The Prog Rock Album Club

Trollheart · 02-11-2014, 02:40 PM

Great review Rostasi (even if you didn't use the matrix I worked so hard on!)

and very detailed. You should be writing journals, hint hint! I think we decided on the following rating system though, just to keep everything relatively uniform:

Also a universal rating out of say 5, For example could be:

5.0- Masterpiece
4.5- Classic
4.0- Great
3.5- Good
3.0- Decent
2.5- Weak
2.0- Poor
1.5- Crap
1.0- Dud

If we're all happy with this I'd like to utilise this, so no ratings other than the ones shown here. If that's ok with everyone.

Trollheart · 02-11-2014, 03:32 PM

Album title: Divinities: Twelve dances with God
Artiste: Ian Anderson
Nationality: British
Year: 1995
Subgenre: New age
Player(s): Ian Anderson (Flutes); Andrew Giddings (keyboards); Doanne Perry (Percussion); Douglas Mitchell (Clarinet); Christopher Cowrie (Oboe); Jonathan Carrie (Violin); Nina Gresin (Cello); Randy Wigs (Harp); Sid Gander (French Horn); Den Redding (Trumpet)
Familiarity: I know of Jethro Tull. I don't like the band.
Favourite track(s): Meh. Maybe “In maternal grace”. That was ok.
Why? Liked the atmospherics in it.
Least favourite track(s): Out of a large bunch I could have chosen, I've gone for “In the grip of stronger stuff”
Why? Thought it was too obvious. Irish track, throw in some reels and jigs. Uh, yeah...
Any preconceptions prior to listening, whether good or bad? Yeah. As I say above I'm not into Jethro Tull, nor do I particularly like flute music. The idea of nearly fifty minutes of same made me shudder.
[b]Artwork: Very new age, very spiritual. Reflects the music well, for what it is.
Factoids you'd like to share? Nah
Initial impression: Oh god no it's all instrumental! AND flute!
End impression: Meh
Comments: Despite what I say above there is some very good playing on this album, but the problem is I'm no fan of the flute. Given that that instrument is Anderson's signature there was no doubt this album would rely heavily on it, and it does. To his credit, he does draft in a lot of nice other instruments, such as cello, trumpet and harp, and they all work well. But the problem is I lost interest less than halfway through, and began nodding off. Instrumental albums have to be good to keep my attention, and while I'm not saying this one isn't, it's just not for me. I found it boring and meandering, hence my lack of comments on individual tracks above.
Rating: I won't insult anyone by calling it a dud cos I'm sure it's not, but in my opinion all I can award this is a low Windows 3.0. Sorry...

Unknown Soldier · 02-11-2014, 04:11 PM

I'm too tired to properly read Rostasi's review right now, but at a glance it looks like it's been reviewed by a professional musician and will read properly tomorrow, along with Trollhearts. Mine should be up over the weekend.

Also I'd translate Rostasi's 7.2 score as a 3.5.

Unknown Soldier · 02-13-2014, 04:18 PM

Album title: Divinities: Twelve Dances With God
Artiste: Ian Anderson
Nationality: British
Year: 1995
Subgenre: New age
Player(s): Ian Anderson (Flutes); Andrew Giddings (keyboards); Doanne Perry (Percussion); Douglas Mitchell (Clarinet); Christopher Cowrie (Oboe); Jonathan Carrie (Violin); Nina Gresin (Cello); Randy Wigs (Harp); Sid Gander (French Horn); Den Redding (Trumpet)
Familiarity: I know around 80% of the JT discography pretty well and on a band like Jethro Tull that's a fair amount of albums, even through the last band effort was in 2003. As for Ian Anderson I'd never heard one of his solo albums before.
Favourite track(s): Absolutely nothing stood out.
Why? N/A
Least favourite track(s): Again nothing was really bad either.
Why? N/A
Any preconceptions prior to listening, whether good or bad? Well considering that Jethro Tull are a fairly multi-genre band they always have that distinctive sound provided by Ian Anderson and I expected some kind of strong JT connection on this album. When I heard this album though, it's a good job I knew it to be an Ian Anderson album, as I would have never have guessed upon listening to it.
Artwork: New age I guess.
Factoids you'd like to share? Can't think of any.
Initial impression: I soon realised that this is an instrumental and all flute, two factors which bore me.
End impression: Couldn't listen to it again.
Comments: I'd hardly call the album rubbish but its certainly not my thing, I mean listening to "In Maternal Grace" was kind of like sitting in a Chinese restaurant listening to therapeutic music whilst eating! From an objective point of view the arrangements and playing are good and for anybody into this kind of style I guess it's a good listen. Saying that though, some of the reviews I glanced at gave it fairly average review, a rating I'd agree with. I hardly know Ian Anderson's solo discography, but based on Jethro Tull, the album is a far cry from the excellence of Aqualung or the band's solid 1970s folk rock albums (I don't mention Thick as a Brick here as I don't like the album, even though it's head and shoulders over the nonsense of Passion Play) Personally I always enjoyed their folk rock material over their proggy stuff and I'm not even that much of a folk rock fan at all! But upon listening to Divinities I couldn't relate it at all to any previous classic Tull material.

A very average 3.0 based on its solid playing only.

PS, swiped the info section at the beginning from TH's review

Trollheart · 02-13-2014, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

PS, swiped the info section at the beginning from TH's review

You were supposed to!

So that's the "core group" sorted I think --- oh wait, where's Ant?

Now, do I just keep rolling the dice and selecting an album or do we take turns? Essentially nobody's choosing anything --- I certainly would not have chosen this, even before hearing it! --- so does it matter? But if everyone wants a go then I've no problem with that. Just let me know what you want to do. Next selection will be due Monday morning.

Anyone else who wishes to comment/review before Sunday night can do so (and after if you want) but after that we're on to the next selection, though that does not stop you reviewing the older album. However only reviews in before Sunday night will be counted as part of the overall rating the album, and future albums, will be assigned.

Anteater · 02-13-2014, 08:50 PM

Album title: Divinities: Twelve Dances With God
Artiste: Ian Anderson
Nationality: British
Year: 1995
Subgenre: New Age mothafuckaaaa!
Player(s): Ian Anderson (Flutes/Being A Pimp); Andrew Giddings (keyboards); Doanne Perry (Percussion); Douglas Mitchell (Clarinet); Christopher Cowrie (Oboe); Jonathan Carrie (Violin); Nina Gresin (Cello); Randy Wigs (Harp); Sid Gander (French Horn); Den Redding (Trumpet)
Familiarity: You think you know Tull? You don't know JACK. However, I'm no dullard when it comes to the Tullard, and I have many an album by the esteemed ensemble. No solo material from Mr. Flute though, so that's a first!
Favourite track(s): In The Times Of India (Bombay Valentine)
Why? Dem flutes son...dem flutes.
Least favourite track(s): Bad trax? Blasphemy!
Why? 'cause
Any preconceptions prior to listening, whether good or bad?
Everyone sayin' it ain't no Tull...but son, Ian Anderson IS Tull. Nobody else flauts like this. I knew this was gonna be New Agey...but I had no idea boy. No idea at all!
Artwork: Snazzy.
Factoids you'd like to share? My uncle sold Anderson a Honda back in the 80's.
Initial impression: I FEEL THE SPIRITS COMIN' DOWN.
End impression: Eh, it was okay.
Comments: Music in a cinematic/New Age sort of vein is a hard sell to anyone outside of a rather thin margin in the progverse, but as a big fan of guys like Patrick O' Hearn and some of the other prog/borderline New Age artists out there, the positive aspects of an album like Divinities... were immediately apparent to me upon listening. Plus if you've ever heard an early 70's raga-rock album or, say, Shpongle, "exotic" flute-dominated instrumental moozak is actually pretty charming in the right context. I could see how someone expecting another Heavy Horses or even Crest Of A Knave would find this particular album kind of boring, but hey...if the mood is right, the music will do its job. Smoke some ganja and you'll be fluting along right alongside Anderson on this album...satisfaction guaranteed brah.

3.5...if only because I like New Age anyway.

Unknown Soldier · 02-15-2014, 04:35 AM

It might also be a good idea to also include our scores for Selling England by the Pound with the new scoring matrix to make the new system complete.

Also since TH has started drawing the random number system he might as well continue

and it's going to be Monday to Sunday right?

Anteater's uncle sold Ian Anderson a Honda, I'm sure that was why he gave a half point more than the rest of us for the album

djchameleon · 02-16-2014, 06:56 AM

Album title: Divinities: Twelve dances with God
Artiste: Ian Anderson

Familiarity: None whatsoever.
Favourite track(s): In A Black Box and In Grip of Stronger Stuff.
Why? The first track "In A Black Box" reminded me of something that I heard in Mrs. Doubtfire's soundtrack or it would fit in perfectly with that movie for some reason to me. The second track "In Grip of Stronger Stuff" reminded me of Brave and made me yearn to see that movie again.
Least favourite track(s): I didn't really hear a track that rubbed me the wrong way.
Why?
Any preconceptions prior to listening, whether good or bad? Nope, I went into this blind folded.
Artwork: The cover is okay, just kind of curious as to why he decided to put all the religion symbols on it. I guess it has something to do with the new age-ness of it all.
Factoids you'd like to share? Negative
Initial impression: I prefer to have my flute in moderation. Usually when I hear a flute in a hip hop beat. I'm all over it because it isn't the basis for the entire production but just a nice little dash of flavor but to be heavily considerate with flute. I'm not feeling it too much.
End impression: It was decent as background music.
Comments: When I heard that it was going to be pretty much instrumental about halfway through the first track. I decided it would make perfect background music while I playing World of Warcraft which is based in a medieval setting. When I was working on my quests it was okay but I got sucked into a raid and it just wasn't epic enough for the huge battles that were going on. As cliche as it is, I still like to raid to "Lux Aeterna - Requiem For A Dream". I had high hopes that this album would make a decent alternative but I was disappointed. Would I listen to it again? Possibly but not all the way through and maybe just my fave tracks.

Rating: 2.5

Unknown Soldier · 02-16-2014, 07:06 AM

Hey your forgot to give it a rating!

Also a universal rating out of say 5, For example could be:

5.0- Masterpiece
4.5- Classic
4.0- Great
3.5- Good
3.0- Decent
2.5- Weak
2.0- Poor
1.5- Crap
1.0- Dud

Trollheart · 02-16-2014, 04:58 PM

Um, this is what I came up with, believe it or not: number 91 spun up.

The very, very first album and very first post in my journal, ever. Who would have believed it?

Is everyone happy with doing this or do you want me to spin again?

02-11-2014, 02:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Great review Rostasi (even if you didn't use the matrix I worked so hard on!) and very detailed. You should be writing journals, hint hint! I think we decided on the following rating system though, just to keep everything relatively uniform: Also a universal rating out of say 5, For example could be: 5.0- Masterpiece 4.5- Classic 4.0- Great 3.5- Good 3.0- Decent 2.5- Weak 2.0- Poor 1.5- Crap 1.0- Dud If we're all happy with this I'd like to utilise this, so no ratings other than the ones shown here. If that's ok with everyone. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

02-11-2014, 03:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Album title: Divinities: Twelve dances with God Artiste: Ian Anderson Nationality: British Year: 1995 Subgenre: New age Player(s): Ian Anderson (Flutes); Andrew Giddings (keyboards); Doanne Perry (Percussion); Douglas Mitchell (Clarinet); Christopher Cowrie (Oboe); Jonathan Carrie (Violin); Nina Gresin (Cello); Randy Wigs (Harp); Sid Gander (French Horn); Den Redding (Trumpet) Familiarity: I know of Jethro Tull. I don't like the band. Favourite track(s): Meh. Maybe “In maternal grace”. That was ok. Why? Liked the atmospherics in it. Least favourite track(s): Out of a large bunch I could have chosen, I've gone for “In the grip of stronger stuff” Why? Thought it was too obvious. Irish track, throw in some reels and jigs. Uh, yeah... Any preconceptions prior to listening, whether good or bad? Yeah. As I say above I'm not into Jethro Tull, nor do I particularly like flute music. The idea of nearly fifty minutes of same made me shudder. [b]Artwork: Very new age, very spiritual. Reflects the music well, for what it is. Factoids you'd like to share? Nah Initial impression: Oh god no it's all instrumental! AND flute! End impression: Meh Comments: Despite what I say above there is some very good playing on this album, but the problem is I'm no fan of the flute. Given that that instrument is Anderson's signature there was no doubt this album would rely heavily on it, and it does. To his credit, he does draft in a lot of nice other instruments, such as cello, trumpet and harp, and they all work well. But the problem is I lost interest less than halfway through, and began nodding off. Instrumental albums have to be good to keep my attention, and while I'm not saying this one isn't, it's just not for me. I found it boring and meandering, hence my lack of comments on individual tracks above. Rating: I won't insult anyone by calling it a dud cos I'm sure it's not, but in my opinion all I can award this is a low Windows 3.0. Sorry... __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018 Last edited by Trollheart; 02-11-2014 at 03:38 PM.

02-16-2014, 04:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,996	Um, this is what I came up with, believe it or not: number 91 spun up. The very, very first album and very first post in my journal, ever. Who would have believed it? Is everyone happy with doing this or do you want me to spin again? __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018