Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography

TAKING THE STAGE: LIVE 1997-2005

Sky Cries Mary

Crossover Prog


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Sky Cries Mary Taking the Stage: Live 1997-2005 album cover
3.05 | 3 ratings | 2 reviews | 0% 5 stars

Write a review

Buy SKY CRIES MARY Music
from Progarchives.com partners
Live, released in 2011

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Taking the Stage (5:03)
2. Rain (7:39)
3. Wall Walla / Moving Like a Water (7:38)
4. Cornerman (6:14)
5. Dont Forget the Sky (5:10)
6. The Ant, the Stars, the Owl and Its Prey (5:27)
7. Remember Me the Wind (6:38)
8. Nowhere (7:02)
9. Want (6:46)
10. Gliding (5:10)
11. Elephant Song (6:19)
12. Walk of Nothingness (4:08)
13. California Dreamin' (3:32) *

Total Time 76:46

* studio bonus track

Line-up / Musicians

- Roderick Romero / vocals
- Anisa Romero / vocals
- Todd Robbins / keyboards, sound effects (1,2,13)
- Ben Ireland / drums & percussion
- Michael Cozzi / guitar, programming
- William Bernhard / guitar, keyboards, programming (3-13)
- Juano / bass, percussion, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
- Jill Wangsgard / keyboards, sound effects (3-12)

Releases information

Recorded in Seattle: tracks 1,2 (1997), tracks 3-12 (2004/2005), track 13 (1999)

CD Trail Records TR-009 (2011, US)

Thanks to rivertree for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
Edit this entry

Buy SKY CRIES MARY Taking the Stage: Live 1997-2005 Music



SKY CRIES MARY Taking the Stage: Live 1997-2005 ratings distribution


3.05
(3 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(0%)
0%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(0%)
0%
Good, but non-essential (100%)
100%
Collectors/fans only (0%)
0%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

SKY CRIES MARY Taking the Stage: Live 1997-2005 reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Rivertree
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions
3 stars SKY CRIES MARY are an insiders' tip when it comes to rock music coupled with the emphasis on a spacey atmosphere and exceptional vocals Trail Records already had masterfully produced the band's studio compilation 'Space Between The Drops' in 2009 ... so consequently they were also entrusted with the task to elaborate this new one. Cover art is carefully designed by Alexander Tsalikhin and Vlad Milyavsky again. New album does not mean new song material, to make it clear - here we have a collection of live settings, most of it already placed on their sold out double album 'Here & Now', so that points to recordings around 2004/2005 on different locations.

The first two tracks however were taken some years before in 1997 by Krist Novoselic(!). Taking The Stage represents a more straightforward rocking behaviour. The band featuring Ben Ireland (drums). Michael Cozzi (guitar), Juano (bass) and keyboardist Todd Robbins celebrate a short warm-up first, until the Romeros - attended by applause - finally enter the stage. The following Rain then is band typical, speaking of the implemented cosmic vibe, especially due to the gilmouresque guitar and interesting synthesizer gimmicks. Cornerman belongs to their top songs by all means, now additionally featuring William Bernhard and Jill Wangsgard, both are alternating on keyboards and guitar. This, when necessary, guarantees a really lush sound.

Don't Forget The Sky expresses extraordinary vocal presence. As for the main chorus Anisa cares for the lead voice with celestial sentiment where Roderick backs a bit restrained. In between the band jam a little. A brillant implementation which shows great spirit. I would also point out Want in the same breath. The trippy flow - soaring guitar, keyboard patterns sounding like strings respectively mellotron, wow ... and the Romeros are acting with great harmony again. While rocking the venue with much dynamic Elephant Song is leaving the common path a bit. Roderick undertakes the lead, his vocals are more of recitative though.

The Ant, The Stars, The Owl And Its Prey convinces with nicely interacting guitars and finally they add an interesting remake of The Mamas & The Papas song California Dreamin' as a bonus track - the sole studio outake and previously only digitally available via download. It all proceeds in an hallucinogenic ambience first and definitely takes some time to recognize this very popular melody.

The compositions are not of a complex respectively experimental nature mostly, so this may not challenge every die-hard prog music lover. SKY CRIES MARY are unique though in any case, those dual vocals at foremost, however the band's instrumental section alone is worth it at all events. Furthermore on 'Taking The Stage' you can listen to songs reworked with top-notch audio quality, so this overall is a real treat if you like dreamy rock songs presented by a technically skilled band - 3.5 stars.

Review by Windhawk
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars US outfit SKY CRIES MARY has been around for 25 years at the time of writing, with a string of albums from the late 80's and throughout the 90's that saw them build a good-sized following. In the last few years the independent US label Trail Records has taken an interest in this act, issuing a compilation disc in 2009, followed by "Taking the Stage: Live 1997-2005" now in 2011. The latter item is a remastered version of the band's live recordings made between 1997 and 2005.

As far as progressive rock goes, this is a disc residing on the border between psychedelic art rock and indie rock. If you're a newcomer to Sky Cries Mary and have an interest in psychedelic music, I'd recommend getting hold of the compilation disc "Space between the Drops" rather than this live CD initially. But if you know and like the band, be it on a superficial level or as a dedicated fan, "Taking the Stage" is a production that can be recommended with ease. This is another high-quality production courtesy of the US label Trail Records, where the level of interest is determined by musical taste alone.

Latest members reviews

No review or rating for the moment | Submit a review

Post a review of SKY CRIES MARY "Taking the Stage: Live 1997-2005"

You must be a forum member to post a review, please register here if you are not.

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.