What Are You Listening To Now? 6.0

[Haulover]

Blue Oyster Cult : The Symbol Remains

First listen to this new (2020) album. Opinions later.

 

[Blind_Justice]

Opeth : Blackwater Park

Genius. A must-listen. Yes it has "cookie monster" death style growls, but they're light and contribute to the music rather than dominating it.

I still think Still Life is better, but this is a close second.

'Course, a few albums after this, their style change completely and both won and lost them a significant segment of their audience.

Yup. I'm one of those who stopped getting Opeth after "Ghost Reveries".

 

[TalkToMeInSB]

The Band : The Weight

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Promises - Eric Clapton

 

[Handley_Page]

Walk, don't run.

 

[litfan10]

The Absolute Universe ("Forevermore" and "Breath of Life")

Transatlantic

The beast has finally been released.

The story: The four members of Transatlantic met in Sweden Fall of 2019 and recorded the music which clocked in at almost 100 minutes and planned out the solos and lyrics then all four went their separate ways to finish the music.

Well Covid hit and the four got stuck in their home studios with unexpectedly a lot of time to tinker and play. When they virtually reconvened they found they had each altered the basic stuff as well as the lyrics and who would sing what, creating a huge mess of material; some similar to each other, some massively different.

After a lot of deliberation they finally decided to release one double concept album "Forevermore" clocking at 97 minutes and a single concept album "Breath of Life" clocking in at 64 minutes. The songs are interconnected and there are no breaks from start to finish. Some of the songs share music but not lyrics others share lyrics but not the music or maybe who sings it. It is very audibly clear that all these songs are meticulously crafted.

Far and away, these are the best albums these guys have released, across both versions there is so much to hear. After hearing both I agree that each and every song is worth hearing. I find Trewavas and Portnoy have never sounded better which is saying a lot. Stolt breaks out of his guitar sound mode several times. Some times it is very much signature Transatlantic, some times it doesn't sound like them at all. These are very unique albums for the four.

 

[litfan10]

Days of Insanity

They Dream of Starfish

Just saying, this is a fun, really worth listening to album by none other than our own Blind_Justice and his lady love. Today is a great day to get this very affordable album as the first Friday of every month Bandcamp waives their fees and artists (like Blind_Justice aka They Dream of Starfish) get 100% of the sales.
https://theydreamofstarfish.bandcamp.com/releases

 

[litfan10]

Will do - thanks!

Incidentally - Cult Of Luna just released a new album. I haven't heard it yet, but it's an autobuy.

It's good in spite of the growls

 

[oggbashan]

Triolett dance at Vancouver:

https://youtu.be/e4-MC-J_db8

I feel sorry for them. Only one person watching...

 

[litfan10]

The Pattern

Oceana

 

[litfan10]

888

Saltanath

 

[ChloeTzang]

Concierto de Aranjuez - Joaquín Rodrigo

Dyango - En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor

Aranjuez Con Ti Amor - Il Divo

Somewhere in Time - Maksim

Tracy Huang - SOMEWHERE IN TIME

 

[litfan10]

Task

Elizabeth the Last

 

[litfan10]

The Northern Sanctuary

Witherscape

 

[SamScribble]

Miles Davis - On Green Dolphin Street

I might have to play the rest of the Kind of Blue album after this

 

[MColton84]

Ray Charles- Georgia

 

[Haulover]

The Absolute Universe ("Forevermore" and "Breath of Life")

Transatlantic

The beast has finally been released.

The story: The four members of Transatlantic met in Sweden Fall of 2019 and recorded the music which clocked in at almost 100 minutes and planned out the solos and lyrics then all four went their separate ways to finish the music.

Well Covid hit and the four got stuck in their home studios with unexpectedly a lot of time to tinker and play. When they virtually reconvened they found they had each altered the basic stuff as well as the lyrics and who would sing what, creating a huge mess of material; some similar to each other, some massively different.

After a lot of deliberation they finally decided to release one double concept album "Forevermore" clocking at 97 minutes and a single concept album "Breath of Life" clocking in at 64 minutes. The songs are interconnected and there are no breaks from start to finish. Some of the songs share music but not lyrics others share lyrics but not the music or maybe who sings it. It is very audibly clear that all these songs are meticulously crafted.

Far and away, these are the best albums these guys have released, across both versions there is so much to hear. After hearing both I agree that each and every song is worth hearing. I find Trewavas and Portnoy have never sounded better which is saying a lot. Stolt breaks out of his guitar sound mode several times. Some times it is very much signature Transatlantic, some times it doesn't sound like them at all. These are very unique albums for the four.

Many thanks for the write-up! I need to get this. The only thing i really, really don't want to hear is Roine's vocals - which are why I have a hard time listening to anything by The Flower Kings. For the rest, though, I'm looking forward to it.

I had lunch with Pete Trewavas in PA several years ago, at a ROSfest. I interviewed him, and then we sat and sipped wine for about 2 hours - missing the next show. We nattered on about our families, where he could get a certain style of Nikes to take back to the UK for his son, US vs Brit lifestyles, and so on. The closest we came to discussing music was his description of how Marillion self-manages their affairs. Very businesslike, which surprised me a bit. Nice guy.

 

[litfan10]

Many thanks for the write-up! I need to get this. The only thing i really, really don't want to hear is Roine's vocals - which are why I have a hard time listening to anything by The Flower Kings. For the rest, though, I'm looking forward to it.

I had lunch with Pete Trewavas in PA several years ago, at a ROSfest. I interviewed him, and then we sat and sipped wine for about 2 hours - missing the next show. We nattered on about our families, where he could get a certain style of Nikes to take back to the UK for his son, US vs Brit lifestyles, and so on. The closest we came to discussing music was his description of how Marillion self-manages their affairs. Very businesslike, which surprised me a bit. Nice guy.

I've heard Trewavas is a nice guy. Actually, I've never heard anything bad about any of Marillion.

Honestly, I totally agree about Stolt's vocals - he has a nasally twang quality that grates.

One thing I will say, the newest Flower King's album "The Island" is my favorite of their catalog for two reasons: (1.) the songs are shorter which works better for the band as their epic tracks tend to get long winded and mushy and (2.) Stolt doesn't sing as much and there are very capable other singers in the band. The album might surprise you.

 

[litfan10]

Confession time: I pulled my bass out after I don't know how many years. The layer of dust was scary. It was more grey than turquoise.

I played (or at least attempted) ELO, Tears for Fears, Police and U2, all things I played in cover bands years ago.

End result....man, I suck. The years have not been kind.

I did not tuck it back away and will attempt again soon....I think.

Gah!

 

[Haulover]

I've heard Trewavas is a nice guy. Actually, I've never heard anything bad about any of Marillion.

Honestly, I totally agree about Stolt's vocals - he has a nasally twang quality that grates.

One thing I will say, the newest Flower King's album "The Island" is my favorite of their catalog for two reasons: (1.) the songs are shorter which works better for the band as their epic tracks tend to get long winded and mushy and (2.) Stolt doesn't sing as much and there are very capable other singers in the band. The album might surprise you.

True - I also interviewed Steve Rothery on the Marbles tour. Also a nice guy.

I'll try "The Island" again...

Confession time: I pulled my bass out after I don't know how many years. The layer of dust was scary. It was more grey than turquoise.

I played (or at least attempted) ELO, Tears for Fears, Police and U2, all things I played in cover bands years ago.

End result....man, I suck. The years have not been kind.

I did not tuck it back away and will attempt again soon....I think.

Gah!

Cool! I pulled out a guitar a while ago. It is NOT like riding a bicycle My brain knew exactly what I wanted to do - I could visualize it hear it, and was ready to play it. But my fingers had the equivalent of "brain freeze", and had no idea where to go LOL

I put it away, and might never pull it out again.

 

[boy_wonder]

Some easy chill out music for a Sunday afternoon. Tea. Being lazy and browsing lit and hoping for a few nice messages.

 

[MColton84]

Johnny Cash- hurt

 

[Blind_Justice]

Confession time: I pulled my bass out after I don't know how many years. The layer of dust was scary. It was more grey than turquoise.

I played (or at least attempted) ELO, Tears for Fears, Police and U2, all things I played in cover bands years ago.

End result....man, I suck. The years have not been kind.

I did not tuck it back away and will attempt again soon....I think.

Gah!

I EXACTLY know the feeling. I have a brand new long-scale bass next to my desk, waiting to make a grand show on one of our tracks, but my fingers feel so CLUMSY after about twenty years not plucking strings. By now. hammering notes into a sequencer feels more natural than playing the actual thing on threaded steel. And I played bass for about five years before the hiatus.

Also, thanks for the Bandcamp Friday shout-out. No one took a bite, but my lady love and I appreciate the gesture.

 

[litfan10]

Mustan Sydamen Rovio

Marko Hietala

While there is an English version of Marko (ex-Nightwish) Hietala's new solo album I feel something gets lost in translation (literally.) This is such a beautiful album.

 

[litfan10]

Cool! I pulled out a guitar a while ago. It is NOT like riding a bicycle My brain knew exactly what I wanted to do - I could visualize it hear it, and was ready to play it. But my fingers had the equivalent of "brain freeze", and had no idea where to go LOL

I put it away, and might never pull it out again.

I EXACTLY know the feeling. I have a brand new long-scale bass next to my desk, waiting to make a grand show on one of our tracks, but my fingers feel so CLUMSY after about twenty years not plucking strings. By now. hammering notes into a sequencer feels more natural than playing the actual thing on threaded steel. And I played bass for about five years before the hiatus.

Also, thanks for the Bandcamp Friday shout-out. No one took a bite, but my lady love and I appreciate the gesture.

I found my brain was also in on the hijacking - I played these songs countless times on stage in front of an audience, and my memory was spotty at best. I mean fifteen, twenty years ago I could pick up my bass and the fingers would right away run the scales and song patterns, even the intricate solos, now...not so much.

And then my ring finger and pinky totally separated from the rest of the gang - neither the strength nor the speed to keep up with the other two fingers which were having a hard enough time on their own.

Neil, I hope you do pick it up again. I definitely am as I refuse to lose that part of myself.

Long scale basses intrigue me. Years ago, well after I stopped playing publicly I picked up a nice five string just for the fun and that is the only bass I have now. I've played regular four string, fretless and stand up pseudo professionally. On my never done it bucket list is playing a Rickenbacker (Chris Squire and Jon Camp are HUGE influences on me) and a Chapman (ditto Tony Levin and Nick Beggs.)

B_J, I was afraid this forum was too under trafficked to do much for you but I couldn't resist trying. I enjoy listening to your ep.