Trollheart

Sounds good. I'll be interested in what you think of these guys.

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Anteater

Sorry ya'll....was on vacation and had no 'net access whatsoever. :P

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Anteater's 21 Fav Albums Of 2020

Anteater's Daily Tune Roulette

Trollheart

No problem Ant. Get your review in when you can and as you can see we're going with my rec for Ice Age next.
Welcome back!

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Anteater

1.What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?

*remembers the first time Nice, Nice Very Nice spun through his speakers*

....groovy!!

2. What did you think of the opening tracks?

The Force was strong with these ones: 'Nice Nice...' was an interesting yet creative Vonnegut-derivative, and the following two cuts, 'Time Waits For No One' and 'Holdin' On To Yesterday' are both classic 70's Westcoast songs with some great proggy touches (especially loved the violin in the latter of these two first time I heard it: easy to see why it was a hit!).

3. What did you think of the later tracks?

Interesting to say the least: the further you get into the record, the more the band's dark side seems to come out. Lots of beautiful moments too lined with pathos, particularly the opening verses in 'Make Us All Aware' and that shimmering middle section in 'Drink Of Water'. Instant classics, ya know?

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?

Vocal duties were mostly split between David Pack and the bassist Joe Puerta if I recall. Both are great vocalists who specialize in different registers, and sound glorious when they harmonize together too!

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?

Very very much so! I'm a sucker for L.A. Westcoast rock stuff (as well as a lot of what gets labeled as yacht rock), but Ambrosia also bring in their love of bands like King Crimson and Gentle Giant to the musical playing table and thus my interest in the music is doubly intensified.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?

My initial listening experience was quite awesome, and I though it actually got stronger and stronger as it went along. My feelings haven't changed much since then!

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?

Varied with no particular theme overrunning or uniting the record per-se, but there's an element of fantastical pathos that sort of permeates the general atmosphere. This debut occupies its own unusual otherworld in a way, which isn't a quality you'll find in this band's peers of the time I think with the exception of perhaps Starcastle.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?

Indeed I did. I recall being actually surprised at just how tight these guys sounded. They spent a couple years after forming trying to secure a record deal, so I suppose they had plenty of time to get their chemistry just right.

9. What did you think of the production?

Gorgeous: you can almost reach out and feel these songs. It's an interesting quality that only a few producers really seem to bring to their albums: of those producers, Alan Parsons is considered one of the best on the planet for a reason: his engineering approach is the stuff of legends at this point.

10. How well do you already know the band/artist?

Sorta: they had a couple of hits after all. Like a lot of people did (and still do) I used to write these guys off as just another soft-rock band without much substance....and goddamn it if I wasn't wrong as wrong could be. Discovering just how much depth these fellas had made me re-evaluate how I approached music from the ground up, and I've become more open minded as a result.

11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to?

Progressive Westcoast Rock, or perhaps soft AOR with artsy tendencies, lol!

12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?

Like the best fungi, it just grows on you more and more the longer you own it.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?

Drink Of Water: it's the kind of quintessential American prog cut that others could only aspire to surpass back in the day. Atmosphere supreme...

14. And the one you liked least?

Don't really have one, but I still think 'World Leave Me Alone' is probably weaker than the rest by a thin margin.

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? (Note: if the album is or was NOT a debut, ignore this question or put "n/a")

Debuts should always be given some leeway: new bands need an opportunity to grow after all. These guys were so damn strong starting off though that even I, as a huge fan of them, don't think they ever topped this album despite coming close in places on future output.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist?

Heard 'em all already. They still tour apparently, so if they ever put out another record, I'd be all ears of course.

17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one?

These songs are connected more in atmosphere than in some sort of arbitrary thematic device, but there does seem to be a fixation with this particular album on themes relating to man's perception of time and a longing to travel to places beyond the familiar and mundane.

18. Did the album end well?

They saved the best song for last, so I'd say hell yeah it did!

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?

Not really.

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?

This record is so cohesive (even if there's no overarching theme) that it might as well be considered a textbook example of how to craft a great pop-rock oriented progressive album that starts strong and holds onto that consistency all the way to the finish line.

In short: this record does what it does exceptionally well. Thus, it's getting a rating that reflects that prowess.

Overall Album Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

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Anteater's 21 Fav Albums Of 2020

Anteater's Daily Tune Roulette

Trollheart

1. What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in? Fuck me! I did NOT expect anything this good. It just pounds right at you, no time to get acclimatised or ease your way into the album. Power from the word go.

2. What did you think of the opening tracks?
The first track really hit me square between the eyes. A brave move to have the opening track on your debut album run ten minutes, but I think it's a gamble that pays off. The song has everything, and by the time it's over you're more than ready for more. "Sleepwalker" has a little less of the wow factor but still a good song, then "Join" gets everything rocking back up again.

3. What did you think of the later tracks?
For me, this album never flagged once. I was truly floored by just about every track. "The bottom line" is pure grinding rock, whereas the title track is one of the best progressive rock epics I've heard in a good while. Then "One look away" is a gorgeous piano ballad that still manages to pack a punch. Hey, what more could you ask for in an album?

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?
Incredibly strong voice, with a growly power in his vocal chords that at times reminds me of a heavier, proggier Meat Loaf. Josh Pincus is in fact so strong a vocalist that it seems there are no backing vocals required on the album, and the rest of the band just leave him to it.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?
Most of the songs are preceded by long instrumental intros which really shows how proficient this band were, without descending into technical wankery, which they definitely do not need. Great keyboard work from Pincus, in addition to his storming vocal performance, and Jimmy Pappas keeps the hard raw edge on the music by virtue of his quite excellent displays on the frets.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?
Much better. I kept waiting for a bad track, but none came.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?
As ever I find progressive rock lyrics often obscure, but they are well-written, and give the impression that this album may be following a concept of sorts.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?
There are two instrumentals on the album. The first, "Spare chicken parts" is guitar led, has some nice effects and is weird but in a good way. Certainly shows the talent of Jimmy Pappas off. Another brave decision to include an instrumental that runs for almost nine minutes! The other one comes near the end and is initially a showcase for Pincus on the piano, on which he does shine, but then Pappas takes over with the guitar and it really takes off. I do like both, but I prefer "Spare chicken parts" of the two. Man, it even has a drum solo which pulls in a line from "2001", and that works perfectly!

9. What did you think of the production?
Very clear, very professional and pristine without being sterlie. This is more impressive when you realise that Pappas is the producer as well as guitarist.

10. How well do you already know the band/artist?
I downloaded this ages ago, and it sat on my hard drive, unnoticed and ignored until I needed something different to review for "Bitesize" and thought what the hell, I'll give this a go. I can tell you, I was surprised in the most pleasant way possible. Never heard of them prior to this.

11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to?
I think it's heavy enough to qualify as progressive metal.

12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?
Gets better each time I listen to it.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?
"The bottom line", "Spare chicken parts" and the title track
14. And the one you liked least?
I think "Sleepwalker" is just missing that killer edge. Still a great song even so.

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?
To my mind this album is phenomenal. The fact that it's a debut, not to mention only one of two they recorded, even moreso.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist?
Sadly Ice Age only released one album after this, whereafter they changed their name to Soulfractured and after releasing two EPs split up. I bought the second album but have not yet been able to lay my hands on the EPs, though I believe they changed their musical direction a little. Still, I'd love to hear more but this is sadly all there is.

17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one?
Seems to be a rejection of industrialisation and progress which is taking us too far, and a return to, or hope for a return to, simpler times, yet running within that the realisation that this is not an achievable goal.

18. Did the album end well?
Yes. I wouldn't call "To say goodbye part 2" one of the strongest tracks on the album but it's a good powerful closer and ties up the themes of the album very well. The soft piano ending bookends the album between that and the opening barrage of guitar and keyboard, and ties in with the lyric.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?
Only that it should be better known and Ice Age still around...

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?
Yes I think the thematic ideas running through most of the songs tie the album together quite well.

Ratiing:9.8 out of 10

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Isbjørn

Too late to join the album club, no? Next album, maybe?
FYI, I refuse to download anything illegaly. If there's an album that can't be found on Spotify or streamed at last.fm, don't wait for me to review.

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Trollheart

Not too late really. So far we've all had or been able to swap between us the albums we review. If you have a problem downloading illegally, and can find whatever we're reviewing on itunes or buy the CD, fair play to you if you have the resources to do that. But if you do join and you find yourself in a position whereby you don't feel ethically able to get the album in question please let us know so that we don't hang around waiting for you.

If you want to do this week's album, it's "The great divide" by Ice Age, as you can see above. We use the template above too so you need to stick to that format.

Thanks
TH

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Isbjørn

I don't have the money to buy a lot of albums, since I don't have a job. Therefore I prefer streaming the music. I found this week's album on Spotify, though I think I'll wait 'till you/we've voted for the next one.

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Trollheart

No problem. Give it a spin though: you should like it.
I also have no real job, being a carer who essentially gets paid the same as someone on the dole (!) so I download or use sites like Megaboon, where I can buy albums for a dollar or less. I did my time buyign a huge stack of albums then CDs in my youth, so I don't feel like I'm cheating anyone, specifically...

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

Big Ears

I read somewhere that Spotify, Pandora and others pay royalties in ten thousandths of a cent.

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