![]() |
|
http://www.metal-archives.com/images/1/0/2/6/10264.jpg
1.What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in? Found myself headbanging almost immediately, which is always a good sign in my book! 2. What did you think of the opening tracks? Digged 'em all. 'Perpetual Child' reminded me a LOT of mid 90's Dream Theater (as in their sound around 'Awake') except with a thrashier, meaner groove amidst the glittery keyboards. The rollicking 'Sleepwalker' and nicely melodic 'Join' kick a lot of ass too -- the former of the two almost makes me think these guys were big Living Colour fans! 3. What did you think of the later tracks? About as intriguing as the opening numbers: love those keys in 'Because Of You'. The closing two-part epic was nice, and I love the whole nu-fusion thing they were doing with 'Spare Chicken Parts' -- reminds a bit of what Planet X would be doing later in the 2000's. 4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? All these Dennis DeYoung comparisons to the singer Josh Pincus are pretty much on the money. I have no idea what hole the band dug him out from, but he's pretty good for someone with no classical training. ^^;; 5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? Mostly, but the hooks are iffy every now and then. Definitely enjoyed on the whole though. 6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)? I thought it was consistent from start to finish: began well and ended well. 7. What did you think of the lyrical content? Good from what I can tell: a bit of further lyrical research during my listening experience made the songs' meanings themselves clearer. Nothing here really bites or surprises me, but they work well with the music on the whole. 8. Did you like the instrumental parts? Probably the thing I liked most actually: lots of great keyboard textures and guitar interplay. None of it's quite up there with Kevin Moore and Petrucci's work with Dream Theater back in the early 90's, but there's definitely something special to this sonic canvas. 9. What did you think of the production? Understated, but not fuzzy or anything. In laymens' terms...it works. 10. How well do you already know the band/artist? I recall skimming through some of Ice Age's material a few months ago during a hunt for great prog. metal bands/albums over the last twenty years, but didn't linger on them long enough to really let the music sink in. 11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to? Indubitably prog. metal! 12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less? Neither. I like it for what it is, but my general impression neither improved nor disproved with repeated listens. 13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one? 'Perpetual Child' by a pretty decent margin, followed by 'Sleepwalker'. When these guys were on the money...they're as good as the best in the genre, no doubt about it. 14. And the one you liked least? 'One Step Away'. Some bands and artists can do the ballad thing and send you straight into the stratosphere, and some just can't. These guys are in the latter camp unfortunately. It sounds like a poor man's Blind Guardian. xD 15. Did the fact that this album is a debut allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was question or put "n/a") Gave it a lot of leeway actually: with a few exceptions, most bands' debut albums are always weaker than what they end up doing later. But right out the door these guys could do songs like 'Perpetual Child' with ease, and that takes real talent and finesse to pull off. 16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist? I've heard bits of their sophomore record 'Liberation' already, but listening to this debut more thoroughly has given me a desire to explore that record too now. 17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one? Typical hero's journey stuff with touches here and there of environmentalism and the occasional reference to corporate nepotism (A'LA Queensryche). Although these guys aren't anywhere close to the ballpark of their tier 1 prog. metal peers in the lyrical department, I appreciate the imagery. 18. Did the album end well? Baddah boom baddah bing! 19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved? More consistency in the songwriting department would have been good. Might not have been a bad idea to go hire a REALLY good engineer either. 20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss? Probably more hit and miss than I would have liked, but it IS a debut and a fairly accomplished one at that. I'll give Ice Age an A for effort and a solid B for execution. :wave: Overall Album Rating: 7.5 out of 10. |
Quote:
|
That's us then, apart from the small green one, who I assume will either come in with a review soon or cry off that he's too busy, eitehr of which are cool.
Glad that Ice Age seem to have generally gone down really well with you guys. Watch for a full review in my journal soon. I'll post up the latest league table later. For now, I cede the floor to the next person. Whatcha got for us? |
I wasn't advertising anything TH, I was just being a bit sarcastic.
Who is next? |
Nah, I just saw a post with nothing except your sig. Was only joking anyhoo. How was it sarcastic?
Anywhays, looks like yer up next my man! |
I'll have my Ice Age review up sometime this weekend...
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
It wasn't funny. I wish I hadn't bothered.
asleep - Calvin & Hobbes Photo (318680) - Fanpop fanclubs |
When all the reviews are in, I'm going for Genesis's Selling England by the Pound. It's probably the most commercially successful album so far in this thread and not the band's best, but it does bear scrutiny.
http://albumoriented.files.wordpress...rdrobes-01.jpg |
YT has the full album. There are several uploads, but this is the most recent I could find and the sound is okay:
Vinyl Side One 1. Dancing with the Moonlit Knight 8:04 2. I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe) 4:07 3. Firth of Fifth 9:35 4. More Fool Me 3:10 Vinyl Side Two 5. The Battle of Epping Forest 11:49 6. After the Ordeal 4:13 7. The Cinema Show 11:06 8. Aisle of Plenty 1:32 Lineup - Tony Banks: piano, organ, electric piano, mellotron, synthesizer, backing vocals, twelve-string guitar on 'The Cinema Show' - Phil Collins: drums, percussion, backing vocals, lead vocals on 'More Fool Me' - Peter Gabriel: lead vocals, flute, oboe, percussion - Steve Hackett: lead guitar, nylon guitar - Mike Rutherford: bass guitar, bass pedals, rhythm guitar, electric sitar, twelve-string guitar on 'The Cinema Show' and 'More Fool Me', backing vocals |
Twilight Alehouse, the B side of the hit single, I Know What I Like in Your Wardrobe, was not on the album. It later appeared on Genesis Archive 1967-1975 (CD3 of 4), which is a part of a strong compilation of odds 'n' sods:
|
Well YouTube be damned! If any of us don't have this album we don't deserve to be here and call ourselves progheads!
Not my favourite Genesis album as I've said before, though I do love it. I feel Trick of the Tail, Nursery Cryme, Trespass and Wind and Wuthering are all far superior albums, but I've never reviewed it so this will be interesting. |
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
I am over generalising, but this is a summary of the Genesis discography:
From Genesis to Revelation - shows a Bee Gees influence Trespass - folky Nursery Cryme - eccentric Foxtrot - heavy Selling England by the Pound - eccentric and heavy The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway - intense and dramatic A Trick of the Tail - No Gabriel, so I don't like this at all Wind and Wuthering, etc - Don't like 'em Calling All Stations - heavy again The first Genesis album I heard was Nursery Cryme, which I love (especially The Musical Box). Next was The Lamb Lies Down and it is equally great (the title track stands out). |
Quote:
But it depends on what sort of Genesis you're looking for, as the large-lobed one pointed out. Peter Gabriel, early arty Genesis it's "Trespass", "Nursery cryme", "Foxtrot". Phil Collins, early efforts after Gabrel left, "Trick of the tail" and "Wind and wuthering", two of my favourites. Collins later era as they devolved into something of a straight rock then pop band, "And then there were three", "Duke" and (ugh!) "Abacab", then the self-titled (yeah) and of course there's Gabriel's conceptual masterpiece "The lamb lies down on Broadway" (though don't expect to be able to understand it!) You could do what I did: get "Seconds out", double live album that covers a good part of their more popular and early work, Collins on vocals but a good but of Gabriel material there. Mind you, the album everyone seems to love (not me) is "Selling England by the pound." So I guess it just depends what kind of thing you're looking for from Genesis. Wanna join our club? ;) |
Quote:
|
Troll, I hate to say it bro, but having never heard Close To The Edge is a farrrrrr worse crime than a prog fan not owning Selling England By The Pound. Even my old mates Tore and Booboo would agree on that. ;)
|
Happy fiftieth, TH! :beer:
|
Quote:
|
Yeah, young people don't realise that being a grumpy old git is an artform that takes years of practise. It won't be long before you're telling them to pull their trousers up and reminding them they would be warmer in a sensible coat.
|
Happy Fiftieth Birthday, Trollheart!
Isn´t it time you put aside all that progressive music and listened to something more age-appropriate ? http://www.shakedownrecords.com/images/A/TLP_0074.jpg |
Happy Birthday TH:beer:
|
Thanks guys! And Lisnaholic, I'm 50 not 150! :laughing: I don't think Val Doonican will ever be for me. I'm more a Perry Como sorta guy... ;)
https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/i...-QwrCh4CD6jOSr |
I met Val Doonican at a village fete when I was a child. He was a big name in the sixties, but was approachable and friendly. The Irish probably don't care for those novelty songs, but I liked them a lot.
|
Quote:
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Happy Birthday Troll!
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
Quote:
I wonder if you remember The Bobby Gentry Show too? I liked her material enough to buy her Ode To Billie Joe album. I´d post a clip of that but I don´t want Anteater and Trollheart reporting me for derailing the thread. :shycouch: |
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
|
When are we to have our reviews of SEBTP in guys? I'm a little confused. Has it been officially put forward as the next choice?
|
Quote:
|
I'm putting it forward officially, unless anyone objects.
|
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ingEngland.jpg
1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in? As I'm terribly familiar with this album, as are we all I think, I'd have to answer that by stating what my INITIAL first impressions were, when I first heard the album, back in the late seventies. I thought the acapella opening was a little odd then the soft, almost medieval tune a little strange, but I grew to like the song. It was never my favourite on the album though. 2. What did you think of the opening tracks? As above, "Dancing with the moonlit knight", despite its clever puns and containing the album title, was less an experience for me than "I know what I like" (which I had briefly heard on "Top of the Pops" and also knew from "Seconds out") then the immense prog masterpiece "Firth of fifth." The problem, if there is one, as I see it, is that I knew much of this album going in to it by having listened to "Seconds out", and to be honest I found both the studio versions of "I know what I like" and "Firth of fifth" a little lacking compared to the energetic and extended live versions. I did love the tracks though. 3. What did you think of the later tracks? With the exception of "Cinema show", I think this album, if you'll pardon a vulgar metaphor, blows its load too soon. You have "Dancing", "I know" and "Firth" all on the first side of the album, then the so-so "More fool me" and then it goes into "The battle of Epping Forest" which is fun but rather like "Robbery assault and battery" on "Trick of the tail" I've never quite taken to it, and it ends on a dour little ballad. Some great tracks, some not so great. 4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions? Oh come on! It's Gabriel! One of THE premier voices in prog rock! Though when Collins sings on "More fool me" he's not bad either, showing how he would later take over as vocalist and frontman. 5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not? I love Genesis' music, particularly Tony Banks' work, whether it be on mellotron, Prophet or just piano. Rutherford's guitar work I've always liked but I do prefer Hackett, and the two meld very well here. The flutes are good too, giving the album a somewhat pastoral, this-is-England feel. 6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)? I can't remember, but I know it dipped for me with "The Battle of Epping Forest". Sort of never really recovered after that. Had I not already heard "Cinema show", that might have saved it for me. 7. What did you think of the lyrical content? Again, it's Genesis. They did what they did, alluding to societal strata, emotions and feelings, urban vs rural and throwing in as ever a healthy dash of mythology, shaking it all up and adding a soupcon of humour. 8. Did you like the instrumental tracks? There's only one (although the intro to "Firth" could almost be taken as one, as could the outro to "Cinema show"), but Genesis instrumentals are always good. This is no exception, and I'm intrigued to read that Tony had to push to allow for its inclusion against the protests of the rest of the band. 9. What did you think of the production? Of its time. Very full and rich sounding, but not overproduced I feel. 10. How well do you already know the band/artist? One of my favourite artistes of all time, and certainly my favourite prog rock band with Marillion coming a close second. 11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to? Progressive rock, pure and simple. One of the originals, and at the time, the best. 12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less? There are few if any Genesis albums I've listened to that I liked less on repeated listenings. Even "Aba-bloody-cab" sort of grew on me after a while. Sort of. But this, though not my favourite Genesis album, is one that gets better with each listen. 13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one? Probably one of the ones I already knew from the live album. It would be between, I think, "Firth of fifth" and "Cinema show". 14. And the one you liked least? Without question, "The Battle of Epping Forest" 15. Did the fact that this album is a debut allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? n/a 16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist? n/a; heard them all, unless they reunite? 17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one? Yeah, a general fear about the English countryside and way of life being eroded by modern times, though what "Firth of fifth" is about I will never know. 18. Did the album end well? Not really. I know "Aisle of plenty" sort of bookends with "Dancing with the moonlit knight", but I think it's a weak ending, coming as it does on the heels of a powerhouse like "Cinema show", which I think would have been a better closer. 19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved? It's a classic, so I won't presume to offer suggestions for improvement. 20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss? Actually I think it doesn't hang together well. There are songs about the loss of identity, loss of love, loss of the will to work and that's fine. But then you have a mythological story (it seems to me) in "Firth" and the tale of a romantic assignation in "Cinema show", with a gang war thrown in for good (!) measure. Seems a little haphazard to me. Overall Album Rating: 8.5 out of 10. |
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:52 AM. |
© 2003-2025 Advameg, Inc.