Seventh Wonder

Ambient Hurricanes wrote: To answer your first question, no, I'm not a fan, as I've never heard any of their material, but they sound like something I would enjoy (but then again, so does everything else on this site! ).  I'll try to check them out, your placing their bass player just below Victor Wooten makes me excited to hear his skill.

Also, I should add - whatever you do, DON'T start with their first album, Become.  Even the band members freely express the weaknesses of that one as they recorded it, mixed and mastered it all themselves in a week's time, and they had a different singer who is a fine singer, but he's no Tommy Karevik.  But I give the other three 5 stars each as I truly believe they are all Prog perfection.

dtguitarfan wrote: Ambient Hurricanes wrote: There's nothing wrong with voicing a criticism of an artist here Except that it seems that's all anyone does around here any more, and it's getting quite tiring.  "Yes sucks."  "Rush sucks."  "Jethro Tull sucks."  "Dream Theater sucks."  "Pink Floyd sucks."  It seems all anyone ever DOES in this forum any more is trash bands, no matter who they are.  I for one think it should be banned from the appreciation threads - they should be havens where one doesn't have to put up with that crap.

CCVP wrote: Jacob, you are my favorite person in this thread.

CCVP wrote: And, really dtguitarfan, I'm not trashing the guys. Maybe you should read my post(s) more carefully.

I did.  And here's what's pissing me off - you don't say "plagiarism" lightly.  There's a difference between constructive criticism, and saying "plagiarism".  There is a difference between saying "sounds like" and "plagiarism."  There is a difference between saying "this band emulates" and "plagiarism."  There is a difference between saying "quite similar to" and "plagiarism".  You sure as h*** better have a d*** good reason for using that word, and that's why I'm pissed off about someone coming into an "appreciation" thread and using words like that.

CCVP wrote:   I'm admitedly not a fan, but I can easily recognise their influences and they are so damn obvious it sometimes bears similarities with plagiarism, as far as I can tell from their latest album.

dtguitarfan wrote: Ambient Hurricanes wrote: ^^That's a bit different from actually calling them plagiarists.  Yes, and my point is that word should NOT be used lightly, and then you yourself pointed out how he doesn't seem to think it's a big deal to through the word around: Ambient Hurricanes wrote: Admittedly, he did call them the "SX equivalent of Pagan's Mind plagiarism to DT" Another favorite band of mind under the cutting edge of his derision.  I'm SICK of people waiting around for chances to pounce on bands they don't like, and it's one thing when it's a band that made it big and made money, but when it's a bunch of guys who have jobs and do music on the side - they should be off limits from that kind of s***, at least in an "appreciation" thread.  Appreciation threads are for appreciation.

Ok, here's why I get so ticked off to see someone using certain words to criticize this band - I have been going to Prog Power USA for 7 years now, and every year they give everyone a magazine filled with interviews of the bands.  I teared up when I read the Seventh Wonder interview - scroll down in the link below and read the answer to this question:
Milton: The story in Mercy Falls is very emotional, and Tommy's vocals and lyrics portrayed that immensely. I know it's a fictional story, but was there any sort of real-life connection with that helped you achieve such emotion? I mean, you can feel it through the music...

http://www.progpowerusa.com/xiii/media/interview_2010_seventhwonder.html

It hurt me to hear how hard these guys work, and how little they are appreciated for it - I mean, they have a lot of love from their fans, but it's not enough to pay the bills, and I think if anyone deserves to make a living through music it's a band like this that has undeniably achieved excellence through so much hard work.  You can't deny the hard work they've put into the mastery of their instruments (including vocals) when you hear these guys.

dtguitarfan wrote: It hurt me to hear how hard these guys work, and how little they are appreciated for it - I mean, they have a lot of love from their fans, but it's not enough to pay the bills, and I think if anyone deserves to make a living through music it's a band like this that has undeniably achieved excellence through so much hard work.  You can't deny the hard work they've put into the mastery of their instruments (including vocals) when you hear these guys.

lucas wrote: dtguitarfan wrote: It hurt me to hear how hard these guys work, and how little they are appreciated for it - I mean, they have a lot of love from their fans, but it's not enough to pay the bills, and I think if anyone deserves to make a living through music it's a band like this that has undeniably achieved excellence through so much hard work.  You can't deny the hard work they've put into the mastery of their instruments (including vocals) when you hear these guys.   If Dream Theater invited them to open their shows, maybe they would get more attention and even be signed on a bigger label.Their musicianship is superb, it's indeed a shame they have so little appreciation.

THIS!!!  MAN, I wish DT would do another Progressive Nations tour and have these guys as an opener!  I want to buy the $250 "meet and greet" ticket package once just to plant that little bug in their ears!

Morsenator wrote: dtguitarfan wrote: Ok, here's why I get so ticked off to see someone using certain words to criticize this band - I have been going to Prog Power USA for 7 years now, and every year they give everyone a magazine filled with interviews of the bands.  I teared up when I read the Seventh Wonder interview - scroll down in the link below and read the answer to this question: Milton: The story in Mercy Falls is very emotional, and Tommy's vocals and lyrics portrayed that immensely. I know it's a fictional story, but was there any sort of real-life connection with that helped you achieve such emotion? I mean, you can feel it through the music... http://www.progpowerusa.com/xiii/media/interview_2010_seventhwonder.html It hurt me to hear how hard these guys work, and how little they are appreciated for it - I mean, they have a lot of love from their fans, but it's not enough to pay the bills, and I think if anyone deserves to make a living through music it's a band like this that has undeniably achieved excellence through so much hard work.  You can't deny the hard work they've put into the mastery of their instruments (including vocals) when you hear these guys. IMHO music is put to use best when it channels life and emotions truly and without pretending. Sounds like this band is trying to do that. Which album would you recommend to listen first? I've been trying to get into a lot of new music lately, and they might be a nice addition to that Haven't heard anything from them so far. It's good to try out some new PROG METALZ every now and then

Oooh, tough call - just don't listen to the first album "Become" first.  I've explained in this thread why.  I think you're in a good position to enjoy these guys as I see some things in your list of ratings, such as Dream Theater and Darkwater.  But here's a rundown of what exactly are the best points of each album in my opinion:

Waiting in the Wings - this is kind of an "AOR" situation, as I understand "AOR" to mean, which I might not fully.  But none of the songs have anything to do with each other, they're more part of a collection, like an artist's gallery, and the band does a great job of showing off their virtuosity in this album.

Mercy Falls - a concept album.  A WONDERFUL concept album.  The story is a bit confusing, though, and some of the "acting" by the "voice only" actors is not that great.  And they toned down the virtuosity here in order to concentrate more on telling a story with the music, but that virtuosity is still there, just not as in your face.

The Great Escape - I think they outdid themselves here.  Another "AOR" deal, but with an AMAZING 30 minute epic, and every single other song is just soooo good.  You might want to save this juicy album for after the other two so you aren't disappointed with them after this one.