2nd Round Classics: Salisbury v. Fish Out of Water
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Topic: 2nd Round Classics: Salisbury v. Fish Out of Water
Posted By: micky
Subject: 2nd Round Classics: Salisbury v. Fish Out of Water
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 07:58
Next up.. one of the few where the higher seed is the underdog.. who will win this. Umm. Will it be close?
First up.. one of the greats and pioneers of heavy prog
Uriah Heep!! To review them, the master of laughs and hilarity himself. Phillippe!!! Short but sweet. I always liked his reviews. No wasted words, no doubt as to how he felt about albums
http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=5895" rel="nofollow">
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http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=5895" rel="nofollow - SALISBURY
http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1157" rel="nofollow - Uriah Heep Heavy Prog
4.15 | 584 ratings
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From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website
http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=177" rel="nofollow">
http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=177" rel="nofollow - philippe
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator
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I'm really not into the heavy rock side of progressive music but I must admit that «
Salisbury » is a remarkable album with very bright, touching moments. I consider Uriah
Heep (next to Black Widow) as far ahead of British hard rock bands of the 70's. This album
makes a rough combination between interludes of progressive wandering (epic keyboards
arrangements) and comfortable, conventional heavy rock based passages. "Time to live" is
an evident, catching heavy rock tune with an effective, inflexible guitar rhythm section
accompanied by the powerful, emotional and screaming David Byron's vocals. "Lady wore
black" is one of my all time favourite Uriah Heep composition, really rock with a folk touch
and impressive vocals parts. Everything is accomplished with a tremendous energy and a
great sense of melody. "The Park" is a ravishing ballad with outstanding, very emotional,
sad vocals. A tune that can really give you shivers. This band beats all the 70's and 90's
challengers in the progressive hard rock genre, stylistically, emotionally and technically. I
highly recommend a listen on this convincing album.
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and in the opposing corner.. Chris Squire and the greatest and best prog solo album ever made
and to review it.. ahhhh...
http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=4442" rel="nofollow">
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http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=4442" rel="nofollow - FISH OUT OF WATER
http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=832" rel="nofollow - Chris Squire Symphonic Prog
3.94 | 329 ratings
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From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website
http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=3717" rel="nofollow">
http://www.progarchives.com/Collaborators.asp?id=3717" rel="nofollow - Raff
Special Collaborator RIO/Avant/Zeuhl Team
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No doubt about it - this is by far the best solo album ever by a member of Yes, and one of the
milestones of symphonic prog, every bit as good as anything Yes did in their 35-year-plus careeer.
With a lineup of musicians to die for, and Chris Squire's inimitable, ground-breaking bass playing
skills, "Fish Out of Water" is a nearly-perfect record which deserves much more than the cult status
it has enjoyed since it first came out.
Though a lot of criticism has been aimed at Squire's vocals, I personally find them no less valid
than Jon Anderson's - maybe less angelic and more down-to-earth, understated but solid throughout.
Anyway, this is not the kind of album you listen to looking for vocal prowess - the presence of a
more assertive singer would have detracted from the musical brilliance of the instrumental parts, a
real feast for lovers of vintage prog.
"Fish Out of Water" strikes the right balance between melody and complexity, its compositions
tightly structured yet leaving room for the musicians to let rip and show their chops. Even if solo
albums are often seen as vanity projects, there is very little self-indulgence here. While Chris's
awesome bass playing does take centre stage, as it is to be expected, it is never to the detriment
of the other instruments. Listening to this album, you get the impression of a unit working together
towards a goal, not of a motley crew of gifted musicians left to their own devices. What is even
more important, the five songs on it get top marks on a compositional level, and work together to
form a harmonious whole - unlike what all too often happens in the case of many modern bands or
artists (no names here, but I have a few ideas in mind...).
The two initial tracks, "Hold Out Your Hand" and "You By My Side", are excellent examples of
accessible, melodic prog, enriched by the backing orchestration and lavish vocal harmonies, as well
as Patrick Moraz's solemn church organ. However, the album really comes into its own with the
remaining three tracks, easily numbered. amongst the masterpieces of Seventies progressive rock.
"Silently Falling" is 11 minutes of musical ecstasy, alternating between the monstrously intricate
interplay of Squire and Bruford's state-of-the-art rhythm section with the other musicians, and the
rarefied, melancholy moods of the refrain. The following "Lucky Seven", featuring Mel Collins'
contribution on sax, is probably the most adventurous track on the album, based on a sort of funky
groove that shows a different side to Squire's playing, and definitely reaching out into jazz-rock
territory. The record closes with another symphonic masterpiece, the 14-minute-plus "Safe (Canon
Song)", where the orchestra acts on occasion as Chris's sparring partner, leading the way to a
sumptuous, majestic finale.
A richly satisfying experience, musically impeccable but at the same time warm and accessible, and
certainly no mere exercise in technical brilliance, Fish Out of Water is essential listening for
anyone who claims an interest in prog, especially of the symphonic variety.
This review is dedicated to someone who loves this album to bits, and plays a beautiful Rickenbacker
bass just like Chris Squire does...
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------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Replies:
Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 08:08
Not an easy choice, but I go for the Fish
------------- Curiosity killed a cat, Schroedinger only half. My poor home recorded stuff at https://yellingxoanon.bandcamp.com
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Posted By: zravkapt
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 09:05
Fish and not cuz he's lo longer with us...it's just the better album IMO.
------------- Magma America Great Make Again
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Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 09:47
I don't feel right in voting because i'm not a fan of either album.
------------- "The wind is slowly tearing her apart"
"Sad Rain" ANEKDOTEN
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Posted By: The Bearded Bard
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 10:28
Salisbury
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Posted By: GKR
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 10:29
Ill have to go with Salisbury... I have a soft spot for Uriah Heep.
------------- - From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 10:31
sitting squarely on the fence with a rail planted firmly and pleasurably in my ass... two fabulously great albums. Voting later for who needs the vote.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Posted By: LearsFool
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 10:37
Heep
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Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 10:40
Gone fishing.
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State.
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Posted By: The-time-is-now
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 11:48
Fish out of water... what else?
-------------
One of my best achievements in life was to find this picture :D
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Posted By: akaBona
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 14:58
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 15:02
Essential listening, says Raff in her comment, and she's right. Essential voting for Squire, is my logical conclusion...
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 15:21
Moogtron III wrote:
Essential listening, says Raff in her comment, and she's right. Essential voting for Squire, is my logical conclusion... |
not only is the beauty of the fearsome duo.. she is the brains as well.
I am just the muscle I suppose.
That is why so many prog bands know me as... Mr. Raff ... or Raff's husband.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Posted By: Hercules
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 15:26
Salisbury for sure.
Not a fan of Fish out of Water.
------------- A TVR is not a car. It's a way of life.
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Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 15:41
Posted By: Wanorak
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 18:57
Tough one, but I'll go with Squire. A beautiful album.
------------- A GREAT YEAR FOR PROG!!!
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Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 05:51
The choice for Fish Out of Water is a no-brainer against any Heep album.
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Posted By: Skalla-Grim
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 07:09
I also think Fish may be the best 70s brit-prog solo album, even if Voyage of the Acolyte and Gheese and the Ghost come close.
I like Salisbury very much but Fish gets my vote here.
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 08:27
still sitting...
a sentimental favorite (one of my first exposures to prog) with at least 2 songs that beat anything on Squires album
or the musically and creatively (not even getting into the assembled talent involved) superior complete album. Agreed with the above dude. Best brit-prog solo album IMO.
2nd toughest poll of this batch.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Posted By: TeleStrat
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 09:54
Uriah Heep. Never a big Yes fan including most of the solo projects.
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Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 10:03
I have no opinion on either of these. I may have heard em at one point, but I honestly can't remember.
------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
- Douglas Adams
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Posted By: Wicket
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 10:39
Perhaps unfairly biased, Heep is easier to air guitar and sing along to in the car than Squire.
Salisbury for me.
------------- "My music is not modern, it is merely badly played" - Arnold Schoenberg
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Posted By: Barbu
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 05:05
Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 11:34
micky wrote:
Moogtron III wrote:
Essential listening, says Raff in her comment, and she's right. Essential voting for Squire, is my logical conclusion... |
not only is the beauty of the fearsome duo.. she is the brains as well.
I am just the muscle I suppose.
That is why so many prog bands know me as... Mr. Raff ... or Raff's husband.
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Yes, you are like the flower in your wife's hair. Erm, well, something like that
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Posted By: Prog Sothoth
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 13:05
At school cafeterias I was more partial to salisbury steak burgers than fish sticks (neither doing us kids much favor in the health and taste department), so yeah, same with the music.
Salisbury.
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 15:33
Moogtron III wrote:
micky wrote:
Moogtron III wrote:
Essential listening, says Raff in her comment, and she's right. Essential voting for Squire, is my logical conclusion... |
not only is the beauty of the fearsome duo.. she is the brains as well.
I am just the muscle I suppose.
That is why so many prog bands know me as... Mr. Raff ... or Raff's husband.
|
Yes, you are like the flower in your wife's hair. Erm, well, something like that |
flower?? ahh that is sweet Marcel.. I've been called many things. never a flower Even when I was the hot little dish I was in my youth.
Today I am more her attack dog kept on a leash until someone displeases her....
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 15:36
bah.. tired of sitting.
Going with the sentimental over quality. Two moments of brilliance on Salisbury give it my vote over the more consistent but not quite as fiery FOOW. Hey. I'm an ELP fan. Consistency isn't what drives my bus.. give me great heights... and I can forgive the times it then may fall a bit short.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Posted By: t d wombat
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 19:45
Two moments of brilliance ? Presumably instrumental ? I find myself listening to bits and piecs of Salisbury thinking to myself, "hey this is OK, nice playing". Then that 'orrible 'orrible Byron fellow has to open his bloody mouth. Man that is simply awful. 'uckin terrible. I'd rather listen to Mercury or even Plant. Oh well, marching out of step with the rest of humanity is probably what I do best but I have simply never understood why the guy with his goolies caught in a threshing machine sound is so popular.
So even if I didn't like FOOW , which I do, I'd have to vote for it. It's a nice album though like the solo work of many member's of great bands it does luck that certain dynamic that made e.g the best of Yes so glorious.
------------- Andrew B
“Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” ― Julius Henry Marx
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 19:53
The Park and Lady in Black... pure brilliance IMO.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Posted By: t d wombat
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 22:39
micky wrote:
The Park and Lady in Black... pure brilliance IMO. |
Good tracks, both of them but neither have the thresher vocals.
Particularly LIB.
------------- Andrew B
“Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” ― Julius Henry Marx
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 23:22
t d wombat wrote:
micky wrote:
The Park and Lady in Black... pure brilliance IMO. |
Good tracks, both of them but neither have the thresher vocals.
Particularly LIB.
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eye of the beholder man...fabulous songs.. though spiced with a very healthy dash of sentimentality
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
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Posted By: Moogtron III
Date Posted: July 28 2015 at 01:58
micky wrote:
Moogtron III wrote:
micky wrote:
Moogtron III wrote:
Essential listening, says Raff in her comment, and she's right. Essential voting for Squire, is my logical conclusion... |
not only is the beauty of the fearsome duo.. she is the brains as well.
I am just the muscle I suppose.
That is why so many prog bands know me as... Mr. Raff ... or Raff's husband.
|
Yes, you are like the flower in your wife's hair. Erm, well, something like that |
flower?? ahh that is sweet Marcel.. I've been called many things. never a flower Even when I was the hot little dish I was in my youth.
Today I am more her attack dog kept on a leash until someone displeases her....
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Ha, reminds me of the scene in Bambi, where Bambi says flower to the skunk, Thumper is laughing at the idea and the skunk says: "That's alright, he can call me flower is he wants to" Not that I call you a skunk, mind you
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Posted By: Skalla-Grim
Date Posted: July 28 2015 at 04:39
micky wrote:
The Park and Lady in Black... pure brilliance IMO.
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The Park is great, but I can't listen to that two-chord song Lady in Black anymore.
Bird of Prey and Salisbury are also powerful tracks.
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Posted By: Andrea Cortese
Date Posted: July 28 2015 at 05:48
well, this is one of the band's more varied records.
Love both the harder and the softer parts.
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Posted By: proggman
Date Posted: July 29 2015 at 20:11
Chris Squire, Fish Out of Water.
------------- When he rides, my fears subside. For darkness turns once more to light. Through the skies, his white horse flies. To find a land beyond the night.
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Posted By: t d wombat
Date Posted: July 30 2015 at 18:29
micky wrote:
t d wombat wrote:
micky wrote:
The Park and Lady in Black... pure brilliance IMO. |
Good tracks, both of them but neither have the thresher vocals.
Particularly LIB.
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eye of the beholder man...fabulous songs.. though spiced with a very healthy dash of sentimentality
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Absolutely. Pretty obviously I'm no great fan of Byron's vocals but yep, great tracks and hey I'm a sentimental enough old codger. Thankfully we don't all like the same things. Oh my now that would be tragic.
------------- Andrew B
“Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.” ― Julius Henry Marx
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Posted By: Man With Hat
Date Posted: July 30 2015 at 20:33
Sir Squire.
------------- 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.
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Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: July 31 2015 at 06:53
Salisbury
------------- Ian
Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com
https://podcasts.progrock.com/post-avant-jazzcore-happy-hour/
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: July 31 2015 at 18:04
I think my review says it all, though I also like the Heep album.
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Posted By: Necrotica
Date Posted: August 01 2015 at 02:09
Uriah Heep - Salisbury
------------- Take me down, to the underground Won't you take me down, to the underground Why oh why, there is no light And if I can't sleep, can you hold my life
https://www.youtube.com/@CocoonMasterBrendan-wh3sd
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