NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination - Printable Version +- Music Discussion (https://www.music-discussion.com) +-- Forum: Music Discussion (https://www.music-discussion.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=4) +--- Forum: Rock/Classic Rock/Prog Rock/Blues (https://www.music-discussion.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=10) +--- Thread: NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination (/showthread.php?tid=23380)

NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination - Ruby - 18-03-2023 RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination Mmmmmm – unfortunately, for me, this one is an exhibition of disappointment! Very pretty but lacking in substance. Nothing like The Red Planet. I was also expecting it to be instrumental, which it largely isn’t, so in actual fact, there is very little room for the imagination after all! Vocals are provided by Hayley Sanderson who has a pleasant enough voice albeit not hugely memorable. I wouldn’t buy this album. Damn  - was hoping it would be a good solid listen but at a day or so old, it already seems dated. Pity. The “Hidden Depths” (below) are so well hidden as to be completely unfathomable! Lol! (Have to give credit it where it's due - the individual musos themselves aren't terrible, decent bass and guitar, for example - maybe Rick has run out of steam?? His own playing is quite ordinaire on this, I find!)  One of the vocal tracks ...  RE: NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination - Ruby - 18-03-2023 Just read some reviews and most people seem to think the album is worthy, so don't take my word for it! RE: NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination - CRAZY-HORSE - 18-03-2023 i havent listened to it yet but i would almost certainly take your word for it Ruby because your objectiveness is always evident RE: NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination - JeromeD - 20-03-2023 Ruby, have you ever listened to 'White Rock' by Rick Wakeman? Don't know if you will like it or not, but the album has a kind of 'sheen' to it that is very different to all his other albums. The first track is a full-blown, fast-paced synth solo which might not appeal to you but there are some real gems hidden away in the other tracks. RE: NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination - Music Head - 20-03-2023 ^^ I have it but not up to Henry or Journey or King Arthur for me RE: NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination - Ruby - 21-03-2023 ^^I had not listened to White Rock, but I have now - thanks. I especially liked "The Loser" and "After the Ball". Not crazy about all of it but maybe it works better when watching the movie - might try to find it and see.  All those you mention MH but there's another one as well - seldom spoken of, and that's 1984. A bit of an anomaly, I suppose - I got quite attached to it at a certain point in my younger days. Might dig it out for an airing! RE: NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination - JeromeD - 21-03-2023 My favourite two tracks from White Rock. The movie is not that great but it does have it's moments. I will have a stab at 1984. Forty years too late! RE: NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination - Ruby - 21-03-2023 ^Impossible to be objective about some music - it punctuates life and we are attached to those markers. Must be weird not having any musical/sound memories. RE: NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination - Music Head - 26-03-2023 courtesy of Spotify assuming this will not chart here stupid americans haven't heard a new one from him in years make that decades I did like the instrumental The Dinner Party, probably the drums had to make up my own lyrics vocalist reminds me of Annie Haslam fav RE: NEW ALBUM: RICK WAKEMAN & The English Rock Ensemble ~ A Gallery of the Imagination - JeromeD - 26-03-2023 I have often heard that Wakeman die-hard fans consider 'A Criminal Record' to be his best album. I have not heard it so cannot comment. Have to agree with MH. Nothing beats JTTCOTE.