ONE STOP PROG SHOP THREAD

I hear that there's growl and the debut as well (the one on swedish)... how does it work on that one?

4 months since I popped in here.  How's everyone doing?

Here's what I have been listening to, some of which you may be able to read about soon in the usual place:

Redemption - Snowfall on Judgment Day
The Tangent - Down and out in PARIS and LONDON
The Pineapple Thief - 3000 Days
Knight Area - Realm of Shadows
The Red Masque - Stars Fall on Me
Shadow Gallery - Digital Ghosts
Makajodama - s/t debut

Yes, I'm trying to find a balance and get some writing done.  I've found the most incredible correlation between stress/depression and writing...the less stressed and depressed I am, the more I can write.  In this case causation does in fact imply correlation.

Oh, and as for the Beardfish...

I do like Destined Solitaire a lot.  It's hard to surpass the entity that was Sleeping in traffic I and II, and I am glad they went in a different direction.  The highs aren't as high, but I think it's consistent, sounds like them, and explores some sounds they hadn't tried before.  My girlfriend digs it (and them...she was starstruck almost around them at NF this past summer) too, so that helps.

I've been on a Echolyn kick the past couple of days. I have always said they were the best American prog band of the past 20 years. Anyway, as I was listening to their discography, I realized Cowboy Poems Free never really clicked with me. Is it just me or do some of you who know their entire catalog feel the same way?

I don't like CPF as much as other echolyn albums, but I still find it to be incredibly strong, consistent and enjoyable.  It is the first song based album from the band, and as such there are fewer instrumental pyrotechnics (Ray is a more root bassist where Tom is more of a fluid soloist, and so the songs are less flash).  Some of the songs are among my favourites, and for a return to the studio and active duty is excellent...

And to make it back to back doubleposts (albeit with 12 hours interspersing), run, do not walk, to the Laser's Edge webpage and order Makajodama.  If you like Anekdoten, Anglagard, King Crimson, Van der Graaf, or Zappa, I think you'll find this album to be right up your alley.  A little edgy, a little avant, a little dark...really good stuff throughout.

Project2501


And to make it back to back doubleposts (albeit with 12 hours interspersing), run, do not walk, to the Laser's Edge webpage and order Makajodama.  If you like Anekdoten, Anglagard, King Crimson, Van der Graaf, or Zappa, I think you'll find this album to be right up your alley.  A little edgy, a little avant, a little dark...really good stuff throughout.

With a description like that, how can I resist? Will do.

As for Echolyn, for me nothing beats As The World.

Ordered, Bill. Looking forward to getting this disc!

Damn, I love reading in this thread.
 
My Genesis box 70-75 arrived today.  It was supposed to be for Chanukah/Xmas but the wife told me to to open.  And you married members know, you have to listen to your wife.
 
Anyway back on topic.  I definitely order the Makajodama.  Iwas going to be ordering either po90 and or the Pain of Salvation disc anyway.  Might as well make it a hat-trick.

I only hope this album (the Makajodama) isn't a one-off...it's too good for this band to be a one and done, ya know?

it's too good for this band to be a one and done, ya know?

Well, I don't know yet.   I should have it in a week or two.

musicfan: The 1970-1975 Genesis box is the best of the lot. Not only did those albums stand to improve the most sonically, but each disc has much longer interviews with the band than the other boxes, and they are highly entertaining interviews, IMO. Turn the lights off, light a couple of candles and crank "The Cinema Show" in 5.1 for a truly delightful experience!

One of these days (I'm gonna cut you into little pieces....wait, wrong band) I'll get the boxes...but there's too much new stuff, and stuff I've never had, to get first...

Salmacis

it's too good for this band to be a one and done, ya know?

Well, I don't know yet.   I should have it in a week or two.

musicfan: The 1970-1975 Genesis box is the best of the lot. Not only did those albums stand to improve the most sonically, but each disc has much longer interviews with the band than the other boxes, and they are highly entertaining interviews, IMO. Turn the lights off, light a couple of candles and crank "The Cinema Show" in 5.1 for a truly delightful experience!

Hey Sal,
 
Just opened the box and wow, very nice packaging.  Can't wait to listen to these bad boys.  I'll take your tip for The Cinema Show.
 
And hey Project, how much stock do you have in The Laser's Edge??    Just kidding, they are one of my favorite CD sites to use. 
 
Off to watch Shrek and or play Wii with the family.

musicfan

Salmacis

it's too good for this band to be a one and done, ya know?

Well, I don't know yet.   I should have it in a week or two.

musicfan: The 1970-1975 Genesis box is the best of the lot. Not only did those albums stand to improve the most sonically, but each disc has much longer interviews with the band than the other boxes, and they are highly entertaining interviews, IMO. Turn the lights off, light a couple of candles and crank "The Cinema Show" in 5.1 for a truly delightful experience!

Hey Sal,
 
Just opened the box and wow, very nice packaging.  Can't wait to listen to these bad boys.  I'll take your tip for The Cinema Show.
 
And hey Project, how much stock do you have in The Laser's Edge??    Just kidding, they are one of my favorite CD sites to use. 
 
Off to watch Shrek and or play Wii with the family.

None ;-)

I just think that it's best to buy from the label that released the album...Ken is a good guy, knows his music, and is fair with his artists, just as Steve from Cuneiform and Jacob from Tremo are.  They are shining lights that keep new prog alive.

Project2501

musicfan

Salmacis

it's too good for this band to be a one and done, ya know?

Well, I don't know yet.   I should have it in a week or two.

musicfan: The 1970-1975 Genesis box is the best of the lot. Not only did those albums stand to improve the most sonically, but each disc has much longer interviews with the band than the other boxes, and they are highly entertaining interviews, IMO. Turn the lights off, light a couple of candles and crank "The Cinema Show" in 5.1 for a truly delightful experience!

Hey Sal,

Just opened the box and wow, very nice packaging.  Can't wait to listen to these bad boys.  I'll take your tip for The Cinema Show.

And hey Project, how much stock do you have in The Laser's Edge??    Just kidding, they are one of my favorite CD sites to use. 

Off to watch Shrek and or play Wii with the family.

None ;-)

I just think that it's best to buy from the label that released the album...Ken is a good guy, knows his music, and is fair with his artists, just as Steve from Cuneiform and Jacob from Tremo are.  They are shining lights that keep new prog alive.

I'll have to check out Cuneiform and Tremo.  Never heard of those.  Thanks.
 

Cuneiform is dedicated to mostly avant stuff...as well as some other off the wall things.  Tremo is Jacob Holm-Lupo of White Willow.

I should also mention ReR-USA/AdHoC, which is Dave Kerman of Present's lebel...

Any of you check out the new Magma album yet?

drumline0671


Any of you check out the new Magma album yet?

Copy in hand...

The new Magma album is possibly album of the year for me. I have spun it four times at this point and each time has revealed something new. Vander is a genius! I do not think it is as good as KA, but we shall see. Speaking of Magma, I have been addicted to Attahk and Merci the past couple of days(I know, blasphemy). Anyway, I have had an emotional couple of weeks(2 family tragedies), and the last 2 tracks from Merci have been like manna from heaven(Eliphas Levi/the Night we Died). As I was coming to grips with trials of life, The Night We Died hit me like a ton of bricks and I began weep. Music can be such a healing force.

Music is more than sound.

It is shape, it is colour, it is taste, it is scent.  At it's best, it is something that takes you away form the pain of what life can be, and exposes you to something deeper and truer than any of us can imagine.  I tend to experience my music wholly...it is why I have these periods where music seems flat and grey, because I can;t get past the other stimuli to see what it is.

I am looking forward to exploring the new Magma.  I just need to get to it.

Very true my friend:)

I have Ementehtett-Re on my iPod today and will spend my work hours focusing on it.  Impressions later.  I figure 7 hours of listening should give me decent insight.

Project2501


Oh, and as for the Beardfish...

I do like Destined Solitaire a lot.  It's hard to surpass the entity that was Sleeping in traffic I and II, and I am glad they went in a different direction.  The highs aren't as high, but I think it's consistent, sounds like them, and explores some sounds they hadn't tried before.  My girlfriend digs it (and them...she was starstruck almost around them at NF this past summer) too, so that helps.

This might be my first post ever in this thread. I feel I can no longer pretend that it isn't here.  I may have reached the point now where I can just say no to many things and be a little more selective about what I feel I need to have. I suppose a dwinding music budget will do that.
 
Anyway, I've been digging the recent Beardfish for a while and was gutted that had to be cut from Progressive Nation '09.
 
Still don't have Sleeping In Traffic Part Two yet but I'll fix that eventually. I liked Part 1, but I like Destined Solitude even more.
 
I visited the Genesis time capsule earlier today while cleaning and listened to Duke, Abacab and Three Sides Live (The American version). I really enjoy the yeara following Gabriel's departure too, but the 1980-82 period is just so tasty. I just never tire of hearing it like I might the Gabriel-Genesis years.

For the last couple of days, I have been on a Jon Anderson kick. It is common knowledge that Olias of Sunhillow is his best, but Song of Seven maybe his greatest composition. The purity of his voice is astounding. His beautiful alto voice soars with ease on top of that beautiful arrangement. I really get choked up when his children come in and add their voices. Check it out, you won't be sorry.

Have any of you in this thread checked out Diagonal yet? Man, what an
exciting new band. They were up for best new band in the Classic Rock
awards yet I still have seen no mentions of them here except me.

Do yourself a favor and check them out.

Got the Makojadama disc today! My kinda tunage.... Great stuff, Bill, thanks for the recommendation! Came with a nice sampler disc from Tee Pee Records as well.

Excellent!  Glad you like it.

Honeypups


For the last couple of days, I have been on a Jon Anderson kick. It is common knowledge that Olias of Sunhillow is his best, but Song of Seven maybe his greatest composition. The purity of his voice is astounding. His beautiful alto voice soars with ease on top of that beautiful arrangement. I really get choked up when his children come in and add their voices. Check it out, you won't be sorry.

Ashamed to admit that I've never heard Song of Seven! I'll put that on the list, thanks for bringing it up.
 

 

Panic Room has a new album out that I'm thinking of ordering. I discovered them from the Prog magazine and the sampler song is cool.

Miscellany:

New Mindgames disc MMX is excellent, and right up there with Actors In A Play. I highly recommend this band. Also of note is the new Steve Hackett disc Out Of The Tunnel's Mouth, which is fantastic from beginning to end, and is his best offering since 1993's Guitar Noir.

And for those other Tull-heads out there: Watch for the excellent documentary from last year with some very candid and revealing interviews. It's on Youtube as "Jethro Tull: Their Fully Authorized Story". A couple of hours of rarely-seen footage of the Jolly Jethros. While you're at it, check out Rick Wakeman's excellent online show "Face To Face", with a host of guests such as Ian Anderson, Tony Iommi, Jon Lord, Brian May, Rob Halford, the list goes on and on... well worth your time if you like interviews as much as I do.

Other than that, anyone who needs more new music recommendations, do yourself the favor and ask Bill (Project2501) or Jeff (Progmetalfusion). These guys know music, and know it well. :D

Got the new disc from The Watch in the mail, all the way from Italy - only 6 days after ordering! The new album is called Planet Earth? and is another solid offering of their style of prog.

Checked out the new Big Big Train album as well - hasn't done a lot for me yet, but has its moments. I'll come back to it in a couple of days with fresh ears and see how it fares. Still spinning the latest IQ album as well, which is just excellent, and the latest from Knight Area as well is some seriously great stuff.

In preparation for the new Citizen Cain album (!) I have been going through their back catalog as well and rediscovering some of their best material (Serpents In Camouflage, Somewhere But Yesterday)... still no sign of the new album on any websites, although the latest issue of PROG magazine claims it is coming!

2010 should prove to be another stellar year in the ever-expanding world of Prog.

After one of those long dark teatimes of the soul that I seem to find myself in from time to time (ask Noware how bad this one was), I have found, for the moment at least, a temporary opening in the forest and am seeing a smidge of light.

I have also spent most of the last two days fully immersing myself in the first 8 albums by that most English of bands, The Enid.

I have always been familiar with their first two albums, albeit in revised, non original renditions (EMI never returned them the masters for those releases, so both at least are partially re-recorded in their current iterations).  In The Region of the Summer STars and Aerie Faerie Nonsense are classics of symphonic rock...there are some blistering guitar solos amongst the lush orchestrations and baroque keyboard workouts.  But moving beyond them shows some incredibly strong works as well.  Touch Me includes the sorrowful Elegy and impressive Albion Fair (in 2 parts); Six Pieces includes an impressive reworking of Scarborough Faire amongst other highlights such as Punch and Judy Man and The Dreamer.  While Something Wicked This Way Comes features vocals for the first time, the songs are entirely Enid masterworks.  And I'd be remiss to fail to recommend the albums Salome and The Seed and The Sower, both among Robert John Godfrey's most inspired, mature works.

The Enid is a band that has been as dogged by bad label luck as they have been shot in the foot by their own machinations, but they have some amazing works that you'd be a fool to pass up investigating.  And you can download their material from their website on a pay as you see fit manner.  I recommend their albums unequivocably...check them out, and support a band well worth attention and support!

And this weekend's band is Jade Warrior.

I am specifically focusing on the 4 Islands albums, as they are the ones I have the most familiarity with, having heard good bits of them on DA web radio.  These 4 releases (Kites, Waves, Way of the Sun and Floating World) are impossibly fragile works, filled with loads of woodwinds, world instrumentation, and pastoral moods.  There's not the same degree of contrast as one would see on the earlier albums on Vertigo (the band name was chosen to represent the soft and heavy sides of the band, the rumour being that it was drawn from the Japanese samurai who were expected to be as skilled with a pen and a brush as they were with a sword), but there's still some amazing playing, including some incendiary guitar work here and there.

There's perhaps not enough rock here for a lot of people, but I think these 4 albums are absolutely sublime.  And they're being re-released this spring/summer by Esoteric...I'd recommend checking them out.

I want to add 2 Jade Warrior recommendations.

One is Horizen, an album from 1984.  Instrumental, featuring an epic track based on Dune filled with Egyptian sounds and feels, there's also some Caribbean influences and some stuff that almost sounds like Zappa-esque playing like on Filthy Habits.  Good album.  The other is Dustant Echoes from 1993, which is more ambient and almost new-age-y, but wonderful.  Love them.

The lack of response intrigues of course...have any of you checked these bands out at all?  Loads of JW and Enid in places one might normally look, and with the Enid the music can be gotten for free (or with a donation as you see fit) from the band's page.

And now a question...anyone familiar with Amazing Blondel?  Found out about them reading about krumhorns, and they sound like they might be up my alley as a fan of Gryphon...

Come one y'all, post!

4 posts in a row...

Just saw this from Anekdoten...a new band with members of Anekdoten, Makajodama and Magnolia:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/My-Brother-The-Wind/364503727290?ref=nf

Well, while in Montreal waiting for tomorrow's TA show, I decided to head down to Freeson Rock, a lovely little prog and metal specialty shop (the kind you just don't see anymore) for a little browsing. I was instantly taken with the place.

Finally got my hands on my 'holy grail' cd, Sinkadus' "Cirkus", which is long out of print and goes for $200-$250 on Ebay last I checked. Just checked amazon marketplace and there is one used copy in VG condition for $179. I've been searching for this for years. And there it was, just sitting on the shelf as soon as I walked in the door! (Heavenly choirs, angels, rejoicing...)

Also grabbed a Roine-signed FK "Edition Limitee Quebec" live disc while I was at it, and another PFM disc. This trip has been worth it already for this prognut, and the show isn't until tomorrow! :D

I highly recommend this excellent store.

PROG ON.

Just read today that Bo Hansson passed away. I've always had a soft spot for his Tolkien-themed music. One of my earliest forays into the lesser-known prog stuff, when I was a teenager. Sad news.

Didn't know him, but sad nonetheless. RIP

I got Advent's 2006 sophomore album Cantus Firmus in the mail last week. Great stuff! Particularly recommended for Gentle Giant fans, as there's a huge influence there. Plenty of other influences as well. The two epics in particular ("Ramblin' Sailor" and "Alison Waits (A Ghost Story)" are outstanding. Classy, well-played prog that fits a certain mood.

Recommended!