What Are You Listening To Now? 6.0

[Handley_Page]

Mozart: the Lacrimosa

 

[SyleusSnow]

Feeling nostalgic, so had to dust off Jean Michelle Jarre Equinoxe and Oxygene.

 

[litfan10]

New release Friday! Woo Hoo!

First off new Neal Morse with a kinda sequel to 2007's Sola Scriptura with Sola Gratia. You can't go wrong with Neal - his compositions are melodic and nicely complex with great keyboards and meaty guitars with the dynamic rhythm section of Randy George and Mike Portnoy. Stand outs is that throughout the album he brings melodies from Sola Scriptura then twists them around a bit to fit this album's themes. The song "Seemingly Sincere" is a huge stand out with a pulsing almost computerish keyboard with Mike Portnoy fantastically pounding out with it.

Next is David Minasian with The Sound of Dreams. A very ethereal keyboard driven album reminiscent of Jon Anderson. A great selection of guests on this album beginning with The Moody Blues' Justin Hayward singing and playing guitar on the opening song. Steve Hackett, Annie Haslam (singing two songs), Billy Sherwood (Yes), and PJ Olsson (Alan Parsons Project) are also on this album. Great production, fantastic vocals - very nice album.

Next up is The Progressive Souls Collective with Sonic Birth. Seventeen musicians including Derek Sherinian and Kevin Moore on keyboards and Haken's Connor Green on bass. This is a strong straight forward heavy prog album with all the signature trademarks done very well. Very solid album.

Finally Finland's Kairon: IRSE! returns with Polysomn. Nice psychedelic prog very easy to listen to with nice melodies. A fun album.

Small release week but all great albums. Many more to come this month especially Derek Sherinain's solo album, Ayreon's new album and, sadly, the final album by Fish.

 

[litfan10]

Rattle That Lock Deluxe Edition (with a so not Gilmour disco version of the single)

David Gilmour

 

[Haulover]

The Sound of Dreams

David Minasian

I only have 1 album by him (Random Acts Of Beauty), then lost touch. He was sorta Oldfield-esque, IIRC, and all-instrumental. Is this worth picking up?

New release Friday! Woo Hoo!

First off new Neal Morse with a kinda sequel to 2007's Sola Scriptura with Sola Gratia. You can't go wrong with Neal - his compositions are melodic and nicely complex with great keyboards and meaty guitars with the dynamic rhythm section of Randy George and Mike Portnoy. Stand outs is that throughout the album he brings melodies from Sola Scriptura then twists them around a bit to fit this album's themes. The song "Seemingly Sincere" is a huge stand out with a pulsing almost computerish keyboard with Mike Portnoy fantastically pounding out with it.

Next is David Minasian with The Sound of Dreams. A very ethereal keyboard driven album reminiscent of Jon Anderson. A great selection of guests on this album beginning with The Moody Blues' Justin Hayward singing and playing guitar on the opening song. Steve Hackett, Annie Haslam (singing two songs), Billy Sherwood (Yes), and PJ Olsson (Alan Parsons Project) are also on this album. Great production, fantastic vocals - very nice album.

Next up is The Progressive Souls Collective with Sonic Birth. Seventeen musicians including Derek Sherinian and Kevin Moore on keyboards and Haken's Connor Green on bass. This is a strong straight forward heavy prog album with all the signature trademarks done very well. Very solid album.

Finally Finland's Kairon: IRSE! returns with Polysomn. Nice psychedelic prog very easy to listen to with nice melodies. A fun album.

Small release week but all great albums. Many more to come this month especially Derek Sherinain's solo album, Ayreon's new album and, sadly, the final album by Fish.

Many new albums to research Sherinnian, Fish, and Ayreon are the ones I'm most looking forward to.

I may sound jaded here, but some time ago, I found I was over Neal Morse's music. It's always been very good, but never seemed to progress much - and one album sounded pretty much like the next. (This, despite the fact that I interviewed him twice - once on the phone, and once live. Nice guy!) Perhaps I owe him another shot...

And speaking of Morse:

Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep

Stock's Beard

Love that rekkid!!

My favorite Spock's Beard albums are this in the post-Neal-Morse era, and Snow in the Mores era.

 

[litfan10]

I only have 1 album by him (Random Acts Of Beauty), then lost touch. He was sorta Oldfield-esque, IIRC, and all-instrumental. Is this worth picking up?

Sound of Dreams is far superior IMHO. The vocals add a lot. Great hearing Justin Haywood and PJ Ollson was fantastic. Annie Haslam was good, but showing her age. Justin Minasian was very impressive on vocals as well. I liked this a lot. I will be playing regularly.


Many new albums to research Sherinnian, Fish, and Ayreon are the ones I'm most looking forward to.

Same, especially Fish - I was a huge Marillion fan when Fish was in the band. I do like Hogarth a lot as well but Fish is incredible.

I may sound jaded here, but some time ago, I found I was over Neal Morse's music. It's always been very good, but never seemed to progress much - and one album sounded pretty much like the next. (This, despite the fact that I interviewed him twice - once on the phone, and once live. Nice guy!) Perhaps I owe him another shot...

I've always been a huge fan. I agree he has a pattern but feel Similitudes And this album stand out from the norm in a very good way.

And speaking of Morse:



Love that rekkid!!

My favorite Spock's Beard albums are this in the post-Neal-Morse era, and Snow in the Mores era.

Post Neal it's a toss up between Nocturnes and Feel Euphoria for me. I feared Beard was doomed without Neal especially after such a monster as Snow. Feel Euphoria very pleasantly surprised me.

In the Morse era absolutely Snow. In fact Snow is in my top five albums of all time. Maybe third. For me nothing is better than The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour and Elton John's Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy. Again, purely my opinion.

 

[litfan10]

The albums I absolutely cannot live without.
I fully admit this is totally my own opinion.

First and foremost The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour and Elton John's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

I totally agree that arguably the fab four's Sgt Pepper is a stronger album as is Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but the difference for me is once the album starts until it is over I am completely mesmerized and taken to a totally different plane with Mystery Tour and Capt Fantastic. Sgt Pepper and Yellow Brick don't keep me with every song.

Those two are the only albums that I learned how to play every song on bass, keyboard, vocals and guitar definitely not necessarily as good as the original but well enough that I was happy.

After that my favorites are (in no particular order as my mood changes)

Spock's Beard - Snow
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music - J S Bach Brandenburg Concertos
U.K. - U. K. (The first album with Wetton, Jobson, Bruford and Holdsworth)
Tears for Fears - The Hurting
Pink Floyd - Meddle (why this over Dark Side, The Wall or Division Bell? One word - Echoes)
ELO - Out of the Blue, especially side three Concerto for a Rainy Day.

There are so many other great albums but these have consistently been my most played and enjoyed.

What are your all time favorites?

 

[ElectricBlue]

What are your all time favorites?

In no particular order:
The Doors, L A Woman, also their first album, because of The End
The Who, Who's Next
801, 801 Live
Marisa Nadler, July
Leonard Cohen, I'm Your Man
Texas, Southside
Led Zep, Houses of the Holy
Love, Forever Changes
Marianne Faithful, Broken English
Dire Straits, Making Movies
U2, War
Bruce Springsteen, Darkness on the Edge of Town
Lou Reed, Transformer
David Bowie, Darkstar

and so many more. Ask me in week and it will be another list, but I think it will always have at least one by The Doors and one by Leonard Cohen.

 

[Handley_Page]

The Small Faces - Itchykoo Park

 

[Bramblethorn]

Harrow the Ninth (audiobook) because I don't get the dead-tree version for another three weeks.

 

[oggbashan]

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - French Langauge edition.

it is odd to see Dobby the House-Elf speaking French.

 

[Candy_Kane54]

Warm Ways - Fleetwood Mac

 

[Handley_Page]

Beethoven 3rd. 1st movt.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Porgy and Bess.

The London Philharmonic
Glyndebourne Festival Opera.


e.g. There's a boat dat's leaving soon for New York (Damon Evans)

I guess, on Literotica, this would end up in Loving Wives, and shredded accordingly.

They'd like Carmen better.

 

[litfan10]

The Deciding Moments of Your Life

Cosmos

 

[litfan10]

Time

Electric Light Orchestra

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

Natty Dread - Bob Marley & The Wailers (1974 vinyl album on Island label)

 

[Haulover]

The albums I absolutely cannot live without.
I fully admit this is totally my own opinion.

First and foremost The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour and Elton John's Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy.

I totally agree that arguably the fab four's Sgt Pepper is a stronger album as is Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, but the difference for me is once the album starts until it is over I am completely mesmerized and taken to a totally different plane with Mystery Tour and Capt Fantastic. Sgt Pepper and Yellow Brick don't keep me with every song.

Those two are the only albums that I learned how to play every song on bass, keyboard, vocals and guitar definitely not necessarily as good as the original but well enough that I was happy.

After that my favorites are (in no particular order as my mood changes)

Spock's Beard - Snow
Porcupine Tree - Deadwing
Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music - J S Bach Brandenburg Concertos
U.K. - U. K. (The first album with Wetton, Jobson, Bruford and Holdsworth)
Tears for Fears - The Hurting
Pink Floyd - Meddle (why this over Dark Side, The Wall or Division Bell? One word - Echoes)
ELO - Out of the Blue, especially side three Concerto for a Rainy Day.

There are so many other great albums but these have consistently been my most played and enjoyed.

What are your all time favorites?

That's an interesting list. I've written mine several times, and it's completely different every time.

I would include a few classics like Selling England By The Pound and Yessongs. Some Oldfield - probably Tubular Bells, and surely Dark Side Of The Moon can't be overlooked. Also Van Der Graaf Generator's Pawn Hearts or H to HE, and Camel's The Snowgoose - for which I wrote what Andy Latimer said was the most comprehensive review ever. (Pats self on back LOL)

More modern stuff? Right now I'm all over Devin Townsend's Empath, Subterranean Masquerade's Suspended Animation Dreams, and similar avant garde metal. And Opeth : Still Life and Blackwater Park were my gateway drugs into black metal.

In-between stuff? I agree about Snow, and I'd have to include King Crimson's Power To Believe. I really liked Porcupine Tree's The Incident, and might be the only person in the universe who prefers it over Deadwing.

I'm sure I've left out 2 dozen of my all time favorites

...
Leonard Cohen, I'm Your Man
...

Dammit - did you have to write that?

Now i have an earworm that wont go away!

 

[Handley_Page]

Bert Kaempfert - Tahitian Sunset

 

[Lori_the_Hoosier]

Wet Wet Wet - Popped-In, Souled-Out

Favorite album for all kinds of reasons, but mainly because Marty Pellow's voice makes me go 'Eeeee!' and because he's so dishy; God, I am so shallow...

Especially love:

Angel Eyes
Sweet Little Mystery
Temptation
Wishing I was Lucky
Words of Wisdom

 

[UsuallyPresent]

For the prog-rockers, Somnia is now Scardust, and they've got a new album coming out soon. One track from the new one - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7uOQPjjiqM

Seems like it'd be your kinda thing...

 

[UsuallyPresent]

What are your all time favorites?

The Crow soundtrack
Chuck Mangione's "Land of Make Believe" - the title track with Esther Satterfield is one of my favorites ever
Nine Inch Nails, "Pretty Hate Machine" - did SO much rotework to this album over the years, it's almost in my pulse.`
Luxt's "American Beast"
Oingo Boingo "farewell"
Skunk Anansie, "Skoosh"

And probably too many others, these are ones that come to mind fairly quickly at least

 

[MetaBob]

Camel's The Snowgoose

I have that on vinyl, and am now tempted to ... no, not today.

But inspired by that, which is more accurately titled Music inspired by The Snow Goose, I'm going with Vince Guaraldi's Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus, which inspired a generation.

 

[Handley_Page]

Faces: Stay with me

 

[litfan10]

New releases thundered home on Friday but I have been crazy busy - way behind and several I could only half listen to so far but here is a list and I'll update as I can, which will be fun as I have a video conference the entire week next week. Gah!

The big release - Derek Sherinien - Phoenix. Happily, it exceeded my expectations. Sherinien has a very solid sound that works for him and that sound is very present here but he also branched out. "Them Changes" with Joe Bonamassa was a big, pleasant surprise. If you like heavy electronic keyboards coupled with heavy guitars and this is an album for you.

Straight ahead very nicely done prog from the Netherlands with Us on their album "One Thing is the Thought." Floydish at times but still very original. I need to listen some more but so far I like it.

Blank Manuskript from Austria with "Himmelfahrt." Haven't heard this yet listed as prog so we shall see.First listen - nice experimental jazz.

Bernard and Porsti with "La Tierra" from Italy with a huge list of musicians involved - I'm thinking symphonic prog but don't know yet.

Arcade Messiah from England and Ireland with "The Host". Another I haven't listened to yet but it screams heavy metal. Please no death growls....

Also from the United Kingdom Sloth Metropolis with "Humanise." I did listen to this. Laid back prog with some extra slow tempos suddenly thrown in - they take the word 'sloth' seriously which was unique and clever. The singer's voice is going to have to grow on me but I am intrigued.

Russia's Compassionizer with "Caress of Compassion" is another that I haven't gotten to yet. Described as experimental avant prog so I am intrigued.

La Maschera Di Cera from Italy released "S.E.I." I did get this one and listened to it. Real solid symphonic prog. I will listen to this regularly.

Germany's Panzerballett released "Planet Z." This is another album that I haven't gotten to but am looking forward to hearing. The style is listed as Jazz rock/metal fusion which I like. I like this one a lot. very jazz with heavy prog thrown into the mix. The drumming on the second song really stood out and sure enough, I found out that Marco Minnemann drums on songs two and eight.
This is a very good album if you like a strong merging of prog with jazz.

Gazpacho has a new album with "Fireworker." I have always liked Gazpacho and this while no different is far from boring, in fact I think it pushes their sound forward. As usual it is very atmospheric and airy. Definitely will be on regular rotation for me.

Finally, from Germany comes Sproingg with "Clam." The song titles to this instrumental prog album are hysterical. The final song is entitled " In a recent survey, 4 out of 5 clinically depressed, middle-aged suburbanites strongly preferred new and improved Jizzo™ brand cream cheese to a mortally wounded clam." Can't wait to see if the music is as clever. As expected - these guys are heavily experimental and throwing out conventions. They are very solid, talented musicians so they can get away with this I feel. The bassist often uses a Chapman stick very well giving the chaos a very grounded sound.
I like these guys a lot and have now bought both of their albums.

Eleven new prog releases this week with many more to come in the month. Next week are two huge releases with Ayreon's "Transitus" and Fish's farewell with "Weltschmerz."

Make that twelve new albums as Germany's Poor Genetic Material released "Here Now." Nice melodic prog very reminiscent of Karmakanic from this twenty year old band.
Great album.