers on Amazon you can pay to get positive reviews from. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a place you can pay to generate positive discussion on a band for sites like progarchives. Again, I can't *prove* it, but neither can you *disprove* it. Talk to someone who works in Internet advertising- you'd be amazed how deceitful a lot of it is.
There are freelance advertisers who specialize in ground-up advertising and have hundreds of user accounts for hundreds of message boards... I admit the evidence for something like that happening with this Gazpacho album is weaker than I thought it was at first. But this kind of thing does happen... don't believe every review you read....
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thornw
Forum Newbie Joined: April 21 2009 Location: Maryland Status: Offline Points: 10 |
Posted: April 22 2009 at 12:10 | |||
This makes sense, but sometimes I think people see an album with like a 4.5 rating, and they give it a 4 or 5 just to go along with the crowd.
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Bodysnatcher
Forum Newbie Joined: April 18 2009 Location: Madrid - Espaņa Status: Offline Points: 22 |
Posted: April 22 2009 at 07:58 | |||
And reflecting again about why all these ratings ( high ratings in this case ) and reviews.....well, I think it is logical to write about a new album which has just been released better than an ( old or not ) album that you can find already reviewed and rated .
Just my opinion. Edited by Bodysnatcher - April 22 2009 at 12:58 |
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Just cos you feel it, it doesnīt means itīs there....
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sigod
Forum Senior Member Joined: September 17 2004 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 2779 |
Posted: April 22 2009 at 07:25 | |||
Cool - show me. |
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I must remind the right honourable gentleman that a monologue is not a decision.
- Clement Atlee, on Winston Churchill |
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sleeper
Prog Reviewer Joined: October 09 2005 Location: Entropia Status: Offline Points: 16449 |
Posted: April 22 2009 at 06:42 | |||
If an album starts getting a number of 5 star reviews then its bound to raise interest in the rest of us. When an album is released it is always going to be the fans of that band that buy it first (lets not count the really big bands, you get people buying the new album to check them out and see what all the fuss is about) and so review it first. The high ratings will mean the album will reach a wider audiance some of those are bound to dislike it so the ratings sort themselves out, just give it time. |
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Spending more than I should on Prog since 2005
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progrules
Prog Reviewer Joined: September 14 2007 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 958 |
Posted: April 22 2009 at 01:04 | |||
I haven't heard this one yet but I know Night (their previous) and your statements above go for this album as well. It was exactly what I thought while listening to "Night". The music is somewhat underwhelming but still is full of quality. The violin solo on Night's closing track is absolutely beautiful and I guess it could be a reason for the high scores of that album. I'm in doubt if I will have a go at Tick Tock, at least it's arousing one's curiosity those high scores. Looking at the comments it could be a sort of album like Phideaux' Doomsday Afternoon. High quality but because of the high expectations bound to disappoint.
I think I'll go for it one day.
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A day without prog is a wasted day
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Diaby
Forum Senior Member Joined: October 15 2007 Location: Hungary Status: Offline Points: 774 |
Posted: April 22 2009 at 00:01 | |||
You're welcome!
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yeah
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Mr ProgFreak
Forum Senior Member Joined: November 08 2008 Location: Sweden Status: Offline Points: 5195 |
Posted: April 21 2009 at 15:44 | |||
of course. But one can use tor from a stationary computer and it will appear like every request (click) is coming from a completely different IP (proxy end point). |
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Bodysnatcher
Forum Newbie Joined: April 18 2009 Location: Madrid - Espaņa Status: Offline Points: 22 |
Posted: April 21 2009 at 15:41 | |||
Well, I can assure I have overplayed masterpieces such as Selling England or Aqualung.....for example !
Btw, I am not new in the forum either, but it is a long time I hadnīt posted here and for some reason, I am not able of log in with my old username.
Paloma.
Edited by Bodysnatcher - April 21 2009 at 15:44 |
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Just cos you feel it, it doesnīt means itīs there....
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stewe
Forum Senior Member Joined: April 05 2006 Location: Czechoslovakia Status: Offline Points: 593 |
Posted: April 21 2009 at 15:29 | |||
If it is really a masterpiece, it shouldn't overplay so soon. |
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Bodysnatcher
Forum Newbie Joined: April 18 2009 Location: Madrid - Espaņa Status: Offline Points: 22 |
Posted: April 21 2009 at 15:10 | |||
Yes, and I fully understand what you mean.
I donīt know if it just a coincidence or not. Maybe it is.
I was just expecting the album to be released, cos I was impressed by Night - as I say in my review - and once I listened to Tick Tock I simply loved it, to the point I play it several times a day and I am thinking I am going to stop playing it for some time cos I donīt want it to be overplayed so soon !!.
Edited by Bodysnatcher - April 21 2009 at 17:03 |
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Just cos you feel it, it doesnīt means itīs there....
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stewe
Forum Senior Member Joined: April 05 2006 Location: Czechoslovakia Status: Offline Points: 593 |
Posted: April 21 2009 at 14:56 | |||
I understand, but there are many these first reviews... it can be coincidence, but it's at least suspicious. Album which was released few days ago holds status of indisputable prog masterpiece of all times. 5-star ratings for such timeless (and difficult if we speak about prog) music usually need some time interval for making opinion and appreciation. |
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