Frost*
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Forum Description: General progressive music discussions
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=26725
Printed Date: July 18 2025 at 15:25
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Topic: Frost*
Posted By: Mr. Sanchez
Subject: Frost*
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 01:40
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Eyyy... I have recently discovered a new English Neo-Prog band called Frost, and I just bought their debut album called 'Milliontown'. I do admit that I have only listened to one Neo-Prog band before (IQ) but there is always room for more. After listening to the album 'Milliontown' for a week now I have began to enjoy it, even though it is a bit keyboard-heavy, I still enjoy listening to this album. Has anybody else heard this album, if so, what are your thoughts? p.s: If anyone can recommend some good Neo-Prog bands for me to listen to, that would be much appreciated. - Mr. Sanchez. ------------- It's Calling Me Back To My Home. |
Replies:
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 01:46
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You can read my thoughts in the review I wrote for it. It was a great album in my opinion and I was really impressed. You may like Arena, Marillion, Pendragon, and if you like Marillion, Fish. ------------- 
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Posted By: Mr. Sanchez
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 01:55
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Cheers for that. I already have some Marillion, with Fish and without.....can't go wrong with Fish.
------------- It's Calling Me Back To My Home. |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 01:59
No you truly cannot. Some other quality Neo bands: Jadis Iluvatar Pallas Saens Strangefish -------------
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Mr. Sanchez wrote:Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:00
| I've only listened to it a few times.Don't really have a strong opinion but wouldn't call it 'Neo Prog'.Its closer to Neal Morse and Spocks Beard style symphonic prog IMO. |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:02
Glad you liked Milliontown. 
I would reccommend you continue trying to get into IQ. Dark Matter is a very good album form them and is less objectionable than their earlier releases. However, all IQ albums after the album Ever in the early 90s are of high quality as well.Of the earlier, more "80s" albums from IQ, The Wake is the best IMO, but Tales from the Lush Attic is great as well.
Also, Marillion is probably the best Neo-Prog band, IMO. Try Marbles for less cheesy, more mature and melodic music. Script for a Jester's Tear may be their best, and many people seem to like it despite it's cheesy nature. The albums after 1989 are more introspective and subdued while those previous to that year are generally dramatic, buoyant, and upfront.
Pallas is one of my favorite Neo bands. They were definitly the cheesiest of the major Neo-Prog bands back in the 80s, but in their new incarnation, they're much better and more appealing. They have a lush keyboard system, but it's less pervasive and more supportive, which decreases the cheese factor. I'd go for The Cross and the Crucible or The Dreams of Men first. Their debut album, The Sentinel, while cheesy as hell, is quite good.
Pendragon are quite cheesy some people think, but they do make good music, albeit not innovative at all, unlike Marillion or IQ. Their best release is probably The Masquerade Overture, but Believe or The World would be a good starting place as well. Avoid their 80s album until you're a fan of their 90s and 00s albums.
To round off what I believe are the Top 5 Neo bands, Arena are liked a bit more on this site than most of the others because of their metal appeal, because their music walks a fine line between Prog-Metal and Neo-Prog. My favorite album is their debut, Songs from the Lion's Cage, but popular opinion tells us that The Visitor, Immortal?, and Contagion are the best from Arena. Those three are the most metal the band has done, but for a more Pendragon-oriented sound and for a more Neoish album, go for Songs from the Lion's Cage.
That's all the main bands, but for some excellent lesser-known bands, try Saens. They produce a great mixture of jazz, lush keyboards, arabic influences, and a bit of metal into their break-through album, Escaping from the Hands of God, which I believe is a perfect album, full of drama. I think it's highly appealing to fans of various genres. Their follow-up album, Prophet in a Statistical World is less innovative and not as brilliant as the previous album, but it is still of high quality. Strangefish are another great band which has little capability of distribution and the only way to get thei music may be through private sellers or their website. Their debut album, Full Scale, is a very modern-sounding, but definitly Neo album without much cheese. Their follow-up album, Fortune Telling, while not as immediate as their debut, is nearly of the same caliber.
That's your introduction primer to Neo-Prog, the most maligned Prog genre ever!  ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Mr. Sanchez
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:16
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Well, I have always been interested to see what Neo-Prog was like, but I never got around to it. Before I joined PA I was stuck in the Prog-Metal genre more than any other, I do enjoy it, but I want a different kind of sound. Dark Matter is a great album, I have that album, but sadly it is the only IQ I have at the moment...but not for long! They all sound like bands I could definately get into, although I might leave Arena to last, considering they sound as though they are the least Neo of the bands you suggested. Thanks for the help. - Mr. Sanchez. ------------- It's Calling Me Back To My Home. |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:21
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To put them in order of preference, I suppose:
1. Marillion
2. IQ
3. Pallas (1998 and onward)
4. Pendragon
5. Arena ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:23
Mine's similar to yours 1. Marillion 2. IQ 3. Fish 4. Arena 5. Pendragon 4 and 5 are tied, though. -------------
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Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:27
Fish doesn't count.  ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:30
Say what you will, he's in Neo and that's where he's going to stay. So you better bow down, bow down to the big wedge.  -------------
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Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:32
That's just an old cliche!
 ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:33
You're just speaking in tongues. Now let's settle this elsewhere as we don't want to turn this thread into something it shouldn't be, and that's closed.  -------------
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Posted By: Mr. Sanchez
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:34
Haha, nice to see you both love your Fish...
------------- It's Calling Me Back To My Home. |
Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:36
 I'm leaving now.------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: Paulieg
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 02:56
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Neo Prog
1) Arena ( Immortal, Contagion, The Visitor )
2) IQ ( Dark Matter, The Seventh House )
3) Pallas ( The Dreams Of Men, The Cross and The Crucible )
I'm not too crazy about neo-prog. Even so, I do like the bands and the albums I listed very much.
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Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 06:23
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Frost*'s Milliontown is a refreshing dish of Prog-Lite a-la Neo Progressive. It's accessible and contrary to Cygnus and Stonebeard I love the middle tracks on the album particularly "The Other Me" which is a sophisticated rocker and really cheers me up.
I was worried that Frost* might be a one-off venture but Jem assures me that: "(I) can confirm we are a band and will be continuing accordingly! The plan is 5 years/5 albums. Then we're done." I would rate the album 4 stars at the moment. |
Posted By: Mr. Sanchez
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 06:29
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Yes, It is quite a good album indeed. It's something different for me, and I would probably rate it 4 also, if my rating would count for anything haha...
------------- It's Calling Me Back To My Home. |
Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 07:29
| They are playing a gig for the Classic Rock Society in November so I hope to see them live. Havn't heard the CD yet so can't comment! Apparently one member is an established songwriter & written for Ronan Keaton of all people! |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 07:46
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And it shows... one track sounds like the Backstreet Boys, with prog tendencies. Urgh!
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Posted By: eddietrooper
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 08:27
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I love this new band, Frost. I think it's neo-prog but it has some influences from bands from other subgenres, specially Dream Theater and Spock's Beard. My favorite neo-prog bands: 1- IQ 2- Marillion 3- Riverside (I think they're more neo-prog than prog-metal) 4- Arena. 5- Frost. Pendragon are OK but I think they're not as good as the others I've already mentioned. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 08:29
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Riverside's debut album Out Of Myself is neo-prog and I don't like it that much, but their second album, Second Life Syndrome is a vast improvement and is more like prog-metal.
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 08:33
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^ it has a heavier sound, but it's still more neo prog than prog metal IMHO.
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to: 
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Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 08:41
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I guess you'd be happy to see them moved to neo-prog then, Mike?
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Posted By: Catholic Flame
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 08:54
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Frost's Milliontown is a great album!!
If you like them you might want to try, besides the great bands already listed:
RPWL -- obviously OD'd on Pink Floyd but developed their own, great, style.
Moongarden -- great newer band
Gazpucho -- another great newer group
Satellite -- slightly softer edge than Frost but wonderful band
Collage -- probably one of the best bands that ever existed ------------- “Great things are not accomplished by those who yield to trends and fads and popular opinion.” ~Jack Kerouac |
Posted By: E-Dub
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 09:08
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I'm going to give Frost* a couple more listens before I submit a review; however, it's the second best disc I've bought this year (The best being The Flower Kings' Paradox Hotel). Milliontown is a very nice disc.
Everyone's pretty much recommended the same discs that I would recommend. Add in Kino's Picture and you're golden. E ------------- 
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Posted By: Mr. Sanchez
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 09:37
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Wicked, I think I will have a bit of a job to do finding some of this stuff, but it sounds as though it will be worth it. Keep 'em comming! ------------- It's Calling Me Back To My Home. |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 09:44
Actually ... no, because I know that most people think otherwise and I'm all for majority decisions. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 09:47
I didnt know this. Surely they are quite obviously Neo-Prog? 
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 09:50
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^ I created a poll about it more than a month ago ... most people think that although their first album might be neo prog, the second album is more prog metal than neo prog (what Geck0 said).
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 09:51
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Riverside are yes. Frost* are too. What's with the star after the name? Is that supposed to be represent frost? If so, that's very tacky! -------------
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Posted By: Mr. Sanchez
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 09:55
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Possibly. I am guessing it does...but that doesn't really matter, it's all in the music. ------------- It's Calling Me Back To My Home. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 09:58
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But the track I heard was awful, so...
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Posted By: Mr. Sanchez
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 10:01
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Haha...Well maybe they aren't really the band for you? Who knows, maybe you might even like them after a few more spins of the CD... Ahh well...To each his own I guess. ------------- It's Calling Me Back To My Home. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 10:03
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I don't have the CD and don't plan to get it... I listened to the sample on Myspace. Music that sounds like the Backstreet Boys with cheesy keyboards doesn't do it for me, sorry! As you say, each to their own. -------------
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 10:10
I wonder how many prog fans would buy Selling England by the Pound when all they base their decision on would be a myspace page with More Fool Me as a sample.------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: Mr. Sanchez
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 10:11
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Nah, don't apologise, that's fair enough. I actually don't mind the keyboards on the album, it's quite an interesting sound. I have also discovered another band called The Third Ending...Has anybody heard of them before? A friend of mine sent me a link to their website and I downloaded a free sample, it's pretty good stuff! They sound quite Spock's Beard-ish with hints of Porcupine Tree. I ordered their self titled debut album yesterday, should have it soon... ------------- It's Calling Me Back To My Home. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 10:14
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The only bit I liked was the piano part at the end of the excerpt. Well there is another track on Frost*'s website, so I guess I should listen to that one... Mike, I have Selling England and have yet to play it... now you've said that, I don't know if I want too! I'm listening to Black Light Machine and it leaves me completely cold. Yes it's better than Milliontown, but it's too flambouyant, over-the-top and unnecessary to my ears. -------------
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 10:24
Another possibillity might be that you simply don't like Neo Prog. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 10:31
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I like Discipline's Unfolded Like Staircase But they're not neo-prog really, you and I know that! -------------
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Posted By: GoldenSpiral
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 10:33
Yeah... that's what this frost album has made me decide once and for all. I liked the sample that was posted on PA, and found the myspace samples tolerable, but I listened to the whole album and didn't like it at all. It was too overproduced for me (not that I mind production, but this was just too clean and shiny... it seemed fake  , especially the vocal harmonies). So, sorry Neo-Prog, I guess you're just not my thing. ------------- http://www.myspace.com/altaic" rel="nofollow - http://www.myspace.com/altaic ALTAIC "Oceans Down You'll Lie" coming soon |
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 10:38
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I don't like that aspect of Neo Prog ... at least the newer albums (>1989) seem to focus on perfection too much.
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: stonebeard
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 10:57
James doesn't like anything that doesn't involve Santa Claus (Robert Wyatt) or an Englishman playing a hammond organ solo for 13 minutes.  ------------- http://soundcloud.com/drewagler" rel="nofollow - My soundcloud. Please give feedback if you want! |
Posted By: TheProgtologist
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 11:06
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I'll throw my 2 cents in and say I was very,very impressed with Frost's Milliontown album.
There is some great new neo out right now like Saens,Strangefish and Frost.I strongly urge everyone to check this new wave of neo bands out. -------------  |
Posted By: Progger
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 11:30
And yet many people give SEBTP *****'s & is in the top five of the charts. The mind boggles
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Posted By: Mr_Upside_Down
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 16:33
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If you haven't done so already, check out "Habitat" from Man On Fire and "Free" from O.S.I. Chromakey's "Dead Air For Radios" is another possibility I think these albums have elements in common with Milliontown. PS. If anyone knows of other bands that actually sound like any of these, please add to this thread. I'm currently listening to Strangefish based upon their appearance in this thread, and all I can say is WTF - did I miss something here? In what way is this band remotely similar to "Frost"? |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 16:34
He was looking for other neo prog, not groups that sound similar to Frost. -------------
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 16:36
Well, OSI - Free doesn't sound much like Milliontown either. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 16:49
I have Habitat and Free but have yet to listen to them, so they better not soundlike Milliontown! 
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Posted By: Mr_Upside_Down
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 16:51
Ok, fair enough - but neo-prog is obviously a broad genre (after all, Frost and Strangefish both live there!), and given that this thread is entitled "Frost*", I assumed that posts would be made in that context. Probably my mistake... |
Posted By: Cygnus X-2
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 16:52
Oh I understand completely; and besides Strangefish dabbles into the more metal side of neo prog, similar to Arena, and is some instances can be considered symphonic. -------------
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Posted By: Mr_Upside_Down
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 16:55
You're probably right there, but I think there are elements in common. Frost is kind of like an "O.S.I-lite" or something. |
Posted By: Mr_Upside_Down
Date Posted: July 31 2006 at 17:01
Judging from your other posts in this topic, I'd probably recommend that you give up on this whole genre! If you don't like synthesized sounds and high levels of post-production, bands like Man On Fire, O.S.I and Frost are very unlikely to appeal. For myself, I find it very difficult to get into classic prog like Genesis/Yes because of the often "raw" (read awful!) production values. To each their own, I suppose... |
Posted By: Melomaniac
Date Posted: August 03 2006 at 15:07
I have just finished my first spin of Milliontown... and am left speechless! Daring, refreshing, original, very well produced, the best debut album I have heard in a long, long time. Heavy use of keyboards but to wonderful effect, hell that guy can play. Also enjoy his voice a lot, which is somewhere between Neal Morse and Ray Wilson. I enjoyed every moment in every song. Every musician shines, the songwriting is great as is the execution. I'd call this Symphonic Neo prog. If a better album hits the market this year, I can't wait to hear it. A magnificent surprise !
 !Peace !
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Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 03 2006 at 15:49
I do like synthesized sounds, just not sounding like that. Maybe it's the synth he uses... I like the old analog synths fine, but the '80s synths were the worst for me. They quite simply make me cringe in disbelieve. My favourite non-prog band uses synths and they're fine and I also like what The Purple Woo himself, Bernie Worrell does and even the synth that Johnny Neel uses. So it's the synth they use, not synth music itself. -------------
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Posted By: surfdaddy
Date Posted: August 03 2006 at 16:00
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Just listened to the entire Frost* cd. If thats over the top, I like over the top very much. I wish I could play that well. I didn't like Hyperventilate as much as the other tracks, but it was still good. Thanks to Greg at Progpalace Radio for turning me on to them! It was a great purchase. ------------- ::Just Sittin here chillin:: Robby |
Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 03 2006 at 16:03
What if they actually achieve it?
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 03 2006 at 16:07
So what? "Perfect" in this context means polished, smooth, flawless ... kind of like 100% pure sugar compared to a nice fruit salad. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: August 03 2006 at 16:09
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I much prefer a raw sound actually, overproduction can ruin good music. Having said that, Unfolded Like Staircase by Discipline's production is abysmal and is so flat and has no life in it. It could do with a remastering I feel. -------------
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Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 16:08
Sloppiness is more of a problem IMO.Seeking perfection is not a bad thing itself.Not having ideas and covering it up with nice production is though.
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 17:12
Now sloppiness is a totally different issue. I HATE sloppiness much more than I hate perfection ... I guess I love non-sloppy near-perfect music with a raw edge. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/release-polls/pa" rel="nofollow - Release Polls Listened to:
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Posted By: lucas
Date Posted: August 04 2006 at 17:24
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Some bands I would recommend if you like neo-prog (not all qualify as neo-prog but they have all one thing in common : melody) :
VIOLET DISTRICT
SAGRADO CORAçAO DA TERRA (check out 'farol da liberdade' or 'Flecha' if you are a strong neo-prog head, you won't be disappointed, check out the other ones if you are more on the symphonic side of prog)
CLEPSYDRA
JORDAN RUDESS' album 'Listen'
UK's 'Danger money'
COLIN BASS : 'An outcast of the island' (bassist for Camel, great album featuring the drummer for Fish, and members of Quidam, a polish neo-prog band)
MARIO MILLO : 'Oceans of the mind' (leader of australian symphonic prog bands Windchase and Sebastian Hardie)
CAMEL : 'dust and dreams' (their most poignant concept-album, based on the novel by John Steinbeck "the grapes of wrath")
IONA's 'journey into the morn' (simply AMAZING performance, and the sublime voice of Joanne Hogg)
EDDIE JOBSON's 'Zinc' (in the vein of UK's 'danger money')
NRG : 'No reasons given' the band wher Kevin Gilbert started his musical career (you can check out their songs fpr free on Kevin's site http://www.kevingilbert.com/NRG/NRGalbum.html - http://www.kevingilbert.com/NRG/NRGalbum.html )
PABLO EL ENTERRADOR : 's/t' (an absolute masterpiece of neo-prog from Argentina)
SAGA
RUSH : 'Power windows'
CASINO : (features the amazing voice of Geoff Mann of twelfth night)
SHADOWLAND : 'Ring of roses' (features Robert Smith-like voice of Pendragon's keyboardist Clive Nolan)
TWELFTH NIGHT : 'Fact and fiction'
ORPHAN PROJECT : 'Orphan found' (between neo- and metal-prog with impressive vocals and a huge sense of melody)
JANISON EDGE : 'the services of Mary Goode'
CAFE JACQUES : 'round the back' (features Phil Collins on drums and the fantastic Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann's earthband) on vocals plus people who used to play in Canterbury bands : very cool album)
IT BITES : holdsworthian guitar by the gifted vocalist, whose vocals are reminiscent of Peter Gabriel's on an overall AOR mood, check out 'once around the world'
ANIMA : 'anima', a quite good argentinian band lead by female vocals
AMBROSIA : with three musicians who appeared on Alan Parson's project's first album
BANDA DO CASACO : 'tambem eu' a portuguese folk-rock band that sounds a bit more pop-prog on this album
STEVE MORSE BAND: 'stand up' ------------- "Magma was the very first gothic rock band" (Didier Lockwood) |
Posted By: surfdaddy
Date Posted: August 30 2006 at 16:09
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For those who are interested...
On the Frost* website they have made a few songs available for download that did not make the cd... Including a three minute alternate ending to Milliontown. ------------- ::Just Sittin here chillin:: Robby |
Posted By: NeAl MoRsE
Date Posted: September 05 2006 at 14:15
| If you like Frost. you could go listening to Kino it's an other band formed by John Mitchell(Arena, Kino, Frost)... |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: September 05 2006 at 14:22
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I just purchased this album and have been listening to it the past couple days. I think the first two and the last two tracks are really great, the middle two...not so much - especially "The Other Me", which I think is terrible. When these guys really "get cooking" instrumentally, it's wonderful. Right now this album is about 3.5 stars for me. |