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Hey CN...

Heard the new Alex Lifeson album yet?

Fretless wrote: ↑Sat Jan 15, 2022 7:13 pm Hey CN...

Heard the new Alex Lifeson album yet?

My understanding is that it is coming out in April.

Oh.

Saw the announcement but didn't check the date.


The single 'Liar' is out, though.

Just listened to Miles Davis - Jack Johnson in the bath. Had to put In a silent way on after that.

Funkadelic- The electric spanking of war babies.

I remember buying this on vinyl on a trip to London village in 2004 without hearing any of it. I must have picked it because of the amusing title. Glad I did as I fooking love it.

Strawbs 'Hero & Heroine' (1974)



About as perfect a slice of 70's rock that you can find. This album has everything from bluegrass to Classical, mellow to menacing, great songs and playing.

The Strawbs started as folkies but developed into a powerful progressive outfit that featured a pre-Yes Rick Wakeman for a while (he was sacked for playing his Hammond with a paint-roller on TOTP).

This LP was a hit in America and it rivals Supertramp with its quirky Englishness, a wonderful record that deserves more appreciation.

The Gathering 'Mandylion' (1995)



In 1995, Dutch doom-metal band The Gathering reinvented themselves with the addition of talented singer Anneke van Giersbergen and set off in a new direction. The grunt vocals and chainsaw guitars were replaced by atmospherics and synth effects, underpinned by powerful metal riffing and rhythms. The result was a stunning album and a single 'Strange Machine' that still resonates through the low countries musical veins.

Think of Siouxsie & the Banshees trying to be Iron Maiden with Radiohead in the background.



The Gathering have continued to progress and evolve, becoming more melodic and subtle along the way - although never totally losing touch with their Heavy Metal roots. A parallel journey to the mighty Anathema, whose music can be directly compared to that of The Gathering.

Anneke left the band and was replaced by a Norwegian lady called Silje Wergeland, who possesses a warm and entrancing voice. There is a new album due imminently and the single 'In Colour' is already out.

Paul McCartney - Kisses on the bottom
The Nice - Five Bridges
Stam 1na - Novus Ordo Mundi
Alice Cooper - Detroit Stories

Yes 'Big Generator' (1987)



Following up on such a unique and groundbreaking album as '90125' was no easy task - and proved a lot harder than expected.
Trevor Horn produced the basic tracks but saw no chance of finishing them as there were too many internal disagreements within the group for progress to be made.

So Yes moved camp to LA and Trevor Rabin took over production duties to get the record into shape. You hear on 'Big Generator' that this lack of energy has dulled the performance slightly but there are redeeming features such as some scorching fireworks from Rabin's guitar woven through a series of (by Yes standards) tight and accessible songs. Low point is Jon Anderson's closing number 'Holy Lamb' which sounds as if it was meant for a Jon & Vangelis album and would have fitted better there.

Not the best Yes opus, but certainly not the worst ('Tormato' in my view), 'Big Generator' is a great rock album and well-worth enjoying.

Fretless wrote: ↑Sun Jan 16, 2022 10:49 pm
Low point is Jon Anderson's closing number 'Holy Lamb' which sounds as if it was meant for a Jon & Vangelis album and would have fitted better there.

Not the best Yes opus, but certainly not the worst ('Tormato' in my view), 'Big Generator' is a great rock album and well-worth enjoying.

Interesting. I quite like Tormato and think Holy Lamb is a very good track.

I think it is a sign of a good band/artist when there is disagreement about strongest albums/tracks.