Friday13th: Prog On Discovery M5

Friday13th 06.11.19	Voting ends next Tuesday.
TwigTW 06.11.19	I thought mine might go up against Wobbler, and lose to it. It's a nice one. Never heard Fish before but looking forward to it.
TheNotrap 06.11.19	The Prog M5 has begun! It will be great to revisit A Feast Of Consequences and listen to Wobbler for the first time.
Papa Universe 06.11.19	"An album that reveals the many faces of Fish" oh finally, I always wondered what the difference was between bass and perch's lifestyles and such.
Jethro42 06.11.19	I know and dig From Silence To Somewhere. On the other hand, I only know the compilation A Kettle Of Fish 88-98 by Fish solo. It was a mix of prog and poppish art rock compos. One thing is sure, Fish's opponent will be a tough one right here. Let's hope Fish gets an ace in his sleeve.
Friday13th 06.12.19	Just uploaded the youtube link to Fish
Friday13th 06.12.19	Wow, I like 2 more than every Marillion album besides Misplaced Childhood.
Divaman 06.12.19	This is the rare round where I've actually heard one of the albums before. I listened to Wobbler several times in 2017, when it first came out. And while I haven't heard the second album, I'm at least familiar with his work with Marillion.
Divaman 06.12.19	This is shaping up to be a tough one. First listen reminded me of what I liked about Wobbler, but I also liked Fish better than I expected to. I have a very slight preference, but it could go either way.
Scheumke 06.12.19	New week new battle! Can't wait to get in on this one. Will finish my The Dear Hunter discorun first though, so probably won't vote until after the weekend.
TheNotrap 06.12.19	Thanks for providing the link Fryday, I hadn't been able to find any. Indeed, the album is really great.
e210013 06.12.19	Let's begin with another journey. As I wrote before, I'm very curious about Wobbler's album. I read great comments about it. It was the best album of that year on Progarchives. I'm very expectant about it. Besides, I love the symphonic side of prog. About the album of Fish I must confess that I'm not an expert. I only know a couple of albums from him. Still, I like very much what I heard. The man si a great artist and I admire him very much. I think it was the soul of Marillion. So, I'm very expectant about it, too. Thus, I expect another memorable prog journey. I suspect it will be a pity that only one of these albums can pass.
bgillesp 06.12.19	@Friday, well I’m glad misplaced childhood is your top Marillion, but Script and Clutching are still above 2 for me. I will check 1 soon and then give 2 another listen to be sure
e210013 06.12.19	It's the same with me bgillesp. "Misplaced Childhood", "Script For A Jester's Tear" and "Clutching At Straws", by this order. The fourth is "Fugazi", of course.
Snowdog808 06.12.19	Sorry to have to miss out on three consecutive rounds Friday. I already heard and quite enjoyed that Wobbler album probably in 2017, so I definitely hope the Fish record can rival it well, especially with a name resembling the nickname of the late, great Chris Squire.
Snowdog808 06.12.19	I just now found out it is Marillion's former frontman, how ridiculous of me! I am not certain what to expect, but I'm sure I'll like it.
e210013 06.12.19	No problem Snowdog. The reason why Derek William Dick "Fish" is known by Fish is precisely due to his admiration by Chris Squire "Fish".
bgillesp 06.12.19	I didn’t realize that. That’s cool because I love both Chris Squire and Fish as probably my top 2 prog figures
Divaman 06.12.19	All of which has nothing to do with Phish.
e210013 06.12.19	Absolutely nothing, really.
e210013 06.12.19	I also love and have a huge admiration by them too, bgillesp.
MrSirLordGentleman 06.13.19	omg my nominee is finally in sorry for not voting for last week guys, i've been very busy.
bgillesp 06.13.19	Wobbler is very good too. This will be a hard round for me
Jethro42 06.14.19	Wobbler is a killer. The first song is addictive with its Anekdoten flavour in parts. The second epic is crushing everything with its amazing heavy riff. The third epic is a bit more subtil in Wobbler standards and reminds of Genesis in Trespass/Nursery Cryme era, meets Beardfish. it seems to me that this round is not a fifty-fifty battle, but i have to give more listens to Fish, since I'm not familiar to it. i don't really detect any Marillion similarities, so no comparisons to do for me. Fish acts more like a singer songwriter, and most of his songs would be good ending night campfire songs, and on the other hand, Wobbler is good anytime, anywhere. To be continued...
Divaman 06.14.19	I think I'm as ready to vote as I'm ever going to be. This was a difficult round. As I mentioned before, I had listened to the Wobbler album extensively when it came out in 2017. I liked it then, and I liked it even more now. It's definitely a throwback to classic prog, with all of the strengths and weaknesses that implies. It's biggest drawback is that it does, at times, fall into what I sometimes think of as the classic prog rock conundrum - develop some melodic themes, usually around the vocal parts, then play a bunch of complicated shit until the next theme develops around the next vocal part. (It's like the difference between the arias and the recitative parts in opera.) But the themes here are nicely developed, and grew on me with repeated listens. When I first realized who Fish was, I had some mixed feelings. I'm not a big Marillion fan, beyond Misplaced Childhood, and even on that one, there are some songs I like a lot and others I can do without. What I've heard of Fish's work with Marillion can be a little over the top, in the same way that I feel a lot of Peter Gabriel's work with Genesis could go over the top. However, I was very pleasantly surprised here to hear how understated Fish is on this album, and how accessible the music is. Yes, many of the lyrical themes have been done before, but I feel that they were done very well here. (I notice that this album also fills the vacuum that Friday had pointed out in this year's contest re/something more in the folk-prog vein.) Wobbler is definitely the proggier album, but I don't concern myself with that. Once Friday rules that an album is proggy enough to include in the contest, I vote almost solely on which album I like better. And while I liked them both a lot, the one I liked slightly better is the Fish album. So much to my own surprise, my vote is for Fish.
e210013 06.14.19	I'm a bit late in this prog session. I only listened Wobbler's album till now. I can say that it isn't a deception to me. This is really an excellent prog album, a throwback to classic prog, really. Still, I continue very curious and with some big expectations about Fish's album. I suspect that it can be a very tough journey to me. Perhaps the most tough till now.
Friday13th 06.14.19	Yeah I'm still completely undecided. They both have their charms.
SharkTooth 06.14.19	listening to 1 and holy frick it is amazing prob my favorite in the competition so far if it stays this good I can feel an easy 4.5 for Wobbler
MrSirLordGentleman 06.14.19	I haven't checked Feast Of Consequences in a long time but I remember I really loved it, it certainly wasn't what I was expecting from Fish so this will be a tough choice even if Wobbler is my entry for the contest
SharkTooth 06.14.19	yo gentleman u checked the newest soft machine yet?
SharkTooth 06.14.19	just finished Wobbler yeah that was my favorite out of the competition so far Fish has a lot to make up for if it is gonna be able to compete
Jethro42 06.14.19	I was thinking about choosing that Wobbler album, but I first thought it had more than 30 votes, and I've chosen something else anyway. Unreal City that is...but their second album, Il Paese Del Tramonto is still better, ask Friday!...
SharkTooth 06.14.19	that Fish album is amazing as well in its own way the tracks are shorter instead of the prog epics of Wobbler but that helps them stand out, plus Fish is an excellent songwriter goddamn this is a good matchup I'm leaning towards Wobbler but you can't go wrong with either
e210013 06.14.19	I'm listening right now Fish's album. I agree with Shark. Fish is an amazing songwriter. As I thought, it will be a long, long and tough journey, really.
bgillesp 06.14.19	This one is so hard. I’m torn
bgillesp 06.14.19	Both of these are lookin at top 2-4 for the competition this year
TheNotrap 06.14.19	I'll listen to Wobbler this weekend, it sounds promising
e210013 06.14.19	I just listen Fish's album right now. As I suspected, it's a great album. The man is an institution. Great journey, indeed.
TheNotrap 06.14.19	Fish is one of a kind, my friend
Jethro42 06.14.19	It's not a coincidence Fish is starting off with a Scotian pipe; He's Scotian himself. i'm giving another listen to that album. The first song reminds me of Dire Straits in places. it gives more value to the song. I practically know From Silence To Somewhere by heart. It's time to concentrate on A Feast Of Consequences.
TheNotrap 06.14.19	The Great Unravelling is such a great song
Jethro42 06.14.19	Up to now, I pretty much agree with your favourites Notrap, bro.
TheNotrap 06.14.19	Cheers Jethro Yeah, those three songs are my personal highlights, that kind of emotional density is my cup of tea
SharkTooth 06.15.19	Blind to the Beautiful is probably the best song about climate change I've heard yet somehow it manages to be directly about climate change without feeling all that preachy
MrSirLordGentleman 06.15.19	@Shark I've been barely checking the albums from the contest so I haven't checked Soft Machine's new album. I'm on my final finals period so once it finishes in a couple of weeks I'll have some free time before starting to focus on my thesis and internship to check new stuff
SharkTooth 06.16.19	that's cool
Sabrutin 06.16.19	Wow 1 is cool. People call it derivative, but solid music is solid nonetheless.
Jethro42 06.16.19	Good try, Fish. It's not an easy task to find a way and a style for a singer songwriter. It's hard to choose a direction that will please the fans who somehow expect something resembling to Marillion. Feast of Consequences contains pleasant ditties sadly scattered around okay songs. it's a lite, an easy, inoffensive listen. I wish it would move a bit more. It's easy for the highlights to be highlights among more ordinary songs. it's an honest effort, and Fish still has gaz in the tank. From Silence to Somewhere is richer and it's closer to the kind of prog I use to listen to and love. Its first song is worth the price of admission, and the two other epics also have their moments, but to a lesser extent. In fact, Fish has stronger standout songs than parts of Wobbler, but I had to make a choice, and I go with Wobbler. I give both albums a 4. Pretty good entry, Notrap, friend!
Friday13th 06.16.19	1-0 Jethro
e210013 06.16.19	Sorry Friday but Diva has already voted on Fish.
Friday13th 06.16.19	right haha 1-1 Jethro Divaman
SharkTooth 06.17.19	upon repeated listens the Fish album is beginning to lose consistency for me Wobbler tho just gets better on that alone I'm going with Wobbler
Friday13th 06.17.19	2-1 Jethro SharkTooth Divaman
Zig 06.17.19	My vote goes to Wobbler.
TheNotrap 06.17.19	From Silence to Somewhere is indeed quite interesting, I like their 70's DNA and musical approach, where everything seems to have been thought out in detail. If this album ends up winning, it's something that I fully understand, it's great music. I revisited The Feast of Consequences twice this week and as expected my opinion didn't change, it's a personal favorite of the decade. My vote goes to Fish.
wham49 06.17.19	wobbler
Papa Universe 06.17.19	under normal circumstances I'd probably vote for Fish, but Wobbler's energy and catchiness is just unmatched this round. my vote goes for Wobbler
hansoloshotfirst 06.17.19	very good match up. Had a lot of fun with both albums. I'm voting for Wobbler.
Friday13th 06.17.19	6-2 Jethro SharkTooth Zig wham Universe hansolo Divaman Notrap
MrSirLordGentleman 06.17.19	How many times has someone voted against their candidate? It's really difficult to pick one but I'll go with Fish to give him more chances since it seems to be losing As technically amazing as Wobbler is, it feels like a standard prog album. Fish on the other hand feels way more original and personal, it has more identity. If at least Wobbler had classic moments throughout its songs just like the old prog classics did, I would've voted for it, but it isn't the case for me. It doesn't mean I don't like it, it is my candidate afterall, but I had forgotten how interesting of a listen Fish was, specially considering he's way past his time
Friday13th 06.17.19	@Gentleman not often! 6-3 Jethro SharkTooth Zig wham Universe hansolo Divaman Notrap Gentleman
tmthycnnlly 06.17.19	My vote also goes to Fish. While Wobbler has it's moments I do feel like it's drowning in its influences a lot of the time. Its certainly a solid prog album and I give the band all the praise in the world for doing the style justice in today's musical landscape. Fish on the other hand surprised me with these fairly straight forward songs that are somehow able to stay in engaging despite some being 6-10 minutes in length.
Friday13th 06.17.19	6-4 Jethro SharkTooth Zig wham Universe hansolo Divaman Notrap Gentleman tmthy
Friday13th 06.18.19	It was a tough choice. On the one hand, Wobbler is high energy yet often instrumentally varied and delicate, making for a superb and perfectly orthodox symphonic prog album. Influences are the usual kings of prog, Yes and Genesis. There are some truly deep chords and harmonies on this album that are what my prog dreams are made of LOL. My one complaint is the vocals, which sound to me like a B- Jon Anderson/Chris Squire. Speaking of the Fish, our Fish album has a bit more poppy, art rock direction, with those wonderful Gabrielesque vocals we all love. It is also somewhat similar to Peter Gabriel's solo music. However, whereas Marillion tends to irk me with too much Genesis worship, I find Fish really makes it his own on this album and most of the songs are catchy and unpretentious while still being arty. Kudos to him for really exceeding expectations, with my only complaint being a few filler, overly poppy songs. In the end, From Silence to Somewhere narrowly takes the lead mainly just for the strength of the 20+ minute title track. That is a true gem, and it gets better every time you hear it. Wobbler gets my vote. 7-4 Jethro SharkTooth Zig wham Universe hansolo Friday Divaman Notrap Gentleman tmthy
Scheumke 06.18.19	Wobbler also gets my vote. It was a close one though. I really enjoyed both albums, but in the end I felt Fish's album was a bit long in the teeth and the flow was a little jarring at some points, whereas I didn't have that problem with Wobbler.
bgillesp 06.18.19	Gotta go with fish I guess. I love both so this sucks, but the song structures from Fish just made it more wngaging for me
Sabrutin 06.18.19	2 aims to be a more conscious effort and I respect that but musically it didn't move me like 1 which kept me satisfied throughout. It has to be Wobbler for me.
TwigTW 06.18.19	I listened to the Wobbler a lot when it came out. It's excellent. I figured it was an easy win in this round, but the Fish turns out to be very good too. I do think the Fish goes on for a little too long, but that is really nit-picking. I agree with those who say this is the best round of the contest. I'll be playing both albums after it ends, but I do like the Wobbler a bit more... My vote goes to Wobbler.
Friday13th 06.18.19	10-5 Jethro SharkTooth Zig wham Universe hansolo Friday Scheumke Sabrutin Twig Divaman Notrap Gentleman tmthy bgill
e210013 06.18.19	After 4 auditions of both albums here is my verdict: Wobbler - From Silence to Somewhere: I'm not even a bit deceptioned with this album. We are in presence of an amazing album. It has everything that a prog head really likes. It's a modern prog rock album with the old classic prog heritage. All over the album we can clearly hear the influences of the kings of prog, mainly Genesis, Yes, King Crimson amd Gentle Giant. But we can also feelt the presence of the typical Scandinavian melancholy, particularly on the second track, and it comes to my mind my beloved Anglagard. I could also see some touches of IQ, due to the vocals on the third track. Surely, this is a killer album, indeed. It's my favourite, besides mine, till now. The tittle track is simply amazing. Fish - A Feast Of Consequences: This was really a very big surprise to me. Despite I love Fish, as an artist, and because all I've had heard of his solo works, till now, be very good, I really didn't expect an album as good as it is. It has a magnificent fusion of the classic rock with prog with some touches of pop. I never tought that it could be made in such a perfect way. We can say that it was made with homeopathic doses. This is maybe his last swan song. But what a swan song it is. My respects to him are even more deep. The man is a true institution. We love you man. I must say this was a very pleasant prog journey to my taste. I also agree this is the best round of this torney till now. Here we are in presence of two excellent proposals, very distintive, but equal good. Still, I think one of them is more in accordance with my taste and is more prog and classic in its style. So, I decided to rate "From Silence To Somewhere" with 4.5 and "A Feast Of Consequences" with 4.0. So, my vote goes to "From Silence To Somewhere".
Friday13th 06.18.19	11-5 Jethro SharkTooth Zig wham Universe hansolo Friday Scheumke Sabrutin Twig e21 Divaman Notrap Gentleman tmthy bgill
Friday13th 06.18.19	Alright, Fish put up a good fight, but this one's going to Wobbler! Next match is coming up.
bgillesp 06.18.19	😢
MrSirLordGentleman 06.18.19	Oh well, now I can keep rooting for Wobbler without feeling any guilt
SharkTooth 06.18.19	I feel u bgillesp