Friday13th: Prog - An End - Rediscovery

Friday13th 08.14.21	"P[rog] is the end, like death of the war." I'm giving you all three weeks to listen to these and vote. For some it may be the first time, but I suggest listening to them again if it's been awhile!
bgillesp 08.14.21	Oh man I do not like these matchups (They're all gonna be close and hard to pick a favorite). Gonna have to check 1-4 a few times since I havent heard most of those yet
Divaman 08.14.21	Very cool. I've listened to most of them now, but I'm happy to do so again.
Jethro42 08.14.21	Wow! Was this premeditated for a long time? Only one thing; We don't have the entire stream for Landberk number 4. Kontiki, the second song is live and of poor quality. The fourth song ''You Are'' is absent, and it's my favorite one.
porcupinetheater 08.14.21	YOOOO so this is why you been so hardline about this is the last Friday tourney, gotta get those smackdown numbers tournament ready. Damn shame Shub-Niggurath was the runner up in its year
bgillesp 08.14.21	I agree about Shub. I loved it, Triana, and Carmen as my top 3 and wish they could all come back. Also I’m a little nervous that I might betray my prog brethren by picking a psych album as my favorite out of this. T2 is really good
Divaman 08.14.21	T2 is really good. (2)
Jethro42 08.14.21	Ok forget about my statement above. Landberk's link is good and complete. Just don't go on youtube.
bgillesp 08.14.21	Okay, I have heard all of the albums at least once now and this will certainly be difficult. I like all the albums and love all except one of them. I'll be back in a week or two with my votes after I sort out which masterpieces are the least masterful
TwigTW 08.14.21	Nice! I'll give these another listen before voting. I wish Universal Totem Orchestra wasn't up against Carmen. Those are my two favorites.
Zig 08.14.21	Oh boy! :)
bnelso55 08.14.21	Haha! Great idea for a tourney. It'll be fun to revisit all of these.
Divaman 08.15.21	Sitting in the dark because half of the house's power is out listening to Los Jaivas. It's pretty great too.
bgillesp 08.15.21	That it is. I'm definitely gonna need several more listens to decide between those
MiloRuggles 08.15.21	Oh daaaamn! Subbed, excited for my homework
Inoculaeted 08.15.21	Holy Shit. I dont know how anything here will top From Silence to Somewhere but if anything does this will be a life changing experience.
Jethro42 08.15.21	Yes Wobbler is from another level indeed. When chosen by Gentleman it surely was close to 30 votes already. I'm still preferring Pig Views over it. From Silence is enjoyable, but not in its entirety.
bgillesp 08.15.21	Landberk, UTO, and Regal work are the only ones that are still truly "undiscovered" here with less than 20 votes. Landberk probably more so than the rest since it is not a new album
Friday13th 08.15.21	@Twig yeah that’s the hardest match for me too, but all need another listen for me to really decide.
Friday13th 08.15.21	@Jethro yeah, I was planning this for a year or so.
Divaman 08.15.21	I think listening to 1 vs. 2 last night just created more questions than answers. They're both soooo good, but so different. It's had to compare.
Jethro42 08.16.21	This is a cool move, Friday. It's like an extension of our previous tournament. It's a pleasure to rediscover all these winner albums. The only ones I don't have to relisten at all are both Regal Worm and Landberk oc. Is it only me or Carmen sounds like a soft System of a Down in places, particularly in the vocal department and in a couple of arrangements...
Divaman 08.16.21	>yeah, I was planning this for a year or so. You fiendish mastermind, you!
Friday13th 08.16.21	@Jethro yeah Carmen sounds very ahead of its time for me. The vocals are kinda like Mars Volta/System of a Down
Friday13th 08.16.21	This might as well be a Carmen song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JphZtpafdKY&list=OLAK5uy_m8LOrDqvqGYSQlL3z5B-CKZNIr0r_ek7M&index=3&ab_channel=TheMarsVoltaVEVO
Jethro42 08.16.21	@Friday; I love me some Mars Volta, and yes this might be a Carmen song big time and you're right about the Mars Volta like vocals. I haven't noticed before.
Jethro42 08.16.21	Double post Like you guys, it will be a hard task to choose between Carmen and UTO
bgillesp 08.16.21	That is my only easy pick (love Carmen too much). The rest are hard for me
Friday13th 08.16.21	3, 4 and 8 still don't have a sput review.
Jethro42 08.16.21	I'll ask e21 if he wouldn't do couple of these. I could do one or two with the help of Nagrarok under the progject account. Btw, e21 left for one week vacation, I'll direct him to this ultimate tourney when he comes back.
Divaman 08.16.21	I lean towards 5 over 6 based just on memory (as much as I love Carmen). But I'm gonna give them both a relisten today.
MrSirLordGentleman 08.16.21	1, 3, 6 and 7 I remember well most of these so it wasn't that tough lol
MrSirLordGentleman 08.16.21	it seems that the youtube link for 1 is a live version, so here is a list with the studio album https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsb-X0J-7Mk&list=PLnJDCrKyKvbaCOckudTHzlfxVWcCjRZks&ab_channel=LosJaivas-Topic
Jethro42 08.16.21	''I remember well most of these'' You wouldn't bother listening to 4...?
MrSirLordGentleman 08.16.21	4 and 5 are the only ones not in permanent rotation so those might need to be checked again, you're right
Divaman 08.16.21	I'm gonna listen to all of them, whether I've heard them before or not. Listened to 3 and 4 yesterday and 1 and 2 the day before. Think I'm going to need to listen to 1 and 2 again, though.
MrSirLordGentleman 08.16.21	"Think I'm going to need to listen to 1 and 2 again, though" Refer to my link! Don't want people thinking Alturas was a live album all along lol
Divaman 08.16.21	Thanks, but yeah, I found the studio album yesterday. If you do a search, it comes up under the album name instead of the band name.
Divaman 08.16.21	And as I double check now, I see that I actually bought mp3 versions of both 1 and 2 back in 2020. I've got them both on one of my iPods.
Friday13th 08.16.21	@Gentleman ah got it, I changed the link.
Friday13th 08.16.21	The link to Landberk might be the only way to listen to that album short of buying a rare CD copy or finding an illegal rip.
Friday13th 08.16.21	well who are we kidding, the “.ru” link is most definitely an illegal rip LOL
Jethro42 08.16.21	Yeah the only way to completely listen to that Landberk album is from that ''.ru'' link. I didn't know it was illegal. I personally bought the album nearly from its release in the 90's. Band dissolved and so it's hard to find nowadays.
MrSirLordGentleman 08.16.21	long live soulseek
someone 08.16.21	oh shieet bruv i don't know the rest of these, but it'll take some otherworldly power to beat Wobbler fo sho
Jethro42 08.16.21	There are stuff better still than Wobbler on here. I'm pretty sure Wobbler was chosen with nearly 30 votes during that tourney. And it's not an obscure album compared to the other ones.
TwigTW 08.16.21	I didn't catch the first prog tourney, so I missed Alturas de Machu Picchu. I'm giving it a first listen now, and it's lovely.
Friday13th 08.16.21	T2’s Boomland is fairly well-known. It is still nothing you would hear of outside the niche prog/psych fandom.
Friday13th 08.16.21	FYI you can get a mint condition original pressing of 3 for about $40 on Discogs.
Jethro42 08.16.21	I confess Wobbler is dangerous. I'm trying to discourage people who think only about it.
MrSirLordGentleman 08.16.21	"I confess Wobbler is dangerous. I'm trying to discourage people who think only about it." lol yeah if this was a popularity contest it'd be Wobbler vs T2 in the final. No debate on that one
bgillesp 08.16.21	I'm not sure how I feel about the spoken word bits in McLuhan. If it were not for those, I think that album would easily be my favorite. It still might end up there, but for now I am not sure.
bgillesp 08.16.21	Also @Friday I saw that price and almost ordered it straight away, but the corner cuts made me want to hold off. [edit] Eh, I couldn't resist.
Jethro42 08.17.21	McLuhan have epic moments, but also have too many circus vibes half forgiven by brass and horns injections, and King Crimson like melodies. It's a good jam, but it can't rivalize with the emotions found in Landberk. The energy of both ''Time'' and ''Kontiki'', the convincing desperation of ''You Are'', the nostalgia of ''Rememberence'', the darkness and melancholia of ''Valentin Song'' etc...surpasses the imaginary. I soon will make the whole puzzle.
bgillesp 08.17.21	Landberk is probably sitting at number 2 for me after McLuhan. Still gonna take my time though
Friday13th 08.17.21	@bgillesp cool man! Yeah that looks like quite the deal.
Inoculaeted 08.18.21	Alturas de Machu Picchu was a weirdly appropriate listen after watching a few episodes of The Mandalorian. The flute features prominently in the theme song with a sort of fantasy samurai vibe.
wham49 08.19.21	2, 3, 6, 7 overall winner is Wobbler for me
MrSirLordGentleman 08.19.21	After checking again 4 and 5 a couple of times my votes remain the same though: 1, 3, 6, 7
Jethro42 08.19.21	Obvious winner has to be Wobbler indeed.
Friday13th 08.19.21	I certainly prefer 1, 5 and 6 over Wobbler. I am not even sure I will vote Wobbler over Regal Worm. I think Regal Worm is more unique. Wobbler is well done but it never feels like an original listening experience. It just melds the classic '70s Yes/Genesis/Jethro Tull very well. Wobbler's singer is also very iffy for me. Like diet Jon Anderson.
Jethro42 08.19.21	My guess is Wobbler because of its general - official/unofficial - votes up to now. For my personal taste, Carmen (or UTO) will be hard to beat.
Jethro42 08.19.21	In reality, all the albums deserve to win.
wham49 08.19.21	they all got a win, Jethro Wobbler for me because it fits in so neatly with my other fave prog albums, I generally like the albums that do not win or come close to winning and Wobbler was one of the few that evrybody else liked as well, am I mistaken but wasnt there a prog tourney that the album Todd won about 4 years ago, thought I would see it on here maybe I am mistaken
MrSirLordGentleman 08.19.21	Wobbler rules hard, but it stands in the middle of this list for me. While the execution is great it lacks the identity and originality of other albums in here. It's just another retro-prog modern album (though one that is extremly well done)
TwigTW 08.19.21	@Wham: e21 entered Todd, but I believe that was the year Universal Totem Orchestra won.
TwigTW 08.19.21	All my ratings are going up as I re-listen to these. By the end of the three weeks, I will have rated everything a 5 ...and still not be sure who to vote for.
Divaman 08.19.21	I don't know if anyone else will give it a vote, but I think my favorite might be UTO.
bgillesp 08.20.21	I havent listened to it since it won, but off memory, Wobbler is near the bottom of these for me. Still love it, though. We will see if time has caused it to grow on me when I get back around to it soon
Divaman 08.20.21	So far, the McLuhan is my least favorite of these. Which probably won't surprise any of you who've been paying attention to my taste.
Friday13th 08.20.21	If y’all want to download the Landberk album, do not buy it from the Russian streaming website. Just download from Soulseek.
MrSirLordGentleman 08.20.21	long live soulseek [2]
Jethro42 08.20.21	@Diva, I could see you digging McLuhan. It's not really jazzy after all. UTO or Carmen? toss a coin
MrSirLordGentleman 08.20.21	I love Carmen's sound. I think Triana does it way better, but they're not on the list so
Jethro42 08.20.21	Yes Triana is good, ''Patio'' in particular. But this Carmen is way more memorable, more festive to me.
bgillesp 08.20.21	I agree on the Triana love. I love El Patio but Hijos del Agobio is my favorite album from all years of the prog tourney (not just because it was my rec)
Jethro42 08.20.21	I erased my comment
Jethro42 08.20.21	It's just that I thought ''Hijos'' had a 4 from me. I remember liking it though...Killer songs into it.
MrSirLordGentleman 08.20.21	"Yes Triana is good, ''Patio'' in particular. But this Carmen is way more memorable, more festive to me." It is more festive yes, but Triana feels more faithful while Carmen feels more like an american band trying to sound spanish (which is the case), more like a parody maybe? (though parody is a really negative word, so don't get me wrong, I love Carmen) Maybe I notice more how authentic the spanish flavor feels since I'm a spanish speaker and I've assimilated the style? Don't know really Both rule tho
Jethro42 08.20.21	I can hear you Gentleman. I'll try to give Triana some extra spins. Carmen has so much great melodies which are hard to forget. It's a fetish album to me, and so is UTO.
Divaman 08.20.21	I'm finding that the more I relisten to these, the more confused I get. I listen to an album, and I'm sure I'm going to vote for it. Then I listen to the album it's matched up again, and I'm unsure again. The "circus vibes" you described in the McLuhan are what bothered me about it. I need to give that pair another listen - I had no power in my house yesterday, so I couldn't listen to them because I couldn't get up on the net. (I own copies of the mp3's for th other six LPs, so I could listen on my mp3 player.) But my first impression of McLuhan was not positive.
Inoculaeted 08.20.21	My momentum listening to these just hit a giant brick wall called Colors II.
bgillesp 08.21.21	Luckily we have a couple weeks. How is Colors II? Havent gotten to it yet. I loved everything up through Coma Ecliptic, but the Automata albums were just okay for me, so I want to know where my expectations should be
Friday13th 08.21.21	I might need to give BTBAM another try. I remember buying Alaska, hating it, and never trying again. I was admittedly rabidly anti-metalcore back then, but I’ve softened a bit.
bgillesp 08.21.21	Lol, Coma Ecliptic might be the best gateway for you as it is the most like "prog rock". But if you actually dig some metalcore now, I think Colors or The Great Misdirect are the most progressive in a wild sense
bgillesp 08.21.21	I've been relistening to Wobbler tonight while studying and it is still great, but I remembered correctly that there are no moments where I find myself having a blast listening to it or have my breath taken away by something amazing. That being said, I can truly find no real flaws and still love the album
Jethro42 08.21.21	Yes Divaman, gotcha. The same issues are found to each match ups. The best is to listen to each the least. But hey, it's too late in my case :)
Inoculaeted 08.21.21	@bgillesp I feel btbam did the impossible and actually lived up to the hype of creating a sequel to a classic. It’s dense as hell but it doesn’t waste a second in reminding you that they are masters of technicality and compositional gymnastics. It’s also extremely silly and sounds as though they don’t take themselves anywhere near as serious as the haters who come here to shit on them. I won’t go so far as to say it matches what Colors represented as a staple in the genre, but it far exceeded my expectations. If you’ve liked any btbam at all it is a drop everything and listen right now situation for you.
bgillesp 08.21.21	On it now, lol
Friday13th 08.21.21	Alright, after listening to them all again, I can make my vote: 1, 4, 6, 8 Carmen v. UTO kills me, but ultimately Carmen wins for originality and consistency through the album. I will say UTO’s “Terra Cava” is probably my favorite song discovered through this tourney series. Aboslutely incredible.
bgillesp 08.21.21	The first Matchup is the only one I have left to decide on. It is gonna kill me to vote against Landberk (my 2nd favorite) just because it is up against my favorite
someone 08.22.21	T2 Landberk Universal Totem Orchestra Wobbler
TwigTW 08.22.21	1. Los Jaivas 4. Landberk 5. Universal Totem Orchestra 8. Regal Worm
Divaman 08.23.21	This wasn't easy. Los Jaivas Landberk Universal Totem Orchestra Wobbler
Jethro42 08.23.21	i'm listening to each of the matchups like too much. That way, I realize it's still harder to choose.
sonictheplumber 08.23.21	swag
Jethro42 08.23.21	sup
e210013 08.23.21	I'm back of my vacation week. So, only now I knew about this new tourney. And this was a huge surprise really and an excellent one, from Friday. However, I'm going to have two more vacation weeks in the beginning of September. So, I don't know if I'm abble to participate in all this new tourney. But, I'm going participate in what all I can. About the albums, I only particiapted in the last four tourneys. So, I know very well all the winers of them. Two of them were even reviewed by me, the albums of Universal Totem Orchestra and Wobbler. But, I don't know very well the albums of the first four tourneys, especially the albums of T2 and McLuhan. It will be for me a true shot in the dark. So, I need to check very well those four albums. So, thanks. Great idea Friday. You're going to give me an excellent opportunity to check four more albums, two of them very obscure, indeed. The albums of Los Jaivas and Landberk are both in my list, even to can be reviewed by me. But, sincerely the other two I think that I wouldn't go check them never if wasn't you.
Inoculaeted 08.23.21	It’s really working out well in Boomland.
TheIntruder 08.23.21	Anomaly sounds pretty good.
Divaman 08.23.21	So I was just looking up the history of Zeuhl. Please, my prog rock historians, talk to me about Magma.
e210013 08.23.21	Diva, in short, Magma was formed in 1969 by Christian Vander, the drummer of the band that has a very own and distintive drum style. Vander, created a new language, Kobaïan, which means, Celestial music, or if you prefer, Universal music, music for all Universe. The lyrics are written in that new language. Their music is closer to the avant-garde style but with very own carachteristics, both in lyrics and music. Their music is carachterized by great guitar riffs in odd time signatures, theatrical choir arrangements with operatic vocals, heavy and distorted pulsing bass, bombastic and minimalistic, dark and brooming, adventurous and angelic, jazzy or classical music. We can say that almost all the music styles are present into their music. I don't know if this is enough to you. But, it isn't easy to describe their music, which isn't properly easy to digest.
e210013 08.23.21	If you're interested, Diva, probably the best introduction to Magma is their third studio album Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh and their debut live album Köhntark. Both are two of the most acclaimed albums of them.
TwigTW 08.23.21	@Diva: If Universal Totem Orchestra has piqued your interest in Zeuhl, I have to say that Mathematical Mother is an unusual album for this genre. In my experience, Zeuhl tends to be more dissonant (less melodic and harmonious). Like e21 said, "almost all the music styles are present." To which I would add, sometimes all at once, lol. I love it, but it is noisy. I second e's rec. Mekanïk Destruktïw Kommandöh is a good introduction.
Jethro42 08.23.21	Good description, e21. I may add their inclination to repetitive patterns vocally and instrumentally. Hope you enjoyed your first vacation week! And welcome to this last portion of the tournaments.
Jethro42 08.23.21	Dissonant as well, you're right Twig.
Divaman 08.23.21	Thanks guys. Good info. Do you all like Magma?
Jethro42 08.23.21	Try this one, Divaman. It's an ''easy'' one to love. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBy2KSD9IMA
MrSirLordGentleman 08.23.21	@Diva If you're trying to get into zeuhl and enjoyed Magma, try checking Dün and Eskaton as well
Divaman 08.23.21	Thanks everyone. I knew you guys wouldn't let me down.
Jethro42 08.23.21	While I recognize the quality of Los Jaivas, Brezilian is not my favorite kind of music, so it was easier to opt for the energy of T2. That powerful album is mostly guitar driven music, and reminds me of the Italian prog band Procession and their appealing album Frontiera. McLuhan has real epic moments interspersed of too many circus vibes. Beautiful brass segments are also offered. But it cannot rivalize with Landberk. The darkness and melancholia of the album surpasses the imaginary. Indeed, Landberk album is hard to surpass. UTO and Carmen was hard to decide. UTO is repetitive in its structure, with an obvious Zeuhl flavour. Carmen is repetitive as a concept album, so Carmen is more forgiven. Album is full of joy and reminds here and there of System of a Down, which is a plus. Finally, I prefer Regal Worm over Wobbler. The latter has one great song, and it's the opener. Regal Worm is varied and unique with eccentric turns. It has all a prog album would need in the present and in the future. T2 Landberk Carmen Regal Worm
MrSirLordGentleman 08.24.21	I mean, Los Jaivas use andean instruments which encompases most south americans countries, but Brazil isn't one of them. Brazilian music sounds pretty different m8 lol That been said, T2 might be my seconds favorite in here after Los Jaivas so yeah, I hate that match lol
Divaman 08.24.21	Yeah, that matchup was brutal. I went back and forth on it. The deciding factor was that in the end, I prefer the folkier style of music that Los Jaivas plays, although T2 did a great job on Boomland.
e210013 08.24.21	@ Diva Yet about Zeuhl, I agree with the recommendations of Gentleman about Dün and Eskaton. But I add one more, Weidorje, a band created by two members of Magma that released a sole album.
e210013 08.24.21	Yes, I enjoyed my first vacation week. Thanks for asking, Jethro.
Jethro42 08.24.21	@Gentleman, my apologies for my ignorance.
bgillesp 08.24.21	Got my copy of McLuhan on vinyl in the mail today. Thanks for the nudge of encouragement Friday.
TwigTW 08.24.21	I've got my votes lined up. That's not going to change, but I'll be fine-tuning my ratings till the bitter end...
TheIntruder 08.25.21	One Man Tells Another is a great album, one of the great albums from the 90s made in Scandinavia.
Zig 08.25.21	Finally, got time to start this journey. 3 records in
Jethro42 08.25.21	@TheIntruder, yes, surely among the bests of the 90's. Songs like ''Time'', ''You Are'', ''Rememberence'' and ''Valentinsong'' slay. The entire album slays.
Mythodea 08.26.21	How much time do we have left?
TwigTW 08.26.21	It looks like one more week.
Mythodea 08.26.21	great, thanks
bgillesp 08.26.21	I can go ahead and confidently vote though is still more listening to be done for a precise ranking of them all together. T2 McLuhan Carmen Regal Worm
Divaman 08.26.21	Oh no! You're the anti-Diva!
bgillesp 08.26.21	Lol, it seems that way
e210013 08.27.21	About the four polls: "Alturas De Machu Picchu" doesn't disappoints me. It's simply one of the best folk prog albums I heard. It has a perfect mix between prog and the typical Andean folk. In "It'll All Work Out In Boomland", everything works out, really. It's a great album, almost unique in prog. At times the voice of vocalist reminds me Bowie in the early days. "Anomaly" is a great album that in some parts remenbers me the first era of King Crimson. And I agree with Jethro, it has some amazing brass work. "One Man Tell's Another" confirms what I thought. It's an amazing album in the same vein of the Nordic albums of the 90's. It has the darkness and melancholia so typical of Scandinavia. "Mathematical Mother" was one of my stronger discoveries in the last years. I really love it. It sounds to me as a almost a perfect album, an album that makes that prog never dies. "Fandangos In Space" is also a great album, a true nice surprise. Its sound is unique and magic making a perfect fusion between prog and the flamenco music. I like very much of "From Silence To Somewhere". It incarns the true spirit of the symphonic prog in a modern way. We can say that there's nothing new, but is very well crafted. "Pig Views" is also an excellent album, very surprising and original, which sounds with various styles, like a sandwich with many ingredients. But, it's very well crafted too. So, it's now time to chose. I really like all these albums and all deserve to be winners in their own way. But, as I need to make a decision, my votes go to: 1. Los Jaivas 4. Landberk 5. Universal Totem Orchestra 7. Wobbler
e210013 08.27.21	@Diva Don't be sad by bgillesp be an anti-Diva, because I'm a twin brother of you. Lol.
e210013 08.27.21	It seems that we are going to have another nightmare journey to find out the four knights.
Divaman 08.27.21	Excellent. Let's band together and fight the evil forces of bgillesp throughout the universe!
e210013 08.27.21	Yeah, great. Let's do it bro.
Divaman 08.27.21	We're coming for you, anti-Diva!
bgillesp 08.27.21	You'll never take me alive!!
Divaman 08.27.21	You can't prevail, bgillesp. Surrender!
bgillesp 08.27.21	Down with the Divas!
Divaman 08.27.21	: O
e210013 08.27.21	Oh!
MrSirLordGentleman 08.27.21	@e210013 cool to see you finally digging Los Jaivas. Glad you liked them!
e210013 08.28.21	Yeah, you're right and it deserves that. Great stuff. By the way, I don't forget that was you, many time ago, that made me put it in my list to check. Finally, I think this was the perfect time to do that. It's better later than never. Lol. So, thanks pal.
Friday13th 08.28.21	One more week, y’all. I’m gonna start tallying, but make sure you have jammed all the albums and vote by next Saturday!
Friday13th 08.28.21	Tally so far: 1. Jaivas Gentleman Friday Twig Diva e21 2. T2 wham someone Jethro bgillesp 5:4 3. Mcluhan Gentleman wham bgillesp 4. Landberk Friday someone Twig Diva Jethro e21 3:6 5. UTO someone Twig Diva e21 6. Carmen Gentleman Friday wham Jethro bgillesp 4:5 7. Wobbler Gentleman wham someone Diva e21 8. Regal Friday Twig Jethro bgillesp 5:4
Divaman 08.28.21	Wow, the first and the last contests are soooo close.
Mythodea 08.29.21	I'll probably wont change my chcoices, but I think I'd rather vote this Friday or Saturday, to exhaust all the available time.
TheIntruder 08.30.21	This was not easy, but I am ready to vote: Los Jaivas Landberk Universal Totem Orchestra Wobbler
MiloRuggles 08.30.21	Finally ready to vote. This was hard. T2 Landberk Universal Totem Orchestra Regal Worm Will post my unedited thoughts as I was listening to albums below. Can't guarantee they're entertaining, but can't be bothered effort-posting
MiloRuggles 08.30.21	Prog Landberk – One Man Tells Another Kontiki's 7/8 chuggage is lit up. Lead breaks very expressive. Quite a subtle beast by prog's standards. Mirror Man/You Are very cautiously written, slowly unfolding without gimmick. Percussion in Remeberence intiates a pleasant mid-track change of pace. Valentinsong is subtle class. Bassline/tone in Tell is immense. Sick. 4.2/5 Wobbler – From Silence To Somewhere wtf that first song was 21 mins? Kinda lost the plot there. Interlude aight. Next song busy and good enough. Dunno, it's pretty good, but doesn't strike me as special like landberk did Carmen – Fandangos in Space There's enough insane, fun material on here to make a truly great album, but it's marred by a particularly prog-like brand of scattershot incosistency. Loads of flavour on here though, good stuff. Universal Totem Orchestra – Mathematical Mother obnoxious on paper, but quite beautiful in practice. Maybe my favourite example of operatic vocals in prog (keeping in mind that I usually hate them). Elogio del dubbio is stunning. Rhythm section adherence to holding down the groove is cool. Gats and vocals gain a lot of freedom. Piano is simple, rhythmic, but very effective. Closing track is a little much.
MiloRuggles 08.30.21	McLuhan – anomaly Hilarious and playful without being overtly corny. Opening track winds up being a little much though. Whole things is entertaining and worth listening to, but is a little light for long lasting appeal. T2 – It'll All Work Out In Boomland Hectic first track. Second steps back and winds up laying down a sweet theme at its end. Track 3 good. Moody, jammy, cathartic chorus, massive payoff in the back end of the track. Skillfuly deployed brass. Morning doesn't really justify a 20+ min runtime despite having a few standout moments. Drummer's a bit mental. Explosive and dirty. CD is fucking great. Los jaivas – Alturas de Macchu Picchu Hate the opening track, but once the 11 min follow up gets humming things are lookin good. That worms its way towards the world's longest and most confusing chord progression of this comp, with a chant-like duet winding its way overtop of the rhythmic mud-sling. Some brutally dated synthesisor sounds on this one. Track 3 kinda shit. Yeah, hit and miss from here on. Regal Worm – Pig Views Ambitious and accomplished in its modernised swathes of influences, but also fails to come together as a whole. A classic prog conundrum; all the pieces are beautiful and impressive, some parts are amazing, but stepping back for a wide-view reveals a lack of cohesion. Track 2 is sick tho. Matter fact, a lot of this is sick.
Divaman 08.31.21	I see The Intruder has joined e and I, and has matched our votes. Now it's 3 on 1. We're coming for you, bgillesp the Anti-Diva!
MrSirLordGentleman 08.31.21	It seems to me that you don't like prog in the first place Milo m8
MiloRuggles 08.31.21	Can see why you'd say that given that I seemed to dial on the things I disliked (it's a comp, right?) and they were generally places where prog's built-in characteristics worked against the music. I grew up on prog, love the genre, and this has been some real wholesome fun.
Zig 08.31.21	Here's my votes: - T2 - McLuhan - Universal Totem Orchestra - Wobbler
Friday13th 08.31.21	1. Jaivas Gentleman Friday Twig Diva e21 Intruder 2. T2 wham someone Jethro bgillesp Milo Zig 6:6 3. Mcluhan Gentleman wham bgillesp Zig 4. Landberk Friday someone Twig Diva Jethro e21 Intruder Milo 4:8 5. UTO someone Twig Diva e21 Intruder Milo Zig 6. Carmen Gentleman Friday wham Jethro bgillesp 7:5 7. Wobbler Gentleman wham someone Diva e21 Intruder Zig 8. Regal Friday Twig Jethro bgillesp Milo 7:5
Friday13th 08.31.21	Jaivas and T2 are neck and neck!
Divaman 08.31.21	Yep. And deservedly so. Wobbler vs. Regal Worm was tough for me, but Los Jaivas vs. T2 was just ridiculous.
Jethro42 08.31.21	I know I'm late, but regarding Landberk, I hope you guys don't trust its Youtube streaming which is not complete.
Divaman 08.31.21	Nope. I followed your link.
Jethro42 08.31.21	That's the way to go!
Inoculaeted 09.01.21	McLuhan was awesome. I can now say I’ve heard a slide whistle solo!
Inoculaeted 09.01.21	Okay the bookends for Landberk were off the charts amazing! Huge Anekdoten vibes in the best way. I just couldn't vibe consistently on the slowish and melancholy nature of the rest. It may take a few more listens for this to click. It was really good and I will absolutely have to investigate the rest of their discography...if I can find a decent streaming source.
Jethro42 09.01.21	The first Landberk album rules too and is sung in Swedish. Guitar is more polished, less rust than One Man Tells Another. The second album is pretty much the same as the first one, but sung in English this time. Indian Summer is different, more commercial and relax, but doesn't have many hooks. If you can, try their live Unaffected too. Brillant.
Inoculaeted 09.01.21	Have you purchased the mp3's on that website linked above? I'd like to upload them to my iTunes library for easier streaming access. Youtube is also a major bummer for me.
Jethro42 09.01.21	I physically own both cds One Man Tells Another and Unaffected. I heard they're hard to find. Maybe is it easier on mp3. I'm not sure since I don't use them. Their first album and Indian Summer are available on youtube. I cant tell about the other streamings.
MrSirLordGentleman 09.01.21	soulseek 🙏
Jethro42 09.01.21	Do we need an uTorrent to use soulseek?
MrSirLordGentleman 09.01.21	nope, just the program itself
GhandhiLion 09.01.21	The Wobbler and regal worm albums are about as good as each other.
Friday13th 09.02.21	Just a couple more days to vote, y'all.
Mythodea 09.03.21	Sooooooo, it's over for me, I've decided T2 (although Los Jaivas) McLuhan Universal Totem Orchestra Regal Worm
Inoculaeted 09.04.21	I'm ready: T2 McLuhan Carmen Wobbler
bgillesp 09.04.21	Almost had 2 more Anti-Divas
Inoculaeted 09.04.21	As much as I love being anti I could not in good conscience say I enjoy regal worm over wobbler. Regal worm has been one of the great new finds of the year for me but that Wobbler album is arguably my favorite contemporary prog (non metal) release period. It’s just glorious in every way. I spin it on vinyl often.
Divaman 09.04.21	You're cruisin' for a bruisin' bgillesp!
MrSirLordGentleman 09.04.21	my heart gets broken at Alturas getting eliminated
bgillesp 09.04.21	My heart breaks at any of these getting eliminated
Friday13th 09.04.21	1. Jaivas Gentleman Friday Twig Diva e21 Intruder 2. T2 wham someone Jethro bgillesp Milo Zig Mythodea Inoculaeted 6:8 3. Mcluhan Gentleman wham bgillesp Zig Mythodea Inoculaeted 4. Landberk Friday someone Twig Diva Jethro e21 Intruder Milo 6:8 5. UTO someone Twig Diva e21 Intruder Milo Zig Mythodea 6. Carmen Gentleman Friday wham Jethro bgillesp Inoculaeted 8:6 7. Wobbler Gentleman wham someone Diva e21 Intruder Zig Inoculaeted 8. Regal Friday Twig Jethro bgillesp Milo Mythodea 8:6
Friday13th 09.04.21	Far more even than I expected. All are only up by two votes.
Friday13th 09.05.21	Alright y'all, without any further ado, the votes must be counted. The winners for this round are T2, Landberk, UTO and Wobbler.
Inoculaeted 09.05.21	Okay now I really gotta track down Landberg. Don’t think I can do another play through clicking each track one by one again.
e210013 09.10.21	I'm back again. This was another nice round. Let's proceed to next one. These are all great stuff. So, congrats to all.
Jethro42 02.14.22	Hello there, I'm pleased to announce you another prog tourney coming up this spring. It's gonna be under the same rules, the same model as the ones made by our good friend Friday13th, but this time let me be your host. It's my first experience, so be patient. I'll give you a sign at the end of winter to set up the preliminaries. Progressively yours!
wham49 02.14.22	I'll be in, sounds good man I just like the feeling of rejection every year when I dont make it out of the first round
bgillesp 02.14.22	Lol wham. Same because my favorites almost always lose early
e210013 02.15.22	I hope you don't begin until the beginning of March. Next week I'll be not here.
Jethro42 02.15.22	Rest assured, my friend, I'll start it all in around March 19, at the dawn of spring.
Divaman 02.15.22	OK, I'll be there.
Zig 02.15.22	yes!
Friday13th 02.15.22	That will be a big treat, Jethro!
Mythodea 02.15.22	@Jethro, these are magnificent news! I had stated last year that I could be up to the task, but I'm afraid these months are not the friendliest, time-wise!
Jethro42 02.15.22	Step by step we're gonna reach from 16 to 20 contestants. You all make my day you guys. Welcome in, Friday. You're gonna participate, I presume...
Friday13th 02.15.22	Probably but I cannot promise anything. I will be a bit busy. FYI, I just got engaged to be married!
Jethro42 02.15.22	My congratulations! Happiness to both of you year after year after year... I hope your wife will let you frequent Sput as you wish! =P
Mythodea 02.16.22	@Friday13th Congrats my dude! I wish you a colorful and sunny marriage!
zakalwe 02.16.22	Family holiday cancelled, two months off work booked in, wedding re-arranged, house taken off the market, operation re-scheduled. I’m prepared. I’m ready. I’m in. Nice one Jethro.
Zig 02.16.22	Congrats, Friday! ;)
Divaman 02.16.22	Congrats Friday.
e210013 02.16.22	Congrats Friday too.
Friday13th 02.16.22	Thanks guys! Yes, she is a pianist and gets down with some of my symphonic prog every once in a while :]
Jethro42 02.16.22	Good timing Zak! Welcome back! We have 9 candidates so far, if I count Friday13th which is unofficial.
Jethro42 02.16.22	That's nice, Friday! Sounds promising!
Zig 02.16.22	"Yes, she is a pianist" My wife's a pianist too, we got married last year (during the prog tourney). :D
Mythodea 02.16.22	where do we sign up? I don't have an album yet, but I could come up with something
Jethro42 02.16.22	@Myth, time has not come yet. Let's get more people to the spot, to start it all pretty much at the same time. Meanwhile, you can save your eventual blurb. The preliminaries are gonna be set up soon on a list of mine. You're gonna be warned.
Mythodea 02.16.22	Great great. The ''Have 9 candidates so far'' line misguided me. Ahem I await to be summoned, master
Jethro42 02.16.22	Yah well let's wait having from 12 to 16 candidates before moving to the official thread. I expect to have 16 or 20 candidates in all, ideally. The tournament is scheduled for early spring. We have time in our hand.
kalkwiese 02.16.22	Holy shit, this sounds like a commitment. How long does a turney like this take? Like, is every list like a new turney or is it an eoic journey that takes a whole year?
Jethro42 02.16.22	https://www.sputnikmusic.com/list.php?memberid=732569&listid=196325 See the first comment for the rules and how join the fun
kalkwiese 02.16.22	Okay, count me in, I'll try my best
Jethro42 02.16.22	You're very welcome kalkwiese. Everything is rather simple. We are in a temporary thread for now. Soon I'm gonna transfer us all to a new link for the preliminaries and sign up.
kalkwiese 02.16.22	Okay, nice. I think I got a candidate for this tourney just one or two days ago actually. :D But I'm also looking forward to some good obscure albums
bgillesp 02.16.22	@kalk, it’ll last a couple months and the commitment is only listening to 2 albums per week and picking your favorite (though I like to listen to them multiple times, especially when they’re really good). Glad to have you join us!
Jethro42 02.16.22	To help choosing an ''obscure'' album, we got a rule that states the album must have fewer than 30 votes/ratings on Sputnik.
Jethro42 02.17.22	IMPORTANT MESSAGE; As soon as you guys have your album, plz let me know, so that we can move asap to the official list. From there, I'm going to judge when the time is right.
Divaman 02.17.22	I'm listening to potential choices even I type this.
Jethro42 02.17.22	My favorite choice is 77 minute long, and it's my only gripe. I don't want people to get tired of it. I might choose a shorter one.
Mythodea 02.17.22	I am disappointed by myself and the Sput community, as I realized we both have never given a fair chance to one of the best Greek prog bands to have existed.... I think I've found my candidate
Divaman 02.17.22	Excellent. I liked the one you gave us last year - I just bought the mp3 file a few weeks ago.
kalkwiese 02.17.22	I got mine too, it's something I find super cool atm and it has only one rating here
Mythodea 02.17.22	@Divaman That's great to hear! ''In Other Worlds'' was a peculiar listen and a bit demanding with all the interludes, but it sounds so sincere and creative I can't stop loving it
Jethro42 02.17.22	It looks like I'll start it all a bit earlier than previous.We have now 11 contestants (in French we can say ''candidat'', Myth). Stay tuned, I'll soon open up a list to move on.
Mythodea 02.17.22	I can't wait to see other candidat's suggestions... Who's going to be this years gagnant? Let tHE HUNGER GA-- - Prog Tournament begin!
Jethro42 02.17.22	@Diva, you'll be away from march 4 through the 13, right? I forgot it. Maybe you'll miss couple of prog days only. e21 will be away until march. It's the same for him.
Jethro42 02.17.22	All right, my list is ready. We can move on.
bnelso55 02.17.22	Count me in, Jethro!
Jethro42 02.18.22	Sure bnelso. you can join us there; https://www.sputnikmusic.com/list.php?memberid=280733&listid=198917
e210013 02.18.22	I'm afraid that i'll be outside also between 10th and 19th of June. You know me. I've my obligations with my family. Anyway, I'll try to be on the tourney, if it's possible. Anyway, I think I've already my contestant.
Mythodea 02.18.22	you could have an ''early access'' for those rounds, if Jethro has it all programmed beforehands, so you could give your votes first
e210013 02.18.22	Yeah, I think so it too.