Friday13th
11.04.17 | Happy progday, y'all. It's been quite a discovery journey. |
bgillesp
11.04.17 | Last one before the semis? Excited to check these and see if UU has learned to prog any bit |
Papa Universe
11.04.17 | I doubt that honestly... |
Jethro42
11.04.17 | Happy progday!
The Sputnik reviewer of Monarch recommended Astra among others, so it has to fit in here. Of what I've heard so far, it's more like psychedelic/jam rock with a prog flavour.
I expect another tight round. Hope my link is gonna work for everybody. |
Divaman
11.04.17 | Started listening to these two earlier today. Another case of comparing two very different albums. Happy progday, friends. |
bgillesp
11.04.17 | Hey, UU, you did well! I dig this one for sure. Haven't checked the other though so idk if I'll vote for it, but it's my favorite modern rec in this comp so far I think |
TwigTW
11.04.17 | Happy prog day. Looks like another good round. |
Divaman
11.04.17 | I just posted another prog-rock review, probably my last for awhile. It's for the album "Sight of Day", a 2017 release by the British prog-rock band Mostly Autumn. Many thanks to e for first alerting me to these guys. |
MrSirLordGentleman
11.04.17 | Two Isles sounds pretty cool so far |
Friday13th
11.04.17 | Yeah, Two Isles has really great melodic guitar playing. The review here references Allman Brothers and Camel and I can here that. I think it's certainly progressive enough, though it also has a space rock/psych/blues jam vibe.
Also really liking Warm Spaced Blue. It has a fairly eclectic variety and even sinister vibes with some of the mellotron/keyboard stuff. |
Papa Universe
11.04.17 | Just for the record, Friday, I will not vote this round. |
MrSirLordGentleman
11.04.17 | I'd vote for 2 only cause it has a song named Lada Niva |
Jethro42
11.04.17 | @Friday, same here about Monarch, I can hear Camel, Allman Brothers, maybe Santana and some bands I'm still searching for, but really not much prog to be found there. And if there is prog (they are close to it at a minimum), I don't know if the musicians even realize it.
Glad you like Warm Spaced Blue. I came to know the album by heart, and I never get tired of it. Their first album is also great. It's more like symphonic prog with a jazz rock vibe. It has more violon and piano, and it's pretty much the same musicians. |
bgillesp
11.05.17 | Monarch is definitely proggy. |
Friday13th
11.05.17 | If you hear the chords on Monarch, they're more jazzy or Floydish than your average jam band. There are also odd time signatures peppered around. I think that's good enough for bolster Monarch's prog cred.
Obviously, no one doubts #2's prog cred. Totally awesome stuff, sometimes as complex as Gentle Giant, sometimes more on jazz fusion, and sometimes some really ominous symphonic prog, maybe like The Enid or something. |
MrSirLordGentleman
11.05.17 | 2 is way more complex, serious and mature... Maybe too much
I'm enjoying 1 more so far, but it will take more listens |
Friday13th
11.05.17 | The production for #1 is perfectly retro. Sounds like it was recorded in the mid '70s. |
TwigTW
11.05.17 | I'm familiar with Two Aisles. It's a great album. I love all those 60s Psychedelic bands, and Monarch does a nice job of updating that sound (without sounding like they're just copying it).
|
Jethro42
11.05.17 | ''2 is way more complex, serious and mature... Maybe too much''
Particularly if you listen to these two albums one after the other.
|
Jethro42
11.05.17 | I mean albums are day and night, progly and musically speaking. |
SCREAM!
11.06.17 | "progly"
best adverb |
Jethro42
11.06.17 | probly |
TwigTW
11.06.17 | :-) |
Friday13th
11.06.17 | lol |
Mythodea
11.06.17 | Okay, Monarch were enjoyable, although more on the psych/blues side of the prog spectrum. Nothing especially groundbreaking. The two note riff/phrase on Assent reminded me Scorpions' ''He's a Woman, She's a Man''. The overall feeling (although more restrained), sounds like Beardog.
Ingranaggi Della Valle, on the other hand, are more proggy, the kind of prog Italy has gotten us used to. It's serious, although I didn't like it that much. Most probably, I'm voting for this one, but still none of these has really caught my attention. |
Divaman
11.06.17 | I'll bite the bullet and vote first this week.
As much as I hate to vote against the album rec'd by my friend Jethro, especially because I know he likes this one a lot, I vote for Monarch.
I definitely agree that Ingranaggi Della Valle is the proggier of the two albums, I just find Monarch to be more enjoyable. I like the psychedelic elements, and The Allman Brothers guitars -- in fact, I like them better than I usually like The Allman Brothers.
Ingranaggi Della Valle is a very tight band, but they're really not my style -- very jazzy, often like the more obscure parts of King Crimson that I enjoy less.
So that's my vote -- Monarch. |
bgillesp
11.06.17 | This is gonna be a tough round for me. That IDV album is a lot to digest |
Jethro42
11.06.17 | Divaman!!! What are you doing to me...???
Fair enough mate...I had one chance out of two that you would be of my side. |
Jethro42
11.06.17 | @bgillesp, it's worth a little effort, trust me. |
Divaman
11.06.17 | Yeah, sorry, I do feel kind of bad about it. But if you remember, you rec'd this album to me a few months ago, then changed your rec because you knew it wasn't a great match for my taste. |
MrSirLordGentleman
11.06.17 | My vote goes to Monarch |
Jethro42
11.06.17 | Just kidding, Diva. If I'd really take it personal, I wouldn't participate to the tourney.
I don't remember reccing you Warm Spaced Blue. Do you know if my other rec was Fabio Zuffanti - La Quarta Vittima? In any case, it's probably more of your taste. It's easier to digest, that's for sure, and it was my second choice for the tourney. |
bgillesp
11.06.17 | Oh, I'll give it a few more goes for sure, but I'll have to do my best to not be late on this round |
Divaman
11.06.17 | Yes, as a matter of fact it was. And you're right, that one was more my style, although I appreciate that Ingranaggi Della Valle are quite good at what they do. |
Jethro42
11.06.17 | I think Fabio Zuffanti would have paid of the most, but I wanted to show up WSB first. It was a risky move, but I assume it, and I'm glad that people came to know that album. I equally like La Quarta Vittima, to the point that I'd like to do a review about it. I've already started to write in French, but I intend to translate it in Shakespeare's language. I take my time... |
Divaman
11.06.17 | That would be great. |
Friday13th
11.06.17 | Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
2-0 |
Jethro42
11.07.17 | For Monarch, I wish there were more songs of Sedna's Fervor's quality. It's a great summertime album, but I find it too much linear for its own good. Listening to a song is like listening to them all. Its 34 minutes look like 44 min.
Warm Spaced Blue is modern prog album of my style. It has a nice way to patiently build the songs, offering unmissable eargasmic climaxes and leading me to different, intense atmospheres, from sinister to haunting ones. It's perfect for those like me who dig vintage 70's symphonic prog.
My vote goes to Warm Spaced Blue, that's obvious. |
Friday13th
11.07.17 | Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
Jethro: #2
2-1
I'm on my second listen of each, and after that I'll be ready to decide. |
Friday13th
11.07.17 | So I dig both albums, but I have to give my vote to #2 since it's got a complex, neo-Crimson vibe that I dig. Monarch has some great guitar melodies that make it a fun, accessible jam, but not as much substance imo.
Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
Jethro: #2
Friday: #2
2-2
|
bgillesp
11.07.17 | I'm on my second listen for two and its unraveling for me. I like it a good bit but it's still perhaps "too" thick as others have said. 1 was just so easy to like. Gonna need a lot more time to call this one |
Sabrutin
11.07.17 | Two Isles is very pleasant and the length is perfect, all killer no filler.
I remember I tried that Ingranaggi album time ago but I didn't dig that much. Let's see if it changes |
bgillesp
11.07.17 | Aaaaaaahhhhhhh....... Can I call it a tie? These are both really good.
Okay if I have to I'll vote 2 because 1, while very good, is a bit too same-y for me. Both are top half though |
Mythodea
11.08.17 | For me it's a tie as well, but the other way around. None of the albums has managed to really grab me. For the sake of the competition, however, I vote for 2, as I think it's really well crafted and more interesting. |
Friday13th
11.08.17 | Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
Jethro: #2
Friday: #2
bgill: #2
Mythodea: #2
2-4 |
Papa Universe
11.08.17 | I won't vote here, I do want to make it clear. |
bgillesp
11.08.17 | You should vote. Your opinion matters |
bgillesp
11.08.17 | Everyone else voted in their own round. It's fair as long as you give both albums a fair chance |
TheSpaceMan
11.08.17 | Yeah unlike fripp |
bgillesp
11.08.17 | Also since two "ties" have gone to 2, if you vote 1 it will balance a bit |
TheSpaceMan
11.08.17 | checked out 1, gonna peep 2 tonight |
SCREAM!
11.08.17 | It's hard to be really objective when your own album is involved even if you try to be since you've likely heard that album multiple times and know it pretty well and you can't really judge the other album fairly in comparison since you're given such a quick time frame to listen to it. Good prog albums tend to really open up over time.
With that being said, since voting in your own round is an accepted practice and everyone does it, I'd say its still a fair contest and every once in a while you do get a surprise like Friday who voted for the opposing album. You def should cast your vote to whichever side you prefer Unique (jethro already has). |
Papa Universe
11.08.17 | I heard the other album and it is good, but I still like the lightheartedness and the psych aesthetic of Monarch more. In spite of that, I refuse to vote on my part. I just feel better that way. |
Jethro42
11.08.17 | The only reason I wouldn't vote is if albums would be really a tied for me. Even there, I'd try to make a choice.
@Unique, do not hesitate to vote. You have a preference, so express yourself. It's legal. |
TwigTW
11.08.17 | It's like every album gets one free vote, so they sort-of cancel each other out, unless someone decides not to vote for their own submission--but that is a rare and special vote. |
SCREAM!
11.08.17 | Basically the condensed version of my last post haha^^ |
TwigTW
11.08.17 | ;-) I got your back. |
e210013
11.11.17 | Sputnik continue making things difficult, really. But we must have great patience with this site indeed.
Once more I didn't knew the albums yet. Jethro has wrote some things about Ingranaggi Della Valle, but about Monarch, it was for me a complete obscure thing. So, after I have listened both albums four times, here there are my conclusions about both.
Monarch - Two Isles:
"Two Isles" is a ver interesting album with great guitar work. The reviwer on the site mentioned some references about Allman Brothers and Camel and I can see why. I can also see influences from Gilmour, what isn't strange since Latimer and Gilmour have similar guitar styles. I cna also clearly see many prog lines all over the album, but I think it isn't completelly a truly prog album. I think it has much more inflences from the psychedelic music and from the blues. Still this is a very enjoyable album to listen without really some weak points. But I agree with Jethro. It's a pity, in terms of prog, that the album doesn't have some other tracks in the same vein of "Sedna's Fervor". This is clearly the best and most prog track on the album. So, I rated it with a 3.5.
Ingranaggi Della Valle - Warm Spaced Blue:
"Warm Spaced Blue" was another big surprise for me. This is a great modern prog album in the same vein of many others made in our days. This is another great Italian prog album that continues the truly amazing Italian prog school that began in the 70's with bands like Banaco Del Muttuo Soccorso, Premiata Forneria Marconi, Le Orme and Area, only to mention the most important of all. And we mustn't forget that we have another great modern album of that school in this tournament. This is an album that goes to the roots of the obscure spectre of prog, like King Crimson and Van Der Graaf Generator, which I love. By the other hand, this is a band that reminds me other modern prog bands like Anglagard and Anekdoten, which I love too. So, I rated it with a 4.5.
Concluding, "Warm Spaced Blue" is more in my favourite wave of prog than "Two Isles". It's better for those who like the vintage 70's symphonic prog rock as I like.
So, naturally my vote only can go to "Warm Spaced Blue". |
Friday13th
11.11.17 | We're back. At least we get the end of progday :/
Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
Jethro: #2
Friday: #2
bgill: #2
Mythodea: #2
e21: #2
2-5 |
Jethro42
11.11.17 | Nothing can stop us now...apparently :)
Let's keep voting, we're half the way... |
Friday13th
11.11.17 | Here's a cool live vid of Monarch playing the last song on Two Isles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Msh1X8ZwLo
The guys look and sound like they dropped by from the 70s. |
TheSpaceMan
11.11.17 | My vote goes to #2, I only gave each album one listen though unfortunately, but we're almost outta time |
Friday13th
11.11.17 | Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
Jethro: #2
Friday: #2
bgill: #2
Mythodea: #2
e21: #2
Spaceman: #2
2-6 |
TheIntruder
11.11.17 | It seems I still have time to vote. It was another very tough week. Both albums are great but very different. Two Isles is more traditional and Warm Spaced Blue is more adventurous and obscure. I also choose Warm Spaced Blue because I love the dark side of prog. |
TwigTW
11.11.17 | Happy day after prog day...
I like Two Isles. I've heard it before. There are some nice psych influences going on there. In fact I raised my rating--very nice--but my vote goes to Warm Spaced Blue. I like the keyboards, the drums, and well everything about it. It's a little spacey too, which I always enjoy.
|
Friday13th
11.11.17 | Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
Jethro: #2
Friday: #2
bgill: #2
Mythodea: #2
e21: #2
Spaceman: #2
Intruder: #2
Twig: #2
2-8 |
bgillesp
11.11.17 | That calls this round with unique refusing to vote right? |
Friday13th
11.11.17 | hm...good thinking, bgill, but not quite. Intruder is a non-contestant, so I'm still expecting 16 votes. We still need 9 for a majority. |
Friday13th
11.11.17 | FYI guys, don't go into the "user ratings" page for the album. It's all messed up and you'll be attacked with pop ups when you try to click out. |
Sabrutin
11.11.17 | I'm sorry Jethro but that Ingranaggi album does nothing for me, just like I remembered. :(
I vote for Two Isles |
Jethro42
11.11.17 | No problem, Sab, it's your legit vote. Personally, album was an instant win, and all my subsequent listens confirmed it. I'm deeply connected with their style. Maybe it's too much intricate, adventurous for your taste. |
SCREAM!
11.11.17 | I feel like over the long run as I get to know 2 better I'd likely come to prefer it but for the time being I get more of a kick out of 1 so I have to vote for that |
Friday13th
11.11.17 | Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
Jethro: #2
Friday: #2
bgill: #2
Mythodea: #2
e21: #2
Spaceman: #2
Intruder: #2
Twig: #2
Sabrutin: #1
SCREAM: #1
4-8 |
Friday13th
11.11.17 | So after the insanity of today on sputnik, I'm considering having a back up tourney list. Who doesn't have a RYM account? |
MrSirLordGentleman
11.12.17 | rym suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks |
Friday13th
11.12.17 | ikr but better a list that sucks than no list at all
For those with a rym account, look me up [search by "user"] on rym and add me. Same username and all. |
bgillesp
11.12.17 | Insanity today? I do not rym |
Friday13th
11.12.17 | @bgillesp A bunch of people were freaking out that ratings were missing, users were temporarily suspended, pop ups galor etc. Might be over, but got me thinking we should have a back up. |
bgillesp
11.12.17 | Oh, glad I missed that. I could make an rym but I'd prefer not to. |
Friday13th
11.12.17 | Still waiting for bnelso, Fripper, Cusman and wham |
Divaman
11.12.17 | I don't have an rym account. |
CusmanX1
11.12.17 | Sorry guys, I tried to connect friday but Sputnik was down, and yesterday I wasn't at home.
My vote goes to Two Isles.
I really expected a lot more by Ingranaggi Della Valle, Warm Spaced Blue gave me the impression to be a huge filler with some moments stolen from Dream Theater or Devin Townsend, nothing particularly original or interesting. I really hope that their precedent album is better and less stereotipated. 2/5
Two Isles instead is a simple but well crafted and played album, with some blues moments that recalls Pink Floyd and Motorpsycho. I really enjoyed it, in its simplicity has a real addictive sound and some ideas are just well thought. 3/5 |
Friday13th
11.12.17 | Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
Jethro: #2
Friday: #2
bgill: #2
Mythodea: #2
e21: #2
Spaceman: #2
Intruder: #2
Twig: #2
Sabrutin: #1
SCREAM: #1
Cusman: #1
5-8 |
bgillesp
11.12.17 | 5-8. Is there a comeback brewing? |
Friday13th
11.12.17 | There is a possible tie at this point. |
Sabrutin
11.12.17 | @Cusman: From the little I've heard of Ingranaggi's debut it seems they do have more identity in that one. It has a medieval knightly feel and -if you care- it has Italian lyrics. To quote a comment I saw on RYM: "they've gone from being an Italian prog rock band to a prog rock band from Italy".
I'll be completely honest, when listening to Warm Spaced Blue the word "adventurous" never crossed my mind. I admit that modern prog often doesn't resonate with me, and this is another case of that. To quote again the same RYM comment as before, I found the album cold and clinical |
Jethro42
11.12.17 | @Cusman, ugh, I guess we haven't heard the same album. I don't get your Dream Theater and Devin Townsend references. To me, Warm Spaced Blue has its own identity. It sounds original to me, and I need more modern prog like that.
As for Ingranaggi's debut album, I thought it was less good, otherwise I would have chosen it.
@Sabrutin, it's a matter of personal taste. It's not the first time that I notice our musical tastes differ, and i'm not surprised at all that this is no exception. And if the album is cold, it's intended by the band. I prefer the word dark. Clinical? Just no. |
Friday13th
11.12.17 | Yeah, I can see thinking Monarch has more feel based on the expressive guitar playing, but Ingranaggi doesn't sound overly clinical or DT-ish (whichever DT we're talking about haha). It is admittedly complex and dark, and my tolerance for complexity and darkness is fairly high. |
Frippertronics
11.12.17 | aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
i guess i can go with Monarch |
Friday13th
11.12.17 | Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
Jethro: #2
Friday: #2
bgill: #2
Mythodea: #2
e21: #2
Spaceman: #2
Intruder: #2
Twig: #2
Sabrutin: #1
SCREAM: #1
Cusman: #1
Fripper: #1
6-8
Comeback could be a reality. It's kinda weird, notice how all the Warm Spaced Blue votes are clumped. |
Papa Universe
11.12.17 | Still waiting for bnelso and wham |
Papa Universe
11.12.17 | could they bring it to equal grounds? |
bgillesp
11.12.17 | Unique, just vote |
bgillesp
11.12.17 | I have a theory you like 2 better but refuse to vote against yourself |
Papa Universe
11.12.17 | actually, i start to like 2 less and less for its sound that just comes off so flat and muddy and a lot of the times sounds almost like djent, which i utterly detest |
wham49
11.12.17 | sorry guys keep forgetting on friday, I go with Monarch I am a sucker for psych sounding tuff and this does that |
Jethro42
11.12.17 | Its contagious, I see... |
bgillesp
11.12.17 | Well this is interesting. Unique you may have to be a tiebreaker |
Friday13th
11.12.17 | Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
Jethro: #2
Friday: #2
bgill: #2
Mythodea: #2
e21: #2
Spaceman: #2
Intruder: #2
Twig: #2
Sabrutin: #1
SCREAM: #1
Cusman: #1
Fripper: #1
wham: #1
7-8
Honestly, Universe, you should vote now so that it's up to bnelso to break the tie and then you won't feel so bad haha
|
MrSirLordGentleman
11.12.17 | bnelso will probably go for 2, judging by his taste |
Sabrutin
11.12.17 | Guys my disliking has nothing to do with complexity or darkness, remember I gave Pictures a 4. The album just doesn't vibe with me sadly |
Jethro42
11.12.17 | I can understand that, dude. |
CusmanX1
11.12.17 | @Sabrutin: yeah I care about italian lyrics, and the first album seems more appealing. About the comment you saw on RYM, yeah, I couldn't say it better.
@Jethro42: sorry dude, maybe I was a little raw :) What I mean is that it does not suck, is just "meh?" at the first listen. About the references, I don't know, there something that remined me DTs not in their best shape. Well, I also had huge expectations because usually we have similar tastes. I'll try to listen it after a while, maybe it will grow on me.
|
CusmanX1
11.12.17 | @Sabrutin: I'm listening right now their first album, it doesn't even seems the same band |
Jethro42
11.13.17 | You don't have to be sorry, Cusman.
The first Ingranaggi's album really sounds different. It's an individually packed songs' album that focuses on violin, and it often has a jazz rock orientation. It takes more time to sink in cos there are lots of material. It's the same band, save for the singer. It has its high points, but it's hard to follow.
I have more fun to listen to Warm Spaced Blue which I approach like being a concept album that has to be listened from a to z. It also contains more catchy turns and climaxes, and has more memorable moments as a whole. |
Divaman
11.13.17 | Interesting voting pattern -- a couple of 1's, then a whole bunch of 2's, then another bunch of 1's. Not saying it means anything, but it's an unusual distribution. |
bnelso55
11.13.17 | Sorry for the delay! Once again, I have been unable to access the site until just recently. My vote goes to 2, although I foresee myself spinning Monarch plenty in the days to come. |
bnelso55
11.13.17 | Ha! You called it, MrSirLordGentleman. I didn't know I was so obvious! |
Papa Universe
11.13.17 | And there you have it, folks. My input was not needed after all. |
Divaman
11.13.17 | Whew! Still enjoying the contest, but it felt like we'd never get through this first round, between the ties and the site crashes. |
Papa Universe
11.13.17 | So do we now have less time for the next round? |
MrSirLordGentleman
11.13.17 | Well, preliminary round is over so coming rounds could be shorter since we've already listened to the contestants |
Friday13th
11.13.17 | Divaman: #1
Gentleman: #1
Jethro: #2
Friday: #2
bgill: #2
Mythodea: #2
e21: #2
Spaceman: #2
Intruder: #2
Twig: #2
Sabrutin: #1
SCREAM: #1
Cusman: #1
Fripper: #1
wham: #1
bnelso: #2
7-9
Haha great, UniqueUniverse was right and kept his nonpartisan integrity. Vote over, Warm Spaced Blue wins 9-7 |
Jethro42
11.13.17 | Phew, like we say in French, I was sitting on the edge of my chair! |
