IQ Appreciation Thread

richardh wrote: essexboyinwales wrote: Been reading back through this thread and it's great to see so much love for this wonderful band Haven't seen any mention of Mike Holmes side project, The Lens.  They pre-ceded IQ in fact, eventually released an album (A Word In Your Eye) back in 2001, then a couple of years ago we got Regeneration, which is a quite stunning instrumental album played almost entirely by MH (well, keys and guitar anyway!).  One of my favourite albums, and for anyone who loves the stuff on TROB CD2, you should REALLY get this....   thanks for this. I listened to it over the weekend a couple of times and its a beauty.

Great news, it's a nice feeling to "convert" someone who's already such an IQ fan  It is, indeed, a beauty.  Check out the "video" to "To The Power Of Five" too, Teletubbies 'n all

Uh oh, I think you only get three of those f*ck ups and you're shown the door, Tom!

Dark Side is ALWAYS a beauty.
I cannot pin-point the time this entered my life.....
My Father used to work in a Supermarket (so do I now.....) - he's still with us, anyway, he used to bring home random 'damaged' stock, whether it be solidified washing powder, Star-Wars figures out of their pack, out-of-date potato crisps or whatever. An item included in this lot was a proper cassette tape of DSOTM. I would've been barely 10, and this tape was a 'staple' of on-the-road listening. Even when we attended the local 'Sprint-Car' or Smash-Up-Derby rallies, the album the venue would churn out was DSOTM. Such a great album, no filler, no waste of time. I was always fascinated with the Any Colour You Like passage, with the vcs3 synth workout, it forever intrigued me. Then I was obsessed with the 'We Don't Need No Education' song. Grand guitar solo and Hammer animation. I was hooked.
Floyd were definitely my entry-point to Prog.   I love them, I love this album, but for me, I will only give it 4 stars...........but is is FANTASTIC, nevertheless.

Edited by Tom Ozric - May 05 2015 at 03:11

Tom Ozric wrote: I am going to say something here that will annoy many folks here at P.A. I find Road Of Bones to be slightly below the likes of Ever and Lush Attic, in the whole scheme of things. It is excellent, no doubt, but it seems to be missing that 'something' I seek within their music....... ...........or, am I missing something ???

january4mn wrote: Hi Tom, I agree about Subterranea--that one took me a long while to love too, although it is now probably my current favourite IQ album!? Maybe it's a double album thing? As far as all the five star reviews go with The Road of Bones, I think (if i ever actually did any reviews or ratings!?) that I'd have given it 4 stars right away last year, but these days I would give it a 5, so it definitely improved over time for me. But, it does strike me as odd that it has such a higher rating over all than the earlier IQ albums. I'd like to see those older ones get more of the love they deserve on this site (although the ratings are mostly really respectable, but then again what are ratings when personally, I LOVE those albums? But the reason ROB has such a higher ratings than earlier IQ may have to do with the fact that the website has grown in numbers over the years. So, the highest ratings will be either newer albums of the last few years or the big classic albums like Foxtrot etc. Just an idea. Anyway, glad you're willing to give The Road of Bones more of a chance--there is a lot of great stuff on there, but as you say a "denser" work which can take some time. BTW, you must have loved the remix of "Lush Attic"! I still like to put on the original too sometimes, but it's one of the best remix albums I ever heard--excellent to hear another version of "Wintertell" on there too.

Sheesus, it's a triple vinyl - I don't have many of those so I forgot - probably why I don't spin it often as I should.
No remix, I have the original LP, a numbered copy with a light blue border around the b&w design. The Enemy Smacks is my fave track. I am still missing a few of their albums.


Edited by Tom Ozric - May 02 2015 at 15:14

Hi Tom,

I agree about Subterranea--that one took me a long while to love too, although it is now probably my current favourite IQ album!? Maybe it's a double album thing?

As far as all the five star reviews go with The Road of Bones, I think (if i ever actually did any reviews or ratings!?) that I'd have given it 4 stars right away last year, but these days I would give it a 5, so it definitely improved over time for me.

But, it does strike me as odd that it has such a higher rating over all than the earlier IQ albums. I'd like to see those older ones get more of the love they deserve on this site (although the ratings are mostly really respectable, but then again what are ratings when personally, I LOVE those albums?

But the reason ROB has such a higher ratings than earlier IQ may have to do with the fact that the website has grown in numbers over the years. So, the highest ratings will be either newer albums of the last few years or the big classic albums like Foxtrot etc. Just an idea.

Anyway, glad you're willing to give The Road of Bones more of a chance--there is a lot of great stuff on there, but as you say a "denser" work which can take some time. BTW, you must have loved the remix of "Lush Attic"! I still like to put on the original too sometimes, but it's one of the best remix albums I ever heard--excellent to hear another version of "Wintertell" on there too.


Edited by january4mn - May 02 2015 at 12:40

Tom Ozric wrote: I am going to say something here that will annoy many folks here at P.A. I find Road Of Bones to be slightly below the likes of Ever and Lush Attic, in the whole scheme of things. It is excellent, no doubt, but it seems to be missing that 'something' I seek within their music....... ...........or, am I missing something ???

Hi Tom,

I felt the same way about RoB at first, particularly the first disc, but it's been a slow-burner and I'm really starting to get into it now. And now that I've seen it live, I'm really, really getting more into it, but I admit it's taken me a lot longer than it usually does with IQ.

But if you have the two disc version, try listening from "Constellations" to the end. So you get a mini-album of Constellations/Fall and Rise/10 Million Demons/Hardcore. This to me, has more of the classic IQ kind of sound mixed with some new areas they haven't done before too. I listened to these four tracks for months, when the other songs didn't immediately grab me as much. 10 Million Demons is a silly track of course, but reminds me of their fun tunes that you don't expect like "Barbell is in" which I actually love. (and it seems some others here really like that one too)

These days I'm listening to disc one, and it starts to work for me really well at this point but it has taken a long time as I say and will probably never be my favourite, but who knows? Time can do strange things--plenty of my favourite albums are ones that I wasn't sure about at first--but I'm certainly "getting it" at this point and it feels very good.  I have to say I am really happy with the lineup and how the guys are playing--some of the best Cook/Esau work ever and Neil is playing up a storm/creating some very cool atmospheres. Pete/Mike great as always, although I'd love more leads from Mike on the next one.


Edited by january4mn - May 02 2015 at 08:10

^ thanks for the recommendation . I love Mike Holmes , he is 'Mr IQ' so to speak but I've never got as far as checking out The Lens. Will sort that!

Roj wrote: I've never heard the Menel album but I'm not really a fan of the Menel IQ albums.  In fact I only have them on vinyl and have never bothered buying cd copies. I remember being so disillusioned when Nicholls left and I heard the "new" stuff.  It acually turned me off the band for a few years. The Road of Bones is almost a year old now, how time flies......

I've never heard the Menel album but I'm not really a fan of the Menel IQ albums.  In fact I only have them on vinyl and have never bothered buying cd copies.

I remember being so disillusioned when Nicholls left and I heard the "new" stuff.  It acually turned me off the band for a few years.

The Road of Bones is almost a year old now, how time flies......