What Are You Listening To?

[Ruby]

Second Nature by Flying Colors – released in 2014. I liked the cover artwork and decided to investigate. Haven’t heard their debut album (there are only the two). It’s something I might have to listen to a couple of times, but there’s definitely a lot of appeal with some fantastic tracks and I love the lead vocalist’s voice – Casey McPherson. The rest of the band is the wonderful Steve Morse, Neal Morse, Dave LaRue and Mike Portnoy. It’s a lot proggie, and little verging on AOR – a fine line, well-trodden … thankfully! IMHO one of the reasons it might work so well is that there doesn’t seem to be an overriding ego - it’s an unusual and successful combination of anthemic, and yet ethereal, with good, intelligent lyrics, as in this track; all collaboratively conceived by the whole band. Nice. Very nice …

[video=youtube;jMV91NfD7Mw]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMV91NfD7Mw[/video]

[Jerome]

This cover also caught my eye. But I am not a fan of Mr Portnoy at all. I know he has been inducted into the drummers Hall of Fame but I think he is overrated.

[Ruby]

I am not inclined to listen to Dream Theatre so haven’t heard him too much, nor any of the others – Spock’s Beard also seems to have passed me by. All in all, I think this is a good album but I’m not generally a big fan of the so-called ‘supergroups’.

Today, it’s the turn of Dave Kerzner’s New World. OMG! An epic of an album with an awesome guestlist – Steve Hackett, Billy Sherwood, Keith Emerson, Simon Phillips, and others.



It’s unabashedly Floydian, Kerzner even sounds a bit like David Gilmour, except there was a luminosity about Gilmour’s voice that can’t be replicated (‘was’ being the operative word IMHO ...). It’s a grand tribute of top notch quality by someone who appears to be a sonics expert. Another one for the never ending listl!!

[video=youtube;1Hq6wjHrH1k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hq6wjHrH1k[/video]

[Jerome]

I am not inclined to listen to Dream Theatre so haven’t heard him too much, nor any of the others – Spock’s Beard also seems to have passed me by. All in all, I think this is a good album but I’m not generally a big fan of the so-called ‘supergroups’.

Today, it’s the turn of Dave Kerzner’s New World. OMG! An epic of an album with an awesome guestlist – Steve Hackett, Billy Sherwood, Keith Emerson, Simon Phillips, and others.



It’s unabashedly Floydian, Kerzner even sounds a bit like David Gilmour, except there was a luminosity about Gilmour’s voice that can’t be replicated (‘was’ being the operative word IMHO ...). It’s a grand tribute of top notch quality by someone who appears to be a sonics expert. Another one for the never ending listl!!

[video=youtube;1Hq6wjHrH1k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hq6wjHrH1k[/video]

Certainly a good production, and anything with Simon Phillips get my attention. However, I find this one to be a little over the top for my liking. Just a bit too much going on. The lyrics don't make any sense to me at all either or maybe I am missing the point altogether??!!??

[Ruby]

^I find that there’s actually a good balance overall - some moderation between the grandiose opener and ender, and although the album is leeengthy it doesn’t seem onerous – but that’s just my opinion. Ultimately, it’s what works for each individual - always a case of ‘to each their own’!

Being a concept album, I suppose the lyrics are the artist’s own telling and interpretation of that concept which might make better sense if one knows what the concept is to begin with (or maybe not :confused! So…

“The story takes place in a future world consisting primarily of hazardous desert terrain where numerous biodomes of massive scale contain and protect the global populace. The album revolves around a character known as The Traveler; stranded in the desert and clinging to life, he embarks on a journey to return to the biodome from which he originates while recounting the events that led him to his fatal situation.

The story serves as an allegory for one's own spiritual and subconscious evolution. The Traveler, in his struggle for survival, undergoes a metamorphosis from the position of victim to a figure of immense capacity and conquers his own personal demons, empowered through his discovery of the light amidst a shroud of darkness and uncertainty.”

[Jerome]

In that case I will have to listen to the whole album and see if that works for me. Thx for the info.

[Jerome]

Mike Oldfield - The Songs of Distant Earth - my favourite album of his.

[Theo Duncan]

Lots of Swans, Frank Zappa, and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. For anyone who thinks modern music has gone downhill. Check out Swans' new album, To Be Kind.

[Jerome]

Back to basics - and one of the very best albums ever made - Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here - re-mastered version along with a live version from the Immersion set I bought some time ago. Now here's one album I am never go to ever get tired of. If I ever have to sell my belongings in order to survive this is the last thing I am going to part with. Oh yes, and ELP's Works Volume 1. Oh yes, and Yes's - Going for the One. Oh yes and............(insert your guess here). The winner gets all the CD's I have duplicates of - no kidding - clearing out the listening room/reading room at the moment. And the right answer is...............?

[CRAZY-HORSE]

dont post your guesses here,post them in the thread ive started in general music!